JP2005354462A - Internet facsimile system having security improved, communication control method thereof, facsimile terminal, and mail server - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent spam and pretending of a facsimile terminal in an Internet facsimile system. <P>SOLUTION: A variable password which is changed in accordance with a prescribed rule is set to an electronic mail transmitted and received between a facsimile terminal 2A and a mail server 1A, and coincidence is confirmed to dtermine a facsimile document from the facsimile terminal 2A being not pretending, and an attribute of priority of emergency, security, or the like of the facsimile document attached to the electronic mail is made to correspond to the variable password, and priority information or the like of the transmitted facsimile document is transmitted without being known by third persons, and thus spam and pretending of facsimile terminals are prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an Internet facsimile system with improved security, a communication control method therefor, a facsimile terminal, and a mail server.

  In recent years, Internet facsimile systems that transmit facsimile image information using the Internet or an e-mail function via a LAN have come into operation. ITU-T T., an international standard. The Internet facsimile system using the electronic mail function based on the 37 communication rules has advantages such as various optional functions using the storage function of the electronic mail server and broadcast transmission to many facsimile terminals. On the other hand, there are more opportunities to receive many spam facsimile documents and unwanted advertisements from unknown parties.

  In addition, since the Internet facsimile system uses an e-mail address, there is a problem that unauthorized information is transmitted from a person pretending to be a facsimile terminal of the same facsimile group using the mail address of the sender.

  As a means for preventing this impersonation and access from an undesired third party, there is a method of determining whether or not a facsimile document is transmitted from a correct user by using a password as relay destination information of an electronic mail. However, passwords, like e-mail addresses, are not effective when known to third parties, and there is a risk that they may be read by eavesdropping on signals flowing on the network. Even if unauthorized transmission is prevented using a password, there still remains a problem that the text can be read by eavesdropping or information indicating an important difference such as “confidential” attached to the facsimile document can be read.

  As another method, there is a method of preventing eavesdropping and access from unauthorized users by encrypting a part of a mail header for identifying a user or information of a facsimile document transmitted by e-mail (for example, , See Patent Document 1).

However, the method using encryption has a problem that the cost increases because it is necessary to provide all the encryption functions in the facsimile terminals in the group.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-257091 (page 22, FIG. 4)

  In the Internet facsimile system using the Internet e-mail function, in order to prevent unauthorized access such as impersonation, a method such as encryption between the transmission source and the reception destination is taken, but the apparatus becomes complicated due to encryption, There were problems such as increased costs.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides an Internet facsimile system with improved security, spam control in the facsimile machine, and facsimile terminal impersonation, a communication control method therefor, a facsimile terminal, and a mail server. The purpose is to do.

  To achieve the above object, the Internet facsimile system of the present invention provides a facsimile document to a second facsimile terminal via one or more mail servers connected to a network communicating with the Internet protocol from the first facsimile terminal. The first facsimile terminal transmits variable passwords that are serialized in accordance with attributes relating to the transmission form of the facsimile document and that are changed according to a predetermined rule to the first password table. And a variable password corresponding to the transmission form is obtained from the first password table, and at least the variable password, the mail addresses of the first and second facsimile terminals, and the e-mail password generated from the facsimile document. The mail server stores the variable password and the mail address of the first facsimile terminal in a second password table, and receives the electronic password received from the first facsimile terminal. The mail address of the sender and the variable password are read from the mail packet, and the read mail address and the variable password of the first facsimile terminal are compared with the stored contents of the second password table. It is determined that the document is a facsimile document from the first facsimile terminal, the attribute of the transmission form is read from the variable password, and the facsimile document is sent to the second facsimile terminal by a transmission form corresponding to the attribute. It is characterized by relay transmission.

  According to the communication control method of the Internet facsimile system of the present invention, a facsimile document is transmitted from the first facsimile terminal to the second facsimile terminal via one or a plurality of mail servers connected to a network communicating with the Internet protocol. A communication control method for an Internet facsimile system, wherein a variable password that is serialized in accordance with an attribute relating to a transmission form of the facsimile document to the first facsimile terminal and is changed according to a predetermined rule is a first password. And the first facsimile terminal obtains a variable password corresponding to the transmission form from the first password table, and at least the variable password, the mail addresses of the first and second facsimile terminals, and The Fac An e-mail packet generated from a millimeter document is transmitted to the mail server, and the variable password and the mail address of the first facsimile terminal are stored in the second password table in the mail server. The mail address and variable password of the first facsimile terminal are read from the electronic mail packet received from one facsimile terminal, and the read mail address and variable password are stored in the second password table. If it matches, it is determined that the document is a facsimile document from the first facsimile terminal, the attribute of the transmission form is read from the variable password, and the facsimile document is transmitted according to the transmission form corresponding to the attribute. Relay transmission to the second facsimile terminal It is characterized in.

