JP3779598B2 - Facsimile machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a facsimile apparatus that can improve the reliability of communication.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the group 3 facsimile apparatus, in order to suppress a communication error at the time of image information transmission, image information on which the reception side has generated a reception error is displayed on a page basis (in non-ECM mode) or a frame basis (in ECM mode). I try to resend.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a conventional method, depending on the line condition at the time of retransmission, a communication error cannot be recovered, and there is a problem that communication reliability cannot be ensured.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a facsimile apparatus capable of ensuring the reliability of communication.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the facsimile apparatus having a plurality of communication means, the same image information is transmitted to the same destination using the plurality of communication means when transmitting image information, and received from the same transmission source when receiving the image information. The plurality of pieces of image information are collated, and when they match, it is determined that the received image information is normal and handled as received image information.
[0006]
A first communication means for connecting to an analog public network and exchanging image information using a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure and a first communication means for exchanging image information using an e-mail connected to the Internet. 2 and means for encrypting the image information and encrypting / decrypting means for converting the encrypted image information into the original plaintext image information. When transmitting the image information, the transmission image information is encrypted. Encrypted by the decrypting means, the encrypted transmission image information is transmitted to the specified destination using the first communication means, and the encrypted transmission image information is transmitted using the second communication means, The first encrypted received image information received using the first communication means from the same transmission source and the second received using the second communication means are transmitted to the same destination and when receiving the image information. 2 encrypted received image information Each of the encryption / decryption means converts the first plaintext first received image information and second received image information, and collates the first received image information and the second received image information. When the images match, it is determined that the received image information is normal and is handled as received image information.
[0007]
A first communication means for connecting to an analog public network and exchanging image information using a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure and a first communication means for exchanging image information using an e-mail connected to the Internet. 2 and means for encrypting the image information and encrypting / decrypting means for converting the encrypted image information into the original plaintext image information. When transmitting the image information, the transmission image information is encrypted. The first encrypted reference image information is encrypted by the decryption means to generate the first encrypted transmission image information, and the first encrypted transmission image information is designated using the first communication means. The transmission image information is encrypted by the encryption / decryption means using the second encryption reference information to create second encrypted transmission image information, and the second encrypted transmission is performed. Image information Is transmitted to the same destination using the second communication means, and when the image information is received, the first encrypted received image information received from the transmission source using the first communication means Applying the cipher reference information, decrypting by the encrypting / decrypting means to create the first plaintext received image information, and receiving the second encryption received from the same source using the second communication means The second cipher reference information is applied to the received picture information, and the second plaintext received picture information is created by decryption by the encryption / decryption means, and the first plaintext received picture information and the second plaintext received The image information is collated, and when they match, it is determined that the received image information is normal and handled as received image information.
[0008]
A first communication means for connecting to an analog public network and exchanging image information using a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure and a first communication means for exchanging image information using an e-mail connected to the Internet. 2 and means for encrypting the image information and encrypting / decrypting means for converting the encrypted image information into the original plaintext image information. When transmitting the image information, the transmission image information is encrypted. The first encryption reference information is encrypted by the decryption means to generate first encrypted transmission image information, and the transmission image information is encrypted by the encryption / decryption means using the second encryption reference information. The second encrypted transmission image information is created to create the first transmission information by concatenating the first encrypted transmission image information and the second encryption reference information, and the second encryption Transmission image information and the first The cipher reference information is concatenated to create second transmission information, the first communication means is used to transmit the first transmission information to a specified destination, and the second communication means is used. The second transmission information is transmitted to the same destination, and when the image information is received, the first transmission information is received from the transmission source using the first communication means, and the second transmission information is received from the same transmission source. When the second transmission information is received using the communication means, the first transmission information is divided into the first encrypted reception image information and the second encryption reference information, and the second transmission information. Is divided into second encrypted received image information and first encrypted reference information, the first encrypted reference information is applied to the first encrypted received image information, and decrypted by the encryption / decryption means. To create the first plaintext received image information and the second The second encrypted reference information is applied to the encoded received image information, decrypted by the encryption / decryption means to generate second plaintext received image information, and the first plaintext received image information and the second Plain text received image information is collated, and when they match, it is determined that the received image information is normal and handled as received image information.
