JP2002190832A - Internet facsimile terminal and its control method, facsimile terminal, and communication instruction terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sufficiently secure the security of a repeater or FAX communication where an electronic mail document received via the Internet is faxed so as to allow an operator at a transmitter side to attain security communication intended by the operator. SOLUTION: When the Internet facsimile terminal 1 receives an electronic mail document for facsimile transfer, the Internet facsimile terminal 1 discriminates whether or not the received electronic mail document is encrypted. When the discrimination indicates that the electronic mail document is encrypted, the facsimile terminal does not decode the encrypted document and executes facsimile transfer as image information in compliance with a facsimile protocol without modification.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an Internet facsimile apparatus and a control method therefor, a facsimile apparatus, and a communication instruction terminal apparatus. The present invention relates to an Internet facsimile apparatus capable of achieving security communication intended by an operator, a control method thereof, a facsimile apparatus, and a communication instruction terminal apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the rapid expansion of the Internet, the Internet F
An AX device is appearing.

[0003] In the function of this type of Internet FAX apparatus, an Email to FAX Gateway is used.
There is a y function, that is, a function of transferring a document received from the Internet by facsimile.

[0004] Then, this Email to FAX
The Gateway function mainly reduces communication costs by using the Internet for a relay path (assuming a long distance) for the purpose of reducing communication costs, mainly for those performed by facsimile communication. Of course, this function is also effective when performing communication with a partner terminal having no iFAX function.

[0005] In recent years, the rapid expansion of the Internet and the explosive increase in the number of users have been spreading, and attention has been paid to matters related to Internet security. That is, it is a method of coping with various troubles such as illegal use of the Internet, spoofing, eavesdropping, a springboard, a mail bomb, and spam.

[0006] Now, in Internet FAX,
Similarly, security has become more important, and S / MIME (Secure / Multipurpose Internet Mai
l Extension) or PGP / MIME (Pretty Good P)
(privacy / Multipurpose InternetMail Extension) technology, and attention has been paid to encryption and authentication.

However, conventionally, Email to FA
In the case of i-FAX that implements the X Gateway function, when a document received by Email is transmitted by FAX, if the attached document is encrypted by S / MIME, PGP / MIME, or the like, the encrypted document is decrypted. And then send it to the destination FAX.

[0008] For this reason, a fax transmission repeater or F
Insufficient security in AX communication,
The security communication intended by the transmitting operator cannot be achieved.

[0009]

As described above, conventionally, E
In an Internet FAX that implements a mail to FAX Gateway function, when a document received by E-mail is transmitted by FAX, S / MIME or PGP /
If the attached document is encrypted by MIME or the like, the encrypted document is decrypted and then transmitted to the destination FAX, so that the security of the FAX transfer relay or FAX communication is sufficiently ensured. In addition, there is a disadvantage that the security communication intended by the operator on the transmitting side cannot be achieved.

An Internet facsimile apparatus capable of solving the above-mentioned inconveniences, securing security in a FAX transfer repeater or FAX communication, and achieving a security communication intended by a transmitting-side operator and a control thereof. It is an object to provide a method, a facsimile apparatus, and a communication instruction terminal apparatus.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the invention is connected to both a telephone network and the Internet and has a function of facsimile transferring an electronic mail document received via the Internet. In the control method of the Internet facsimile apparatus, when an e-mail document for facsimile transfer is received, it is determined whether the received e-mail document is encrypted,
If it is determined that the electronic mail document is encrypted, the encrypted document is not decrypted, and the facsimile transfer is directly performed as image information.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a facsimile transfer is executed after the received encrypted document is decrypted, or a facsimile protocol is used without decrypting the encrypted document. The facsimile transfer is performed as image information according to the facsimile transfer instruction setting from the source communication terminal device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, any one of the header portion and the content portion of the electronic mail for transmitting the encrypted document is set. Controlling the facsimile transfer according to the setting of the facsimile transfer instruction.