  Furthermore, the mail server of the present invention is an Internet facsimile system for transmitting a facsimile document to a second facsimile terminal via one or a plurality of mail servers connected to a network communicating with the Internet protocol from the first facsimile terminal. A mail server, storing the variable password and the mail address of the first facsimile terminal in a password table, wherein the first facsimile terminal is serialized corresponding to at least an attribute relating to a transmission form of the facsimile document; And receiving a variable password that is changed in accordance with a predetermined rule with the own server, mail addresses of the first and second facsimile terminals, and an email packet generated and transmitted from the facsimile document, and from the received email packet Above The mail address and variable password of the first facsimile terminal are read, and the read mail address and variable password are compared with the stored contents of the second password table. If the attribute of the transmission form is determined from the variable password, the facsimile document is relay-transmitted to the second facsimile terminal according to the transmission form corresponding to the attribute, and they do not match Is characterized by discarding the e-mail packet.

  According to the present invention, a variable password that is changed at any time according to a predetermined rule is set in an electronic mail communicated between a facsimile terminal and a mail server, and the urgency of a facsimile document attached to the electronic mail is attached to the variable password. By making attribute information such as priority and security correspond, it is possible to prevent third party from knowing the attribute information of the transmitted facsimile document, and to prevent spam and impersonation of the facsimile terminal by confirming the match of the variable password. it can.

  The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of an Internet facsimile system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the Internet facsimile system includes a mail server 1A, a mail server 1B, a facsimile terminal 2A, a facsimile terminal 2B, the Internet 3, and a PSTN (Public Switching Telephone Network).

  In the following description, it is assumed that a network such as a LAN in a company that performs communication by the TCP / IP procedure is included in the Internet 4. The number of mail servers and facsimile terminals is not limited to that shown in FIG.

  The mail server 1A and the mail server 1B are mail servers that relay electronic mail according to the TCP / IP procedure of the Internet protocol. It has a function of relaying an electronic mail to which image information of a facsimile document is attached according to the communication procedure 37.

  For example, when a facsimile document is transmitted from the facsimile terminal 2A to the facsimile terminal 2B, the facsimile terminal 2A uses the TCP / IP SMTP procedure and the ITU-T T.264. In accordance with 37 procedures, an e-mail packet with the image information of the facsimile document as an attached file is generated and transmitted to the mail server 1A via the Internet 3. Hereinafter, an e-mail packet in which image information of a facsimile document is attached is referred to as an e-mail packet.

  The electronic mail packet is further relayed from the mail server 1A to the facsimile terminal 2B via the Internet 3, the mail server 1B, and the Internet 3.

  FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are diagrams showing the configuration of an e-mail packet output from a transmitting facsimile terminal transmitted in the Internet facsimile system. FIG. 2 shows the structure of an electronic mail when the destination facsimile terminal 2B is connected to the Internet 3, and FIG. 3 shows the structure of an electronic mail packet when the destination facsimile terminal 2B is connected to the PSTN 4. Show.

  2 and 3, items “From” to “Mime-version” are header parts of an email packet, followed by the body of the email and the data part of the attached file. “Abcd@ifax.com” set to “From” is the mail address of the facsimile terminal 2A of the transmission source, and “efgh@ifax.com” set to “To” is the mail of the destination facsimile terminal 2B. Address.

  “Qwerty1000@ifax.com” set in “Message-ID” is identification information given to each electronic mail of a packet to be transmitted. “IFAXXML” set in “Subject” indicates that the e-mail is an e-mail packet that transmits a facsimile document.

  “Xyz@ifax.com” set in “To” in FIG. 3 is the mail address of the mail server 1A. “IFAXXML: 03-2468-xxxx” set in “Subject” is the telephone number of the facsimile terminal 2B following “IFAXXML”.