[0009]
A first communication means for connecting to an analog public network and exchanging image information using a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure and a first communication means for exchanging image information using an e-mail connected to the Internet. 2 and means for encrypting the image information and encrypting / decrypting means for converting the encrypted image information into the original plaintext image information. When transmitting the image information, the transmission image information is encrypted. The first encryption reference information is encrypted by the decryption means to generate first encrypted transmission image information, and the transmission image information is encrypted by the encryption / decryption means using the second encryption reference information. The second encrypted transmission image information is created, and the e-mail address indicating the transmission result notification destination is encrypted using the third encryption reference information by the encryption / decryption means, and the first encrypted electronic information is encrypted. Email Dress information is created, and the e-mail address is encrypted using the fourth cipher reference information by the encryption / decryption means to create second encrypted e-mail address information, and the first encryption The transmission image information, the second encryption reference information, the first encrypted email address information, and the fourth encryption reference information are concatenated to create first transmission information, and the second encryption The transmission information, the first encryption reference information, the second encrypted email address information, and the third encryption reference information are connected to create second transmission information, and the first communication means is used. The first transmission information is transmitted to the designated destination, and the second communication means is used to transmit the second transmission information to the same destination. When receiving the image information, the transmission source sends the first transmission information to the designated destination. 1 using the communication means When the first transmission information is received and the second transmission information is received from the same transmission source using the second communication means, the first transmission information is converted into the first encrypted reception image information. The second encrypted reference information, the first encrypted electronic mail address information, and the fourth encrypted reference information are divided, and the second transmission information is divided into the second encrypted received image information and the first encrypted information. The encrypted information is divided into reference information, the second encrypted email address information, and the third encrypted reference information, and the first encrypted reference information is applied to the first encrypted received image information. The first plaintext received image information is generated by decryption by the means, the second encrypted reference image information is applied to the second encrypted received image information, and the second encrypted reference image information is decrypted by the encryption / decryption means. Create plaintext received image information for The first plaintext received image information and the second plaintext received image information are collated, and when they match, the received image information is determined to be normal, and is treated as received image information. The third encrypted reference information is applied to one encrypted email address image information and decrypted by the encryption / decryption means to create first plaintext email address information, and the second encryption The fourth cipher reference information is applied to the e-mail address image information and is decrypted by the encryption / decryption means to generate second plaintext e-mail address information. The first plaintext e-mail address information and the first e-mail address image information The plaintext email address information of 2 is collated, and if they match, a report showing the reception result is created, and the plaintext email address is sent to the plaintext email address. The port is obtained so as to transmit using the second communication means.
[0010]
Further, the apparatus further includes an operation means for performing a designation operation as to whether or not to perform encrypted communication.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0012]
FIG. 1 shows a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0013]
In the figure, a plurality of workstation devices WS1 to WSn, a mail server device SM, and a network facsimile device FX are connected to the local area network LAN and connected to the Internet via a router device RT. . Therefore, the workstation apparatuses WS1 to WSn, the mail server apparatus SM, and the network facsimile apparatus FX can exchange data with other appropriate terminal apparatuses via the Internet.
[0014]
Here, the mail server device SM is a known e-mail collection and distribution service for users using the workstation devices WS1 to WSn connected to the local area network LAN and the network network facsimile device FX. Is to provide.
[0015]
The local area network LAN is connected to the Internet via the router device RT, whereby the workstation devices WS1 to WSn, the mail server device SM, and the network facsimile device FX are connected to other local area networks or the like. Various data can be exchanged with a host device or the like connected to the.
[0016]
In the workstation devices WS1 to WSn, various programs such as facsimile application software for creating and displaying facsimile image information and various software for exchanging various data via the local area network LAN. Has been introduced and is used by specific users. Here, the specific user may be one or a plurality of users.
[0017]
The network facsimile apparatus FX is connected to an electronic mail processing function for exchanging image information and various reports as electronic mail and the analog public line network PSTN, and uses the analog public line network PSTN as a transmission path. A transmission function for transmitting image information according to the group 3 facsimile transmission procedure is provided.
[0018]
FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the network facsimile apparatus FX.