[0014] The invention of claim 4 is the first to third aspects of the present invention.
In any one of the inventions, the encryption of the encrypted document is performed using S / MIME (Secure / Multipurpose Internet Mail).
Extension) or PGP / MIME (Pretty Good Pr)
ivcy / Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension).

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an Internet facsimile apparatus connected to both a telephone network and the Internet and having a function of facsimile transferring an electronic mail document received via the Internet. When the received e-mail document is encrypted, and when the e-mail document is determined to be encrypted by the determination means, And a communication control means for executing facsimile transfer by treating as it is image information on a facsimile protocol without decoding.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, the communication control means executes facsimile transfer after decrypting the received encrypted document, or decrypts the encrypted document. It is characterized in that either the facsimile transfer is directly executed as image information on the facsimile protocol without being performed according to the facsimile transfer instruction setting from the transmission source communication terminal device.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fifth or sixth aspect of the present invention, the communication control means may include a header part of an electronic mail for transmitting the encrypted document or a content part of the electronic mail. The facsimile transfer is controlled according to the facsimile transfer instruction setting which is set to any one.

Further, the invention of claim 8 provides the invention according to claims 5 to 7
In any one of the inventions, the encryption of the encrypted document is performed using S / MIME (Secure / Multipurpose Internet Mail).
Extension) or PGP / MIME (Pretty Good Pr)
ivcy / Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension).

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication instruction terminal device having a function of instructing an Internet facsimile apparatus to perform facsimile transfer of an electronic mail document via the Internet, wherein the electronic mail document received via the Internet is transmitted by facsimile. Means for encrypting an e-mail document to be transmitted to an Internet facsimile apparatus having a function of performing a facsimile transfer after decrypting the encrypted document encrypted by the encryption means with the Internet facsimile apparatus Or a means for instructing to execute facsimile transfer as image information on a facsimile protocol without decrypting the encrypted document by the Internet facsimile apparatus.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect of the present invention, the instructing means is provided in one of a header portion of an electronic mail for transmitting the encrypted document and a content portion of the electronic mail. The facsimile transfer instruction is set.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the ninth or tenth aspect of the present invention, the encryption of the encrypted document includes:
S / MIME (Secure / Multipurpose InternetMail Ext
Extension) or PGP / MIME (Pretty Good Privac)
y / Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension) encryption method.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in a facsimile apparatus for printing out a received facsimile document, a judging means for judging whether or not the facsimile document transferred by facsimile from the Internet facsimile apparatus is encrypted. A decrypting unit that decrypts the received document when the facsimile document received by the determining unit is determined to be encrypted; and a print output unit that prints out the document decrypted by the decrypting unit. It is characterized by having.

According to a thirteenth aspect, in the twelfth aspect, the encryption of the encrypted document is performed by S / MI
ME (Secure / Multipurpose InternetMail Extension)
Or PGP / MIME (Pretty Good Privacy / Multip
urpose Internet Mail Extension) is adopted.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an Internet facsimile of the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as "Internet FAX").
1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a configuration example of a network to which an apparatus 1 is applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, in this network conceptual diagram, an Internet FAX apparatus 1 is a facsimile apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as “FAX”) 3 a such as a G3 machine via a public switched network (PSTN) 2. , 3b, another iFAX 75 via a public switched network (PSTN) 4, an Internet service provider (ISP) 5, a router 71 of the network A via the Internet 6, and a personal computer (hereinafter simply referred to as It is connected to “PC” 73 and 74 (corresponding to “communication instruction terminal device” in claims).

Here, the Internet FAX machine is
Conventionally, FAX data transmitted / received on a telephone line is transmitted / received by using an IP network such as the Internet and an intranet for some or all transmission paths,
Alternatively, it is a device capable of transmitting and receiving a fax over an IP network.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the system configuration of the Internet FAX apparatus 1 of the present invention shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, this Internet F
The AX device 1 includes a CPU 101, a RAM 102, an operation display unit 103, a reading unit 104, a printing unit 105, and an image processing unit 1.
06, image storage unit 107, system control unit 108, communication control unit 109, network control unit 110, network control unit 1
11. A line switching control unit 115 is connected via the system bus 14, and a modem 112 for receiving from a facsimile and an Ethernet (registered trademark).
net (registered trademark)) I / F 113.