  When the mail server 1A receives the e-mail packet from the facsimile terminal 2A, the mail server 1A makes a call connection of “03-2468-xxxx” and transmits the facsimile document to the facsimile terminal 2B via the PSTN 4.

  In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, “Mime-version” is setting information of MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) for transmitting image information and the like by e-mail in the TCP / IP procedure. Here, reference numeral “base64” is used. It is shown that the conversion is done.

  Then, “boundary =“-BEG (2003) FIN-- ”” which is the beginning of the data part indicates that the mail body starts subsequently, and “--1029384756--” is the text body of the text. is there. The next "--BEG (2003) FIN--" indicates the end of the mail text.

  Furthermore, “Content-Type-filename =“ Image. “tif” ”indicates the specification of the attached file, and“! “# $% &“ 0 ==... ”following it is image information of the attached facsimile document.

  Some Internet facsimile systems specify a transmission form of a facsimile document, and provide, for example, an emergency priority such as “emergency transmission” and “time designation”, and a security service option of “confidentiality”. Information on the transmission form such as priority is set in the mail text as an attribute of the facsimile document.

  For example, when the mail server 1A receives the e-mail packet shown in FIG. 2, the facsimile terminal 2B is connected via the Internet 4 or a network such as a LAN that performs communication by the TCP / IP procedure by determining the destination mail address. The e-mail packet is transmitted to the mail server 1B. When receiving the electronic mail packet, the mail server 1B relays and transmits it to the facsimile terminal 2B having the destination mail address.

  That is, the mail server 1B operates as a POP server, and temporarily stores the e-mail from the mail server 1A received via the Internet 3. Then, if it is an e-mail packet of a facsimile document, the Internet 3 is sent to the facsimile terminal 2B of the destination mail address “efgh@ifax.com” set to “to” according to the procedure for transmitting a predetermined facsimile document. To send through. If the telephone number of the facsimile terminal 2B is described in “Subject” as shown in FIG. 3, the attached file of the e-mail packet is converted into image information of the facsimile document, and the telephone number, For example, it is transmitted to the facsimile terminal 2B of “03-2468-xxxx”.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing components of the mail servers 1A and 1B.

  In FIG. 4, mail servers 1A and 1B include a storage unit 10, a network interface 11, a mail control unit 12, a CPU 13, a password table 14, an operation unit 15, and a PSTN interface 16, each of which is connected by an internal bus or the like. .

  The network interface 11 transmits / receives an electronic mail packet to / from the Internet 3 in accordance with TCP / IP SMTP and POP procedures, and transmits / receives the electronic mail packet to / from the mail control unit 12.

  The mail transmitting / receiving unit 12 separates the received electronic mail packet into a header part and a data part, and further interprets header information and data from each part. Then, the header information, password, etc. of the e-mail packet to be transmitted are set in the text according to the control of the CPU 13, and the image information of the facsimile document is made into an attached file. The mail control unit 12 manages information for each electronic mail stored in the storage unit 10 as a file.

  The storage unit 10 stores e-mail files transmitted and received by the mail servers 1A and 1B, and inputs / outputs these files via the internal bus according to the control of the CPU 13.

  The password table 14 is provided on the internal memory of the mail servers 1A and 1B, stores a password set in advance with the facsimile terminal 2A, and stores the mail addresses of the facsimile terminals 2A and 2B.

  For example, if the password set in the e-mail packet of the facsimile document received from the facsimile terminal 2A is not stored in the password table 14, the mail server 1A sends the e-mail to a spam or impersonated facsimile terminal. It is judged that it is and is discarded.

  The CPU 13 reads the mail address set in “From” of the received e-mail packet and the password set in the mail text, and compares them with the password table 14. Only when they match, the facsimile packet attached to the e-mail packet is sent to the facsimile terminal 2B with the destination e-mail address set to “To” or the telephone number set to “Subject”. Send.

  The operation unit 15 is an input / output device used for operation adjustment of each mail server 1A, 1B, password setting, and the like, and is a console device including a keyboard, a display, and the like, for example.

  The PSTN interface 16 is an interface for connecting the received electronic mail packet to the facsimile terminal of the PSTN 4 by a telephone number and transmitting image information of the facsimile document, and includes an NCU device and the like.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing components of the facsimile terminals 2A and 2B.