[0019]
In the figure, a system control unit 1 performs various control processes such as a control process of each part of the network facsimile apparatus FX and a facsimile transmission control procedure process. The system memory 2 is executed by the system control unit 1. The control processing program and various data necessary for executing the processing program are stored, and the work area of the system control unit 1 is configured. The parameter memory 3 is unique to the network facsimile apparatus FX. The clock circuit 4 outputs current time information.
[0020]
The scanner 5 is for reading a document image at a predetermined resolution, the plotter 6 is for recording and outputting an image at a predetermined resolution, and the operation display unit 7 operates the network facsimile apparatus FX. It consists of various operation keys and various displays.
[0021]
The encoding / decoding unit 8 encodes and compresses the image signal, and also decodes the encoded and compressed image information into the original image signal. The image storage device 9 performs encoding and compression. This is for storing a large number of image information in the selected state.
[0022]
The group 3 facsimile modem 10 is for realizing the modem function of the group 3 facsimile, and is a low-speed modem function (V.21 modem) for exchanging transmission procedure signals, and mainly for exchanging image information. A high-speed modem function (V.17 modem, V.34 modem, V.29 modem, V.27ter modem, etc.) is provided.
[0023]
The network control apparatus 11 is for connecting the network facsimile apparatus FX to the analog public line network PSTN, and has an automatic outgoing / incoming function.
[0024]
The local area network interface circuit 12 is for connecting the network facsimile apparatus FX to the local area network LAN, and the local area network transmission control unit 13 is connected to other data terminal apparatuses via the local area network LAN. It is for executing communication control processing of various predetermined protocol suites for exchanging various data between them.
[0025]
The encryption / decryption processing unit 14 converts data into encrypted data using a designated encryption key, and reversely converts the encrypted data into original plaintext data. As an encryption method, any encryption method using encryption / decryption reference information such as an encryption key can be applied.
[0026]
The system control unit 1, system memory 2, parameter memory 3, clock circuit 4, scanner 5, plotter 6, operation display unit 7, encoding / decoding unit 8, image storage device 9, group 3 facsimile modem 10, network The control device 11, the local area network transmission control unit 13, and the encryption / decryption processing unit 14 are connected to the internal bus 15. Data exchange between these elements is mainly performed through the internal bus 15. Is done through.
[0027]
Data exchange between the network control device 11 and the group 3 facsimile modem 10 is performed directly.
[0028]
Here, in the present embodiment, basically, data exchange between terminals connected to the local area network LAN is a transmission protocol up to a transport layer called TCP / IP, and more. This is performed by applying a combination with a higher layer communication protocol (so-called protocol suite). For example, in the exchange of e-mail data, a communication protocol called SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is applied as an upper layer communication protocol.
[0029]
Further, as a protocol applied to each mail terminal device SM for confirmation of receiving or obtaining an e-mail addressed to the user, a so-called POP (Post Office Protocol) can be applied.
[0030]
Further, communication protocols such as TCP / IP, SMTP, POP, and data format and data structure of e-mail are defined by RFC documents issued from IETF. For example, RFC 793 for TCP, RFC 793 for IP, RFC 821 for SMTP, RFC 821, RFC 1521, RFC 1522 for e-mail formats (MIME (Multipurpose)
(Mail Extension) format) and the like.
[0031]
Then, the network facsimile apparatus FX sends the read document image to another group 3 facsimile apparatus via the public network PSTN or the users of the workstation apparatuses WS1 to WSn via the local area network LAN (or the Internet). In addition, the image information received from the other group 3 facsimile apparatus via the public network PSTN is sent to the user corresponding to the subaddress designated at that time by using e-mail. Or a transfer service function for transferring image information received (by e-mail) from the workstation WS of the local area network LAN to the group 3 facsimile apparatus of the designated public network PSTN.
[0032]
In addition, for the e-mail received to the terminal itself, the image information arranged in the text information is taken out and recorded and output.
[0033]
Here, the facsimile image information is binary data, and the e-mail cannot include binary data directly. Therefore, a predetermined conversion method (for example, Base64 encoding method) is applied to read the readable information (7-bit information). The character code is included in the email. Such a format of e-mail text information is called MIME format.
[0034]
In this embodiment, when transmitting image information, the same image information is transmitted in the group 3 facsimile transmission procedure via the analog public line network PSTN and transmitted using e-mail. The image information received via the line network PSTN and the image information received by e-mail are collated and handled as appropriate received image information only when they match.