Here, the CPU 101 performs control processing of the Internet FAX apparatus 1 as a whole. RAM 10
Reference numeral 2 denotes a storage device used for controlling the Internet FAX device 1. The operation display unit 103 operates the Internet FAX device 1. Also, the reading unit 1
04 is for reading a transmission original. The image processing unit 106 is a unit that performs processes such as encoding, decoding, enlargement, and reduction. The image storage unit 107 is a part that stores image information. In addition, the system control unit 108
This is a program for controlling the entire Internet FAX, and is composed of, for example, a ROM. The communication control unit 10
Reference numeral 9 is for controlling communication suitable for the telephone network. The network control unit 110 is for controlling communication connected to a network. The network control unit 111 is for connecting to a network. The modem 112 is a modem and has a function of a low-speed mode and a high-speed mode. Also, Ethernet
The tI / F 113 is an interface for connecting to Ethernet. Also, the system bus 114
Is a bus for exchanging data with each other.
The line switching control unit 115 connects a plurality of external line interfaces with a plurality of internal communication circuits.

The CPU 101 to the network control unit 111 of the above-mentioned components mutually transmit and receive data via the system bus 114.

During normal Scan to E-mail transmission, parameters for storage and transmission are instructed from the operation display unit 103, and image information is read from the reading unit 104 based on the instruction. The read image information is stored in the image storage unit 1.
After the image data is stored in the image storage unit 107, the image processing unit 106 performs processing while using the image processing unit 106 as needed using the RAM 102 as a buffer under the control of the system control unit 108. After conversion to a suitable format, the modem 112, the network control unit 111, and the communication control unit 10
9 to the telephone network as facsimile, or from the network controller 110 to the Ethernet I / F 1
Then, an e-mail is transmitted via the server 13.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of facsimile (FAX) transfer control of the Internet FAX apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, this processing is started when the Internet FAX apparatus 1 receives an electronic mail document for FAX transfer (step S101).

Next, the Internet FAX machine 1 determines whether or not the received document is encrypted (step S102).

If it is determined that the received document is encrypted (step S102Y)
ES), the Internet FAX apparatus 1 does not perform the decryption processing of the received document, performs the FAX transfer by treating the encrypted document as image information on the FAX protocol (step S103), and thereafter ends this processing. . In addition,
When it is determined that the received document is not encrypted as a result of the determination in step S102 (step S102N
O) In the Internet FAX machine 1, a normal FAX
Transfer processing is performed.

According to this configuration, Email to F
Internet FA with AX Gateway function
In the X device 1, when a document received by Email is faxed, if the attached document is encrypted by S / MIME, PGP / MIME, or the like, the encrypted document is replaced with the encrypted document.
Since it was sent to the FAX of the transfer destination as it is (encrypted), the FAX transfer repeater or F
Ensuring security on AX communication is sufficient,
The security communication intended by the transmitting operator can be achieved. Further, in this case, even if the Internet FAX device 1 serving as a relay device does not have an encryption / decryption function, if the destination FAX machine is provided, the security of the entire system can be ensured. This leads to a reduction in cost. Similarly, since the Internet FAX device 1 serving as a relay device does not need to manage the public key and the secret key, the system configuration can be small.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of another embodiment of the facsimile (FAX) transfer control of the Internet facsimile apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 3, and in this case, a communication instruction terminal apparatus (for example, FAX is performed according to the FAX transfer instruction setting from the PC 73) shown in FIG.
9 shows a processing procedure for controlling transfer.

As shown in FIG. 4, this processing is started when the Internet FAX machine 1 receives an electronic mail document for FAX transfer (step S201).

Next, the Internet FAX machine 1 determines whether or not the received document is encrypted (step S202).

