JPH0433473A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To remind the operator of the importance and confidentiality of an original by allowing the operator of the equipment or a person handling an original or received picture information to recognize it as to whether or not cryptographic communication is or was implemented. CONSTITUTION:The facsimile equipment is provided with a scanner 1, a printer 2, a coding/decoding device 12, a cryptographic/decoding device 13 and a MO DEM 14, which are controlled by a system control section 11. An operating panel 16 is provided with a ten-key for various data entry, function keys, lamps for various data display, LCDs and a buzzer or the like and connects to the system control section 11. Then the operator of the equipment or a person handling an original or received picture information recognizes it as to whether or not cryptographic communication is or was implemented. Thus, discrepancy is not occurred.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and in particular,
The present invention relates to a facsimile device having an encrypted communication function.

(Prior Art) Various facsimile devices having encrypted communication functions have been proposed. Such encrypted communication functions are first achieved by using a receiving station that has a decryption device (hereinafter referred to as an encryption/decryption device) similar to the encryption device possessed by the transmitting station.

Facsimile machines having an encryption/decryption device are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-223076 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-12.
It is described in Publication No. 6773.

By the way, in such a facsimile device, if the receiving station does not have an encryption/decryption device, even if the transmitting station wishes to use encrypted communication, the communication cannot be carried out using the normal method without encryption. As shown in the figure, the communication mode of both sides is automatically switched.

Even if both the transmitting station and the receiving station have encryption/decryption devices, the same applies if one of them is set to the normal communication mode.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The above-described conventional technology had the following problems.

(1) Encrypted communication is originally performed to prevent eavesdropping, but as mentioned above, even if the transmitting station desires encrypted communication, the receiving station may not have an encryption/decryption device. If not, or if the normal communication mode is set, normal communication is performed, and there is a risk that the image information of the confidential document may be intercepted and its contents may be leaked.

(2) Even if encrypted communication is performed, the receiving station does not know the importance and confidentiality of the received image information, so there is a risk that the received image information output as a hard copy may be handled carelessly. There is.

(3) Similarly, if the transmitting station forgets the importance and confidentiality of the transmitted manuscript, the manuscript will be handled carelessly.

The present invention has been made to solve each of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to prevent the above-mentioned problems from occurring when or when important manuscripts are being sent. Its purpose is to provide facsimile machines.

(Means and operations for solving the problem) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides information on whether encrypted communication is being performed or not, or whether encrypted communication has been performed. The feature is that the operator of the facsimile machine or the person handling the original or received image information is made to recognize the information.

Specifically, when encrypted communication is being carried out or has been carried out, or when normal communication is being carried out or carried out, this fact is displayed using a lamp or LCD, or It is unique in that information to that effect is added to image information and communication records, or stamped on manuscripts.

(Example) The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, a scanner 1, a printer 2, an encoding/decoding device 12, an encoding/decoding device 13, and a modem 14 are
It is controlled by the system control section 11. Operation panel 16
is equipped with a numeric keypad and function keys for inputting various data, a lamp, an LCD, a buzzer, etc. for displaying various data, and is connected to the system control section 11.

The NCU 15, the modem 14, the encryption/decoding device 13, the encoding/decoding device 12, the printer 2, and the scanner 1 are connected as shown in the figure.

In encrypted communication, at the time of reception, the image information received from the transmitting station via the line is transmitted to the NCU 15 and the modem 14.
, the encrypting/decoding device 13 and the encoding/decoding device 12, and are output to the printer 2. On the other hand, when sending
The image information read by the scanner 1 is sent to an encoder/decoder 12, an encoder/decoder 13, a modem 14, and an NCU.
15 to the line.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of essential parts of the operation panel according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, numeral 16A is an LCD that displays various messages to the operator of the facsimile machine, and numeral 16B is a lamp that indicates that encrypted communication is being performed by the facsimile machine.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention. This first embodiment is characterized by the image information transmission operation, and FIG. 4 also shows the transmission operation.

In FIG. 4, dialing is first performed in step S1.

If the response from the other party is confirmed in step S2, it is determined in step S3 whether or not an NSF has been received.

When the reception of the NSF is confirmed, in step S4,
By the operator of the facsimile machine (transmission station),
It is determined whether encrypted communication is instructed. If the encrypted communication instruction has not been given, the process moves to step S9, which will be described later.

If an instruction for encrypted communication has been given, it is determined in step S5 whether the receiver is capable of encrypted communication.