  In FIG. 5, each of the facsimile terminals 2A, 2B includes an image signal processing unit 20, a network interface 21, a mail control unit 22, a CPU 23, a password table 24, an operation unit 25, and a PSTN interface 26. Connected by bus etc. The image signal processing unit 20 is provided with a memory 201.

  The network interface 21 transmits / receives an electronic mail packet to / from the Internet 3 according to a TCP / IP procedure, and transmits / receives the packet to / from the mail control unit 22 via an internal bus.

  The mail control unit 22 separates the received e-mail packet into a header part and a data part, and further reads the data from these parts. When sending an e-mail, under the control of the CPU 23, information such as a mail address is set in the header part of the e-mail packet to be sent, a password is set in the mail body of the data part, and an image information file of the facsimile document is attached. Further, the mail control unit 22 manages a file stored in the memory 201 of the image signal processing unit 20 for each electronic mail, and performs writing or reading of the memory 201 according to the control of the CPU 23.

  The image signal processing unit 20 stores image information of a facsimile document to be transmitted to the memory 201. When a facsimile document is received, the image information set in the attached file according to the control of the CPU 23 is received from the mail control unit 22 and stored in the memory 201.

  The password table 24 is provided on the internal memory of the facsimile terminals 2A and 2B, and stores passwords set in advance with the mail servers 1A and 1B.

  The CPU 23 reads the password information stored in the password table 24 and transmits it to the mail control unit 22. The information input and set from the operation unit 25 is monitored, and the information and the e-mail packet generated by the mail control unit 22 according to a predetermined procedure are transmitted to the relay mail server 1A via the Internet 3.

  The operation unit 25 is an input / output device used for input setting of each operation set in the facsimile terminals 2A and 2B, registration of a destination facsimile terminal, input setting of a telephone number and mail address, input setting of a password, etc. , Input / output means including a key button, a display, and the like.

  The PSTN interface 26 transmits and receives facsimile documents via the PSTN 4 and includes an NCU device and the like.

  Next, the password of the Internet facsimile system of the embodiment will be described. First, for example, a password is set between the facsimile terminal 2A that transmits a facsimile document and the mail server 1A to which the facsimile terminal 2A is connected. This password is a variable password that is changed according to a predetermined rule, and is changed, for example, every predetermined time or every e-mail packet (each message ID). The variable password is set in the password table 24 of the facsimile terminal 2A and the password table 14 of the mail server 1B in the operation of the embodiment.

  In the embodiment, for example, the variable password is configured such that the same random number table is provided in the facsimile terminal 2A and the mail server 1A, and the same password set in the random number table is switched synchronously.

  The variable password is input and set from the key button of the operation unit 25 of the facsimile terminal 2A. In addition, it may be set by a method of incorporating a memory element storing a password in advance into the facsimile terminal 2A as the password table 24 or a method of downloading from the mail server 1A or an external host device.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of setting contents of the password tables 14 and 24. The variable password shown in FIG. 6 is changed to a new password every time (for example, one hour) set in the “setting mode”.

  The password tables 14 and 24 also store the mail addresses of the facsimile terminals 2A and 2B communicating with the mail servers 1A and 1B, but the description thereof is omitted in FIG.

  In the embodiment, the variable password is composed of two series of “variable R” and “variable F”. The variable password is selected and used from either “variable R” or “variable F” for each email packet to be transmitted.

  The “variable R” series and the “variable F” series are assigned in accordance with priority attributes such as urgency and confidentiality of the facsimile document to be transmitted. For this reason, even if information on the network is wiretapped, the variable password assigned in accordance with the attribute of the facsimile document is set and transmitted, so that the variable password cannot be analyzed. Therefore, there is an effect that the security of the Internet facsimile is improved.

  Now, when an urgent priority is provided for an e-mail packet, “emergency transmission” indicating priority transmission is input from the operation unit 25 of the facsimile terminal when transmitting a facsimile document, and “normal” is set when priority transmission is not performed. Become.

  The e-mail packet of the “normal” facsimile document is temporarily stored in the relay mail servers 1A and 1B by the e-mail POP function, and the mail servers 1A and 1B sequentially read and transmit the previously stored packets. Is done. In addition, when the mail server 1B transmits a “normal” facsimile document to the facsimile terminal via the PSTN 4, if the partner facsimile terminal is busy and cannot transmit it, it redials the facsimile document after a predetermined time has elapsed. Send. This “normal” transmission is a storage mode used by a general Internet facsimile machine, and a “variable R” series variable password is set.