If it is determined that the received document is encrypted (step S202Y).
ES), and then, in the Internet FAX machine 1, F
The analysis of the AX transfer instruction setting is performed (step S20).
3). Note that the analysis of the FAX transfer instruction setting here refers to the F inserted in the mail data shown in FIG.
This is the analysis of the AX transfer instruction command.

As a result of this analysis, it is determined whether or not a facsimile transfer instruction has been set to the effect that "the facsimile transfer is executed without treating the encrypted document as image information according to the facsimile protocol as it is." (Step S20)
4).

As a result of this determination, when it is determined that the FAX transfer instruction is set to "execute the FAX transfer by treating the encrypted document as image information on the FAX protocol without decryption" ( Step S204YES),
In the Internet FAX machine 1, the encrypted document is faxed.
FAX transfer is executed by treating it as image information on the protocol (step S205), and then this process ends.

As a result of the determination in step S204, no FAX transfer instruction has been set to the effect that "the encrypted document is not decrypted, and the FAX transfer is executed by directly treating the document as image information on the FAX protocol." In other words, when a FAX transfer instruction is set to “Execute FAX transfer after decrypting encrypted document”, Internet FAX apparatus 1 decrypts the encrypted document and then performs FAX transmission.
The transfer is executed (step S206), and thereafter, this processing ends.

If it is determined in step S202 that the received document is not encrypted (NO in step S202), the Internet FAX device 1 performs a normal FAX transfer process.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for controlling the transmission of a facsimile transfer mail document by the communication instruction terminal device shown in FIG. 1 (for example, the PC 73 shown in FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 5, this processing is started when the transmission instruction of the FAX transfer mail document is issued by the sender at the communication instruction terminal device (step S301).

Next, the communication instruction terminal device determines whether or not an instruction to encrypt the received document has been issued (step S302).

If it is determined that the received document is instructed to be encrypted (step S302 YES), the communication instruction terminal device performs the document encryption process (step S302). S303).

Thereafter, in the communication instruction terminal device, it is determined whether or not the FAX transfer instruction setting of the encrypted document has been performed by the sender using the FAX transfer instruction setting screen 73a shown in FIG. S304).

As a result of this determination, the F of the encrypted document
If it is determined that the AX transfer instruction has been issued (step S304 YES), then, the communication instruction terminal device:
The FAX transfer instruction is set to either the mail header or the mail content (see FIG. 8 described later) (step S30).
5) Then, this process ends.

If it is determined in step S302 that the received document is not instructed to be encrypted (step S302: NO), and if the result of step S304 is that the encrypted document is faxed, When it is determined that the instruction setting has not been performed (step S3
04NO), the communication instruction terminal device performs a normal FAX transfer process.

According to this configuration, in the communication instruction terminal device for instructing FAX transfer, whether or not encryption is processed (decrypted) by the repeater can be set in the mail header or mail body. It is possible to achieve the security communication intended by the operator on the side.

FIG. 6 shows the FAX of the facsimile apparatus (for example, FAX 3a) that receives the FAX transfer shown in FIG.
It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure of X reception control.

As shown in FIG. 6, this processing is started when the facsimile apparatus determines that a facsimile has been received (step S401: YES).

Next, in the facsimile machine, it is determined whether or not the received image information portion is encrypted (step S402).

If it is determined that the received image information portion is encrypted (YES in step S402), the facsimile apparatus decrypts the encrypted image information portion. Is performed (step S403).

After the decoding, the decoded image information is printed out (step S404).
This processing ends.

If it is determined in step S402 that the received image information portion is not encrypted (NO in step S402), the facsimile apparatus performs a normal FAX reception process.

According to this configuration, the facsimile apparatus which receives a document by facsimile transmission has an encryption / decryption function and a public key / private key management function, so that the encrypted document is directly transmitted by facsimile. Can be decoded and printed by the receiving-side facsimile machine.