[0035]
Moreover, since the transmission side notifies the communication result by e-mail, the e-mail address for communication result notification is notified to the receiving side, and on the receiving side, a communication result report for notifying the reception result is created, Transmission is made to an e-mail address designated for communication result notification.
[0036]
Then, the image information and the e-mail address are encrypted using different encryption keys, respectively, and the encrypted data and the encryption key for decrypting the encrypted data are included in the other communication information.
[0037]
That is, in the case of the present embodiment, the facsimile transmission data transmitted by applying the group 3 facsimile transmission procedure has a signal format as shown in FIG. 3A, and the electronic mail transmitted by applying the electronic mail. The transmission data has a signal format as shown in FIG.
[0038]
Here, the facsimile transmission data includes encrypted data {circle around (1)} DA and encrypted data {circle around (2)} DB formed by encrypting the image information to be transmitted by the encryption / decryption unit 14 using the data encryption key 1Ka. Data encryption key 2Kb applied when encrypting (to be described later) and communication result notification e-mail address are encrypted by encryption / decryption processing unit 14 using address encryption key (1) KAa The encrypted address {circle around (1)} ADa and the address encryption key {circle around (2)} KAb applied when encrypting the encrypted address {circle around (2)} ADb (described later) are connected in this order.
[0039]
The e-mail transmission data includes encrypted data {2} DB formed by encrypting image information to be transmitted by the encryption / decryption unit 14 using the data encryption key {2} Kb, and encrypted data { 1) Data encryption key applied when DA is encrypted (1) Ka and communication result notification e-mail address are applied with address encryption key (2) KAb. The encrypted address {circle around (2)} ADb and the address encryption key {circle around (1)} KAa applied when encrypting the encrypted address {circle around (1)} ADa are connected in this order.
[0040]
In this way, in the present embodiment, the same image information is transmitted using the group 3 facsimile transmission procedure and e-mail, and when the image information on the receiving side matches as a result of matching, appropriate reception is performed. Since it is handled as image information, the reliability of image information communication can be ensured.
[0041]
In addition, since the image information to be transmitted is encrypted, even if another person eavesdrops and the transmitted image information is intercepted, it is difficult to convert the intercepted image information into the original image information. Secrecy can be ensured.
[0042]
In addition, the encryption key necessary for the process of converting the encrypted image information into the original image information is not included in the communication information (transmission information) obtained by intercepting one system of communication. Even if the communication information is intercepted, it is almost impossible to convert it to the original image information, and a very high confidentiality can be ensured.
[0043]
By the way, it is preferable for the user of the network facsimile apparatus FX to perform the above-described encrypted communication as necessary. For this purpose, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a selection means for selecting a line to be used for communication is provided in the operation display unit 7, and a general line (analog public line network PSTN) is used alone, or an Internet line is used. It is possible to select whether to use it alone or to use both a general line and an Internet line, and the encrypted communication described above is performed only when it is selected to use both a general line and an Internet line. To do.
[0044]
This selection operation is performed by pressing the button BT1, and items to be selected are displayed when the lamps LP1, LP2, LP3 arranged in the vicinity of the display are turned on. For example, in the initial state, “general line” is selected, and the lamp LP1 is lit.
[0045]
In this state, when the button BT1 is pressed once, “Internet line” is selected, and the lamp LP2 is lit. Further, when the button BT1 is pressed once from that state, “general line + Internet line” is selected, and the lamp LP3 is lit. Further, when the button BT1 is pressed once from that state, the “general line” is selected, and the lamp LP1 is turned on.
[0046]
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, a mode for selecting encrypted communication may be provided.
[0047]
FIG. 6 shows an example of processing performed by the network facsimile apparatus FX when transmitting image information in the encrypted communication mode.
[0048]
First, the user sets a transmission original on the scanner 5 and inputs a destination (processing 101). The destination input method is performed, for example, by operating a one-touch dial number in which a telephone number and an e-mail address are registered for the same destination.
[0049]
When the destination input is completed, the transmission original image set in the scanner 5 is read (process 102), and the image information obtained by reading is encoded and compressed by the encoding / decoding means 8 by applying a predetermined encoding method. Then, the image information obtained thereby is stored in the image storage device 9 (process 103).