  On the other hand, the variable password of the “variable F” series is set in the e-mail packet of the facsimile document input as “emergency transmission”, and this packet is temporarily stored in the mail servers 1A and 1B. It is transmitted with priority over the previously stored packet. When the packet is transmitted to the facsimile terminal via the PSTN 4, if the partner facsimile terminal is busy and cannot be transmitted, it redials at a shorter time interval than in the “normal” case and transmits the facsimile document. If the facsimile terminal 2A does not have a priority setting function, a “variable R” series variable password is set.

  These variable passwords are changed synchronously so as to be the same password between the facsimile terminal 2A and the mail server 1A, and the facsimile terminal 2B and the mail server 1B in order from the number "1" in FIG. When the first number “1” to the last number (for example, “100”) are used, the variable number is used again by returning to the first number “1”.

  The “variable R” series and “variable F” series variable passwords in the password tables 14 and 24 are set to be changed every hour. Between the sending facsimile terminal 2A of the e-mail packet and the mail server 1A and between the mail server 1B and the receiving facsimile terminal 2B, the password is referred to by referring to the time information set in “Date” of the e-mail packet. A variable password is selected from the tables 14 and 24. For example, when a “variable R” series variable password is set, the mail server 1A receives the variable password “1029384756” corresponding to the time information stored in the password table 24, for example, “1029384756”. Check the match with the variable password set in the packet.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of setting contents of the password tables 14 and 24.

  The variable password shown in FIG. 7 is changed in order every time the message ID is changed with reference to the message ID of the e-mail packet, as indicated by “M-ID” in the “setting mode”.

  For example, when the facsimile terminal 2A transmits an electronic mail packet of a facsimile document within a predetermined group, a serial number is assigned to “Message-ID” used. For example, when the first “Message-ID” is “qwerty1000@ifax.com”, the variable password “1029384756” of the number “1” of the “variable R” series is set. Then, the variable password with the number “2” is set for the next “Message-ID”, and the variable password with the number “3” is set for the subsequent “Message-ID”. Further, when the subsequent “Message-ID” is “qwerty1003@ifax.com”, the variable password “6574839201” of the “variable R” series number “4” is set.

  When a facsimile document is transmitted, if “emergency transmission” is input and set by a button operation on the operation unit 25 of the facsimile terminal 2A, the CPU 23 monitors the setting operation. If “emergency transmission” is not input, the CPU 23 determines “normal” and reads a “variable R” variable password, for example, “1029384756” from the password table 24 by a general Internet facsimile procedure to read the mail control unit. 22 to send.

  Then, the mail control unit 22 of the facsimile terminal 2A copies and pastes the variable password “1029384756” into the mail text. Further, the CPU 23 of the facsimile terminal 2A reads the image information file of the facsimile document to be transmitted to the facsimile terminal 2B from the memory 201 of the image signal processing unit 20 and transmits it to the mail control unit 22. The mail control unit 22 of the facsimile terminal 2A generates an e-mail packet of a facsimile document that follows the mail body as an attached file, and transmits the packet to the mail server 1A via the network interface 21 and the Internet 3.

  If the priority of “emergency transmission” is also input from the operation unit 25 when a facsimile document is input from the facsimile terminal 2A, the CPU 23 of the facsimile terminal 2A interprets the input command of “emergency transmission”. Subsequently, for example, the variable password “4637377868” of the number “1” is read from the “variable F” series of the password table 24 and transmitted to the mail control unit 22. Thereafter, the CPU 23 transmits an e-mail packet attached with a facsimile document to the mail server 1A by the above-described transmission procedure.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of, for example, the mail server 1A for relaying an e-mail packet of a facsimile document. The operation of the Internet facsimile system of the embodiment will be described below.

  In FIG. 8, when the mail server 1A receives an e-mail packet of a facsimile document transmitted from the facsimile terminal 2A via the network interface 11 from the Internet 3 (step s1), the mail body 1 and the attached file are stored in the storage unit 10. (Step s2). In addition, an e-mail packet of a facsimile document is sent from the network interface 11 to the mail control unit 12, and the mail control unit 12 reads out information in the header part from the received packet.