FIG. 7 shows the FA in the communication instruction terminal device (for example, the PC 73 shown in FIG. 1) shown in FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an X transfer instruction setting screen 73a.

As shown in FIG. 7, the FAX transfer instruction setting screen 73a is a setting screen for setting a facsimile (FAX) transfer instruction for a document encrypted for facsimile (FAX) transfer. To the repeater (if
A check box for instructing execution of facsimile (FAX) transfer after decryption by AX), and image information on the facsimile (FAX) protocol without decrypting the encrypted document by the relay (iFAX) And a check box for instructing execution of facsimile (FAX) transfer.

In this embodiment, instruction information such as "Please set a facsimile (FAX) transfer instruction for a document encrypted for facsimile (FAX) transfer" is displayed above the above check boxes. I have.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of mail data used in the embodiment of the present invention. In this case, in particular, in this case, a facsimile (FAX) transfer instruction is sent to Internet FAX 1 serving as a relay machine. This shows how a command to be performed is inserted.

As shown in FIG. 8, the FAX transfer instruction command according to the present invention is inserted into either the mail header () or the mail content ().

The facsimile transfer command includes command information for instructing to execute facsimile transfer after decrypting the encrypted document, or image information on the facsimile protocol without decrypting the encrypted document. There are two types of command information for instructing execution of facsimile transfer by treating as Note that an encrypted document is inserted into the content of the mail.

[0067]

As described above, according to the present invention,
If you receive an e-mail document for facsimile transmission,
It is determined whether the received e-mail document is encrypted. If the determination unit determines that the e-mail document is encrypted, the encrypted document is not decrypted, and Since the facsimile transfer is executed as the information, the FAX transfer repeater or the FA
The security on the X communication is sufficiently ensured, and the security communication intended by the operator on the transmission side can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of a network to which an Internet FAX device of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a system configuration of the Internet facsimile apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary flowchart showing a processing procedure of facsimile (FAX) transfer control of the Internet FAX apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary flowchart showing a processing procedure of another embodiment of facsimile (FAX) transfer control of the Internet FAX apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for controlling transmission of a facsimile transfer mail document by the communication instruction terminal device (for example, the PC shown in FIG. 1) shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a facsimile reception control of a facsimile apparatus (for example, a facsimile) that receives the facsimile transfer illustrated in FIG. 1;

7 is a view showing an example of a configuration of a facsimile transfer instruction setting screen in the communication instruction terminal device (for example, the PC shown in FIG. 1) shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of mail data used in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Internet FAX machine, 2. Public switching network (PS)
TN), 3a: FAX (G3 machine), 3b: FAX (G3
4) Public switched network (PSTN), 5: Internet service provider (ISP), 6: Internet, A: Network, 71: Router, 72: Mail server, 73: Personal computer (PC), 74:
Personal computer (PC), 75 ... iFAX, 1
01 ... CPU, 102 ... RAM, 103 ... operation display unit,
104 reading unit, 105 printing unit, 106 image processing unit, 107 image storage unit, 108 system control unit, 1
09: communication control unit, 110: network control unit, 11
1: Network control unit, 112: Modem, 113: Ethernet
et I / F, 114: system bus, 115: line switching control unit, 102a: speed dial registration table, 7
3a: FAX transfer instruction setting screen

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04M 11/00 303 H04N 1/32 Z 5K101 H04N 1/00 107 1/44 1/32 H04L 9/00 621Z 1/44 13/00 305B F-term (reference) 5C062 AA02 AA13 AA29 AA30 AA35 AB38 AB40 AC29 AC43 AE01 AE02 AF14 BA00 BD09 5C075 AB90 CA14 CA90 CD22 EE03 5J104 AA01 JA00 PA08 5K030 GA15 HA08 HB04 HC01 HC03 HD03 JA07 KA19 LD19 MB18 5K034 AA05 BB06 CC04 DD03 EE11 EE12 FF06 HH01 HH02 HH06 HH13 HH61 HH62 5K101 KK01 KK02 RR05 RR19 UU19