[0050]
Next, a predetermined data encryption key (1) Ka is applied to the image information stored in the image storage device 9 and encrypted by the encryption / decryption unit 14 to create encrypted data (1) DA. The created encrypted data (1) DA is stored in the image storage device 9 (process 104).
[0051]
In addition, a predetermined address encryption key {circle around (1)} KAa is applied to the e-mail address set in the own terminal, and the encrypted decryption unit 14 encrypts it to create an encrypted address {circle around (1)} ADa. The created encrypted address {circle around (1)} ADa is stored in the image storage device 9 (process 105).
[0052]
Next, the image data stored in the image storage device 9 is encrypted by the encryption / decryption unit 14 by applying a predetermined data encryption key {circle around (2)} Kb to create encrypted data {circle around (2)} DB The created encrypted data {circle around (2)} is stored in the image storage device 9 (process 106).
[0053]
In addition, a predetermined address encryption key {circle around (2)} KAb is applied to the e-mail address set in the own terminal, and the encryption / decryption unit 14 creates an encrypted address {circle around (2)} ADb. The created encrypted address {circle around (2)} ADb is stored in the image storage device 9 (process 107).
[0054]
Then, the encrypted data (1) DA, the data encryption key (2) Kb, the encrypted address (1) ADa, and the address encryption key (2) KAb are connected in this order to create facsimile transmission data ( Process 108), a predetermined group 3 facsimile transmission process is applied, a call is made to the designated destination, and the facsimile transmission data created in process 108 is transmitted (Process 109).
[0055]
Next, the encrypted data (2) DB, the data encryption key (1) Ka, the encrypted address (2) ADb, and the address encryption key (1) KAa are connected in this order to create e-mail transmission data. Then (process 110), an e-mail carrying the e-mail transmission data is created and transmitted to the e-mail address of the designated destination (process 111).
[0056]
FIG. 7 shows an example of reception processing related to encrypted communication by the network facsimile apparatus FX.
[0057]
First, an incoming call is detected on the analog public line network PSTN, or it is monitored whether an e-mail acquisition timing is reached (NO loop of judgments 201 and 202).
[0058]
When the incoming call is detected and the result of determination 201 is YES, the incoming call is answered, predetermined group 3 facsimile reception processing is executed, image information is received, and the received image information is stored in the image storage device 9. (Processing 203).
[0059]
Here, it is checked whether or not an e-mail carrying e-mail communication data corresponding to the received facsimile communication data is received (determination 204). When the result of determination 204 is NO, the process returns to determination 201.
[0060]
If the result of determination 201 is YES, the encryption / decryption processing unit 14 applies the data encryption key (1) Ka of the e-mail reception data to the encryption data (1) DA of the facsimile reception data. Decryption processing is performed to obtain the original image information (1) (processing 205), and then the encrypted address (1) of the facsimile reception data (1) ADa is applied with the address encryption key (1) KAa of the email reception data. Then, the encryption / decryption processing unit 14 performs a decryption process to obtain a reply e-mail address (1) (process 206).
[0061]
Next, the encrypted data (2) DB of the e-mail received data is applied with the data encryption key (2) Kb of the facsimile received data, and the encryption / decryption processing unit 14 performs the decryption process to obtain the original image. Information (2) is acquired (process 207), and then the encrypted address (2) KAb of the facsimile reception data is applied to the encrypted address (2) ADb of the email reception data, and the encryption / decryption processing unit 14 is applied. The decryption process is performed to obtain a reply e-mail address {circle around (2)} (process 208).
[0062]
Next, the image information {circle around (1)} created in the process 205 and the image information {circle around (2)} created in the process 207 are collated (process 209), and it is checked whether or not they match (decision 210). When the result of determination 210 is YES, the e-mail address {circle around (1)} created in the process 206 is collated with the e-mail address {circle around (2)} created in the process 209 (process 211) to check whether they match. (Decision 212).
[0063]
When the result of determination 212 is YES, a report for notifying the communication result is created, the e-mail address acquired in processes 206 and 208 is set as the destination, and an e-mail carrying the created report is transmitted (process 213). .
[0064]
Further, when the result of determination 210 is NO, or when the result of determination 212 is NO, this processing is terminated at that point.