  When the CPU 13 of the mail server 1A reads that “IFAXML” is set in “Subject” of the header read by the mail control unit 12, the CPU 13 determines that the packet is a packet of a facsimile document (step s3). Yes). Then, the CPU 13 reads the transmission source mail address “abcd@ifax.com” and checks whether it is registered in the password table 14 as the mail address of the facsimile terminal.

  When the mail address “abcd@ifax.com” is registered in the password table 14 (Yes in step s4), the variable password “10293384756” is read from the mail body of the packet and collated with the password table 14.

  That is, if it can be confirmed that the variable password “1029384756” matches that registered in the password table 14 as shown in FIG. 6 (Yes in step s5), the CPU 13 sends the packet from the facsimile terminal 2A. Is determined to be an e-mail packet. In step s2, the mail text of the facsimile document temporarily stored in the storage unit 10 and the attached file of the image information are read out, an e-mail packet is generated again, and the address of the destination mail address “efgh@ifax.com” Is transferred to the mail server 2B to which the facsimile terminal 2B having the connection is connected (step s6).

  On the other hand, when “IFAXXML” is not set in the header “Subject” of the email packet received in step s3, the mail server 1A temporarily stores the packet in the storage unit 10 as a general email, The electronic mail is transmitted to the facsimile terminal 2B having the address of the transmission destination mail address “efgh@ifax.com” by the POP procedure (step s7).

  If the sender email address is not registered in the password table 14 in step s4, or if each password does not match the variable password in the password table 14 in step s5, the CPU 13 of the mail server 1A transmits the packet. It is determined that the e-mail is spam or has been illegally accessed and discarded (step s8).

  Next, an operation when “emergency transmission” is set by a variable password as an attribute of an e-mail packet transmitted from the facsimile terminal 2A will be described below.

  That is, in step s7 of FIG. 8, the CPU 13 of the mail server 1A reads the variable password from the mail body of the data part “boundary˜” of the received electronic mail packet, and collates it with the contents of the password table 14.

  If it is determined from the collation result that the variable password “4636296758” is a “variable F” series, for example, the CPU 13 determines that “emergency transmission” is set for the e-mail packet. Then, the mail control unit 12 of the mail server 1A immediately reads the mail text and the attached file temporarily stored in the storage unit 10 in step s2, generates an e-mail packet, and sends it to the mail server 1B via the network interface 11 and the Internet 3. Send. In this case, the “urgent transmission” variable password “46337296758” is taken over as it is and transmitted to the mail server 1B.

  The mail server 1B sets the priority of “emergency transmission” by reading the variable password “4636376758” from the mail text following “IFAXML” and “boundary˜” in “Subject” of the received email packet. It is determined that the e-mail packet is a facsimile document. Then, the mail server 1B immediately reads the image information of the received facsimile document from the recording unit 10 and transmits it to the facsimile terminal 2B via the Internet 3. If the destination facsimile terminal is connected to the PSTN 4, the image information is transmitted to the facsimile terminal 2B via the PSTN 4 without delay.

  Next, an operation procedure when the confidentiality attribute is set in the facsimile document will be described.

  Here, the confidentiality attribute is “confidential”, and the “variable F” series is used for the variable password.

  First, when a facsimile document is input from the facsimile terminal 2A to the facsimile terminal 2B and the priority of “confidential” is also input from the operation unit 25, the CPU 23 of the facsimile terminal 2A issues an input command of “confidential”. Read. Subsequently, from the “variable F” series of the password table 24, for example, the variable password “463737786” with the number “1” is read and transmitted to the mail control unit 22. Thereafter, the CPU 23 transmits an e-mail packet attached with a facsimile document to the mail server 1A in the same transmission procedure as in the case of “emergency transmission”.

  This “confidential” e-mail packet is temporarily stored in the mail servers 1A and 1B. Then, the mail server 1B continues to set the variable password to the destination facsimile terminal 2B, and transmits the “confidential” e-mail packet. The facsimile terminal 2B that has received this e-mail packet interprets “463937786”, determines that the packet is “confidential”, stores the facsimile document in the memory 201 of the image signal processing unit 20, and also displays “confidential”. ”Is displayed.

  The operator inputs a command for reading the facsimile document from the memory 201 according to a predetermined procedure, and when the facsimile terminal 2B receives the command, the facsimile document 2 outputs the facsimile document as image information.