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A method for controlling an Internet facsimile apparatus connected to both a telephone network and the Internet and having a function of facsimile-transmitting an e-mail document received via the Internet, wherein an e-mail document for facsimile transfer is received. ,
It is determined whether or not the received e-mail document is encrypted. If it is determined that the e-mail document is encrypted, the encrypted document is not decrypted, and the image information is not decrypted. A method for controlling an Internet facsimile apparatus, wherein facsimile transfer is performed as follows. 2. Transmitting either facsimile transfer after decrypting the received encrypted document or executing facsimile transfer as image information on a facsimile protocol without decrypting the encrypted document. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control is performed in accordance with a facsimile transfer instruction setting from a source communication terminal. 3. Controlling the facsimile transfer in accordance with the facsimile transfer instruction setting set in either the header portion or the content portion of the e-mail for transmitting the encrypted document. 3. The method for controlling an Internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the encryption of the encrypted document is performed by S / MIME (Secure / Multipurpose Internet Mail Ex).
tension) or PGP / MIME (Pretty Good Priva)
4. The control method for an Internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an encryption method of cy / Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension is adopted. 5. An Internet facsimile apparatus connected to both a telephone network and the Internet and having a function of facsimile transferring an e-mail document received via the Internet, wherein when an e-mail document for facsimile transfer is received,
Determining means for determining whether or not the received e-mail document is encrypted; and if the determining means determines that the e-mail document is encrypted, the encrypted document is not decrypted. An Internet facsimile apparatus comprising communication control means for executing facsimile transfer as image information as it is. 6. The communication control means executes facsimile transfer after decrypting the received encrypted document, or executes facsimile transfer as image information on a facsimile protocol without decrypting the encrypted document. 6. The Internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 5, wherein either one of the steps is controlled in accordance with a facsimile transfer instruction setting from a transmission source communication terminal apparatus. 7. The communication control means according to the facsimile transfer instruction setting which is set in either a header portion of an electronic mail for transmitting the encrypted document or a content portion of the electronic mail. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein facsimile transfer is controlled.
Or an inner net facsimile apparatus according to 6. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the encryption of the encrypted document is performed using S / MIME (Secure / Multipurpose Internet Mail Ex).
tension) or PGP / MIME (Pretty Good Priva)
8. An Internet facsimile apparatus according to claim 5, wherein an encryption system of cy / Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension is adopted. 9. A communication instruction terminal device having a function of instructing an Internet facsimile device to perform facsimile transfer of an e-mail document via the Internet, wherein an encryption means for encrypting an e-mail document transmitted to the Internet facsimile device. Or performing facsimile transfer after decrypting the encrypted document encrypted by the encrypting means with the Internet facsimile device, or executing the facsimile protocol without decrypting the encrypted document with the Internet facsimile device. A communication instruction terminal device comprising: instruction means for instructing whether to execute facsimile transfer as image information. 10. The facsimile transfer instruction is set in any one of a header portion and an e-mail content portion of an electronic mail for transmitting the encrypted document. 10. The communication instruction terminal device according to 9. 11. The method according to claim 11, wherein the encrypting of the encrypted document is performed by S / MIME (Secure / Multipurpose Internet Mail Ex).
tension) or PGP / MIME (Pretty Good Priva)
11. An encryption system of cy / Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension) is adopted.
The communication instruction terminal device according to the above. 12. A facsimile apparatus for printing out a received facsimile document, determining means for determining whether or not the facsimile document transferred by facsimile from the Internet facsimile apparatus is encrypted, and a facsimile document received by the determination means. When it is determined that the document is encrypted, the decryption unit decrypts the received document, and a printout unit that prints out the document decrypted by the decryption unit. Facsimile machine. 13. The method for encrypting an encrypted document includes S / MIME (Secure / Multipurpose Internet Mail Ex).
tension) or PGP / MIME (Pretty Good Priva)
13. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 12, wherein an encryption system of cy / Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension is adopted.