[0065]
In addition, since the e-mail acquisition timing (for example, arrives every 30 minutes), if the result of determination 202 is YES, an e-mail addressed to the own terminal is acquired (process 215), and the acquired e-mail is acquired. Is not a communication result notification, and it is checked whether the facsimile reception data corresponding to the email reception data is stored in the terminal (decision 216).
[0066]
When the result of determination 216 is YES, the process proceeds to process 205 and the subsequent processes are executed.
[0067]
When the result of determination 216 is NO, it is checked whether the acquired electronic mail is a communication result notification (determination 217). When the result of determination 217 is YES, the communication result carried by the electronic mail is determined. Is stored in a communication history (not shown) (process 218), and this process ends.
[0068]
If the result of determination 217 is NO, the process returns to determination 201.
[0069]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the same image information is transmitted using a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure and a plurality of communication means such as e-mail, and the result of collation of both image information on the receiving side is as follows. If they match, it is handled as appropriate received image information, so that the reliability of image information communication can be ensured.
[0070]
In addition, since the image information to be transmitted is encrypted, even if another person eavesdrops and the transmitted image information is intercepted, it is difficult to convert the intercepted image information into the original image information. It is also possible to ensure the secrecy of the image.
[0071]
In addition, the encryption key necessary for the process of converting the encrypted image information into the original image information is not included in the communication information (transmission information) obtained by intercepting one system of communication. Even if the communication information is intercepted, it is almost impossible to convert the communication information to the original image information, and an effect of ensuring a very high confidentiality can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a network facsimile apparatus FX.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of facsimile transmission data and e-mail transmission data.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of selection means for selecting a line used for communication.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of selection means for selecting an encryption mode used for communication.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed when the network facsimile apparatus FX transmits image information in the encrypted communication mode.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of reception processing related to encrypted communication by the network facsimile apparatus FX.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 System control part 2 System memory 3 Parameter memory 7 Operation display part 8 Coding / decoding part 9 Image storage apparatus 10 Group 3 Facsimile modem 11 Network control apparatus 12 Local area network interface circuit 13 Local area network transmission control part 14 Encryption / decryption Processing section

Claims (6)

In a facsimile machine provided with a plurality of communication means,
When transmitting image information, the same image information is transmitted to the same destination using the plurality of communication means.
When receiving image information, a plurality of pieces of image information received from the same transmission source are collated, and when they match, the received image information is determined to be normal and treated as received image information. Facsimile device. A first communication means for connecting to an analog public network and exchanging image information using a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure;
A second communication means for connecting to the Internet and exchanging image information using e-mail;
Encryption and decryption means for encrypting the image information and converting the encrypted image information into the original plaintext image information,
When transmitting image information, the transmission image information is encrypted by the encryption / decryption means, and the encrypted transmission image information is transmitted to a designated destination using the first communication means, and the encrypted transmission image is transmitted. Send information to the same destination using the second communication means,
When receiving image information, the first encrypted received image information received using the first communication means from the same transmission source and the second encrypted received image information received using the second communication means Are converted into the original plaintext first received image information and second received image information by the encryption / decryption means, and the first received image information and the second received image information are collated, A facsimile apparatus characterized by judging that the received image information is normal when the two match, and treating the received image information as received image information. A first communication means for connecting to an analog public network and exchanging image information using a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure;
A second communication means for connecting to the Internet and exchanging image information using e-mail;
Encryption and decryption means for encrypting the image information and converting the encrypted image information into the original plaintext image information,
When transmitting image information, the transmission image information is encrypted by the encryption / decryption means using the first encryption reference information to create first encrypted transmission image information, and the first encrypted transmission image information is A second encrypted transmission image is transmitted to the designated destination using the first communication unit, and the transmission image information is encrypted using the second encryption reference information by the encryption / decryption unit. Information is generated, the second encrypted transmission image information is transmitted to the same destination using the second transmission means, the encrypted transmission image information,
When receiving the image information, the first encrypted reference image information is applied to the first encrypted received image information received from the transmission source using the first communication unit, and the first encrypted reference information is decrypted by the encryption / decryption unit. 1 plaintext received image information is created, and the second encrypted reference image information is applied to the second encrypted received image information received from the same source using the second communication means, and the encrypted The second plaintext received image information is decrypted by the decrypting means, the first plaintext received image information and the second plaintext received image information are collated, and the received image information when they match. Is a normal facsimile machine, and treats it as received image information. A first communication means for connecting to an analog public network and exchanging image information using a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure;
A second communication means for connecting to the Internet and exchanging image information using e-mail;
Encryption and decryption means for encrypting the image information and converting the encrypted image information into the original plaintext image information,
When transmitting image information, the transmission image information is encrypted by the encryption / decryption means using the first encryption reference information to create first encrypted transmission image information, and the transmission image information is encrypted and decrypted. Means to generate second encrypted transmission image information by encrypting using the second encryption reference information,
The first encrypted transmission image information and the second encryption reference information are connected to create first transmission information, and the second encrypted transmission image information and the first encryption reference information are connected. To create the second transmission information,
The first communication means is used to transmit the first transmission information to a designated destination, and the second communication means is used to transmit the second transmission information to the same destination.