  Another method for transmitting the “confidential” facsimile document from the mail server to the facsimile terminal will be described.

  That is, when the mail server 1B determines that the e-mail packet received from the facsimile terminal 2A is “confidential”, the mail server 1B stores the attached file of the facsimile document in the storage unit 10.

  Then, the “confidential” e-mail packet excluding the attached file is transmitted to the facsimile terminal 2B.

  The facsimile terminal 2B that has received the e-mail packet interprets “463937726”, determines that the packet is “confidential”, and displays an alarm indicating that the “confidential” e-mail packet has arrived. The operator of the facsimile terminal 2B inputs a command for reading the facsimile document from the memory 201 in a predetermined procedure. When the facsimile terminal 2B receives this command, it transmits polling requesting transmission of the facsimile document to the mail server 1B.

  When the mail server 1B receives the polling request from the facsimile terminal 2B, the mail server 1B reads the previously stored attached file from the storage unit 10, generates an email packet as the attached file, and transmits it to the facsimile terminal 2B. Then, the facsimile terminal 2B outputs a facsimile document obtained from the attached file of the received e-mail packet as image information.

  In this case, the facsimile terminal 2B sets a variable password of “series F” set in the password table of the facsimile terminal 2A, the password table of the mail server 1A, or the facsimile terminal 2B in advance in an e-mail packet for making a polling request. A variable password set for polling with the mail server 1B is set in the text.

  The mail server 1B that has received the polling request in which the variable password is set may verify the variable password, authenticate the facsimile terminal 2B, and transmit the facsimile document. This method can prevent not only spoofing transmission but also spoofing reception.

  For example, if the password set for this polling is to input a password for authentication of being a “confidential” party when inputting a command for reading a “confidential” facsimile document, An authentication password may be used. The frequent change of the variable password in the embodiment of the present invention only requires the preparation and management of the password table, so that there is an effect of preventing unauthorized access without incurring device costs.

  As an application example of the embodiment of the present invention, there is a method of describing a place where two passwords are set in an item “Subject”.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of an e-mail packet in which two passwords are set in “Subject” of the header part. In this method, except that the password “--1029284756--” is set after “IFAXXML” of “Subject”, the handling of the password is the same as the above-described method and procedure, and the contents can be easily inferred. Detailed description will be omitted.

  In the above embodiment, the e-mail packet is relayed using the two mail servers 1A and 1B. However, the two facsimile terminals may transmit the e-mail packet via one mail server. .

1 is a configuration diagram of an Internet facsimile system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the structure of the packet of the electronic mail transmitted with the internet facsimile system concerning the Example of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of the packet of the electronic mail transmitted with the internet facsimile system concerning the Example of this invention. The lineblock diagram of an example of the mail server concerning the Example of the internet facsimile system of this invention. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of a facsimile terminal according to an embodiment of an Internet facsimile system of the present invention. The figure which shows one example of the password table in the Example of this invention. The figure which shows one example of the password table in the Example of this invention. The flowchart explaining the operation | movement procedure of the mail server of the internet facsimile system concerning the Example of this invention. The figure which shows the structure of the packet of the electronic mail transmitted with the internet facsimile system concerning the Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1A, 1B Mail server 10 Storage unit 11 Network interface 12 Mail control unit 13 CPU
14 password table 15 operation unit 16 PSTN interface 2A, 2B facsimile terminal 20 image signal processing unit 21 network interface 22 mail control unit 23 CPU
24 Password Table 25 Operation Unit 26 PSTN Interface 201 Memory 3 Internet 4 PSTN (Public Telephone Network)

Claims (11)