When receiving image information, the first transmission information is received from the transmission source using the first communication means, and the second transmission information is received from the same transmission source using the second communication means. Then
The first transmission information is divided into the first encrypted reception image information and second encryption reference information, and the second transmission information is divided into second encryption reception image information and first encryption reference information. Divided into
The first encrypted reference image information is applied to the first encrypted reception image information, and the first plaintext reception image information is generated by decryption by the encryption / decryption means, and the second encrypted reception image Applying the second encryption reference information to the image information, decrypting by the encryption / decryption means to create second plaintext received image information,
The first plaintext received image information and the second plaintext received image information are collated, and when they match, it is determined that the received image information is normal and treated as received image information Facsimile machine to do. A first communication means for connecting to an analog public network and exchanging image information using a group 3 facsimile transmission procedure;
A second communication means for connecting to the Internet and exchanging image information using e-mail;
Encryption and decryption means for encrypting the image information and converting the encrypted image information into the original plaintext image information,
When transmitting image information, the transmission image information is encrypted by the encryption / decryption means using the first encryption reference information to create first encrypted transmission image information, and the transmission image information is encrypted and decrypted. Means to create second encrypted transmission image information by encrypting using the second encryption reference information,
The e-mail address representing the transmission result notification destination is encrypted using the third encryption reference information by the encryption / decryption means to create first encrypted e-mail address information, and the e-mail address is Encrypting by using the fourth encryption reference information by the encryption / decryption means to generate the second encrypted email address information;
Concatenating the first encrypted transmission image information, the second encryption reference information, the first encrypted email address information, and the fourth encryption reference information to create first transmission information, Concatenating the second encrypted transmission image information, the first encryption reference information, the second encrypted email address information, and the third encryption reference information to create second transmission information,
The first communication means is used to transmit the first transmission information to a designated destination, and the second communication means is used to transmit the second transmission information to the same destination.
When receiving image information, the first transmission information is received from the transmission source using the first communication means, and the second transmission information is received from the same transmission source using the second communication means. Then
The first transmission information is divided into the first encrypted received image information, the second encrypted reference information, the first encrypted email address information, and the fourth encrypted reference information. Is divided into second encrypted received image information, first encrypted reference information, second encrypted email address information, and third encrypted reference information,
The first encrypted reference image information is applied to the first encrypted reception image information, and the first plaintext reception image information is generated by decryption by the encryption / decryption means, and the second encrypted reception image Applying the second encryption reference information to the image information, decrypting by the encryption / decryption means to create second plaintext received image information,
The first plaintext received image information and the second plaintext received image information are collated, and when they match, the received image information is determined to be normal, and treated as received image information.
The third encrypted reference information is applied to the first encrypted email address image information and decrypted by the encryption / decryption means to create first plaintext email address information. Applying the fourth cipher reference information to the encrypted e-mail address image information, decrypting the encrypted e-mail address information by the encryption / decryption means to create second plaintext e-mail address information,
The first plaintext e-mail address information and the second plaintext e-mail address information are collated, and if they match, a report representing the reception result is created, and the report is sent to the plaintext e-mail address. A facsimile apparatus characterized by transmitting using a second communication means. 6. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising operation means for designating whether or not to perform encrypted communication.

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