An Internet facsimile system for transmitting a facsimile document from a first facsimile terminal to a second facsimile terminal via one or more mail servers connected to a network communicating with the Internet protocol,
The first facsimile terminal is
Storing in the first password table variable passwords that are serialized corresponding to attributes relating to the transmission form of the facsimile document and that are changed according to a predetermined rule;
A variable password corresponding to the transmission form is obtained from the first password table, and at least the variable password, a mail address of a transmission source and a transmission destination, and an email packet generated from the facsimile document are transmitted to the mail server. ,
The mail server is
Storing the variable password and the email address of the sender in a second password table;
Reading the email address and variable password of the sender from the email packet received from the first facsimile terminal,
The read mail address of the sender and the variable password are compared with the stored contents of the second password table, and if they match, it is determined that the document is a facsimile document from the first facsimile terminal,
An internet facsimile system characterized in that the attribute of the transmission form is read from the variable password, and the facsimile document is relay-transmitted to the second facsimile terminal by a transmission form corresponding to the attribute. The variable password is
2. The Internet facsimile system according to claim 1, wherein the password is changed according to a rule set in advance between the mail server and the first facsimile terminal. The variable password is
2. The Internet facsimile system according to claim 1, wherein a new password is set in correspondence with a serial number assigned to each of the e-mail packets continuously transmitted from the first facsimile terminal. The mail server is
When it is determined that the transmission form attribute of the facsimile document received from the first facsimile terminal is confidential, the attached file of the facsimile document is stored in the storage unit of the own apparatus, and the second facsimile terminal Sending the email packet excluding the attached file;
2. The Internet facsimile system according to claim 1, wherein when the polling request is received from the second facsimile terminal, the attached file is read from the storage unit and transmitted to the second facsimile terminal.   The polling request includes the same password as the variable password stored in the first or second password table, or a password for polling predetermined between the mail server and the second facsimile terminal. 5. The Internet facsimile system according to claim 4, wherein: is set. A communication control method of an Internet facsimile system for transmitting a facsimile document to a second facsimile terminal via one or more mail servers connected to a network communicating with the Internet protocol from the first facsimile terminal,
Storing in the first password table variable passwords that are grouped in accordance with attributes relating to the transmission form of the facsimile document in the first facsimile terminal and that are changed according to a predetermined rule;
The first facsimile terminal obtains a variable password corresponding to the transmission form from the first password table, and generates it from at least the variable password, mail addresses of the first and second facsimile terminals, and the facsimile document. Send the email packet to the mail server,
Storing the variable password and the mail address of the first facsimile terminal in a second password table in the mail server;
The mail server reads a mail address and a variable password of the first facsimile terminal from the electronic mail packet received from the first facsimile terminal, and the read mail address, the variable password, and the second password. The stored contents of the table are collated, and if they match, it is determined that the document is a facsimile document from the first facsimile terminal, the attribute of the transmission form is read from the variable password, and the facsimile document is A communication control method for an Internet facsimile system, wherein relay transmission is performed to the second facsimile terminal in a transmission form corresponding to the above. The variable password is
7. The communication control method for an Internet facsimile system according to claim 6, wherein the password is changed according to a rule set in advance between the mail server and the first facsimile terminal. The variable password is
7. The communication control of the Internet facsimile system according to claim 6, wherein a new password is set in correspondence with a serial number assigned to each of the e-mail packets continuously transmitted from the first facsimile terminal. Method. The mail server that has determined that the transmission form attribute of the facsimile document received from the first facsimile terminal is confidential,
The attached file of the facsimile document is stored in the storage unit of the device, and the email packet excluding the attached file is transmitted to the second facsimile terminal,
7. The attachment file is read from the storage unit and transmitted to the second facsimile terminal when a polling request is received from the second facsimile terminal that has received the transmitted e-mail packet. A communication control method of the Internet facsimile system described.   The polling request includes the same password as the variable password stored in the first or second password table, or a password for polling predetermined between the mail server and the second facsimile terminal. 10. The communication control method for an Internet facsimile system according to claim 9, wherein: is set. A mail server of an Internet facsimile system for transmitting a facsimile document to a second facsimile terminal via one or a plurality of mail servers connected to a network communicating with the Internet protocol from the first facsimile terminal,
Storing the variable password and the mail address of the first facsimile terminal in a password table;
A variable password in which the first facsimile terminal is serialized corresponding to at least an attribute relating to a transmission form of the facsimile document and is changed in accordance with a predetermined rule with the own server; mail addresses of the first and second facsimile terminals; And receiving an e-mail packet generated and transmitted from the facsimile document,
Reading the mail address and variable password of the first facsimile terminal from the received email packet,
The read mail address and the variable password are compared with the stored contents of the second password table, and if they match, it is determined that the document is a facsimile document from the first facsimile terminal, and from the variable password, The Internet characterized by reading the attribute of the transmission form, relaying the facsimile document to the second facsimile terminal in a transmission form corresponding to the attribute, and discarding the e-mail packet if they do not match Facsimile system mail server.

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