This determination is made by analyzing the NSF sent from the receiver.

If the receiver is not capable of encrypted communication, the process moves to step S6, and after the line is released, the process ends. Note that in this case, normal communication may be performed.

If the receiver is capable of encrypted communication, steps S7 and S8
In , the cryptographic mark addition flag and stamp flag are set.

The encryption mark addition flag and stamp flag are respectively set on the operation panel 16 of the facsimile machine (see Fig. 2).
The settings are made in advance using a cryptographic mark addition setting means and a stamp addition setting means (these will be described later with reference to FIG. 1) provided in the .

That is, when an operator wants to add a mark indicating that the communication is encrypted communication (hereinafter referred to as an encryption mark) to the image information during encrypted communication, the operator can add the encrypted mark by operating the encryption mark addition setting means. Similarly, if the mark addition flag is set to "1" and a code mark is to be stamped on a document from which image information has been read during encrypted communication, the operator can set the stamp flag by operating the stamp addition setting means. is set to “1”.

Then, the contents of these flags (i.e. “1” or “0”
”) is set in steps S7 and 8.

In step S9, a predetermined protocol communication is performed, and if it is determined in step SIO that the document transmission timing has come, the lamp 16B is turned on in step S19.

Next, in step Sll, it is determined whether the set cryptographic mark addition flag is "1" or not. If the flag is "θ", the process moves to step S13.

In step S12, a code mark is added to the beginning position of the image information read in step S13, which will be described later. This encryption mark may be added, for example, by transmitting the image information prior to reading and transmitting it, or if the image information is temporarily stored in a memory before transmission, it may be added at the beginning of the reading of the memory. This may be realized by storing a code mark at the position.

In steps S13 and S14, the document (image information)
is read and sent. During this transmission, the image information is encoded using a predetermined method, and if the communication is encrypted communication, the image information is further encrypted using a predetermined method.

If transmission of one page of the document is confirmed in step S15, it is determined in step S16 whether or not the set stamp flag is "1".

If the flag is “0”, the process proceeds to step 51.
Move to 8.

In step S17, a code mark is stamped on the read document.

In step 31g, it is determined whether or not the read original is the last page. If it is not the last page, the process moves to step Sll, and if it is the last page, the lamp 16B is turned off in step 520. After that, the process ends.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, an encrypted communication setting means 41, a stamp addition setting means 42, and an encrypted mark addition setting means 43 are used by the operator of the facsimile machine to set encrypted communication and to stamp an encrypted mark on a document during encrypted communication. "1" is output when a designation is made, and when a designation is made to add a cryptographic mark to image information during cryptographic communication.

The document may be stamped by stamping a code mark with ink, or by printing the code mark on the document using an ink ribbon or the like.

The output signal line of the encrypted communication setting means 41 is connected to one input terminal of the AND gates 50, 51 and 54, and the inverter 5.
3 and 55, an encryption/decryption means 47 and a protocol control means 48.

The protocol control means 48 sends and receives predetermined protocol control signals to and from the other party (receiving station) via the transmitting means 49. At this time, data indicating that encrypted communication is to be performed, set by encrypted communication setting means 41, is added to the NSS sent from protocol control means 48.

When the timing for transmitting the image information comes, the protocol control means 48 outputs "1" to the other terminal of the AND gate 54. Therefore, if encrypted communication is set,
Lamp 16B lights up.

The protocol control means 48 outputs "0" to the terminal when the communication of image information is completed.

When “1” is output from the encrypted communication setting means 41, the encryption/decryption means 47 is activated, and further,
When the stamp addition setting means 42 and the cipher mark addition setting means 43 output "1", the AND gate 5
0 and 51 produce outputs, and the stamper 44A and cryptographic mark adding means 45 are energized.

Conversely, when the encrypted communication setting means 41 outputs "0", the outputs of the inverters 53 and 55 become "1", and the switching means 52 and 56 are closed. The switching means 52 and 56 are normally open.

Therefore, when encrypted communication is set, a cipher mark is added to the image information read by the original reading means 44 at the top position by the cipher mark adding means 45, and then the encoding/decoding means 46 The data is encoded and encrypted by the encryption/decryption means 47, and then sent to the line by the transmission means 49.

Further, each time one page of the original is completed, a code mark is stamped on the original 40 being read or the original 40 that has been read by the stamper 44A.

If encrypted communication is not set, stamper 44A
Since the cipher mark adding means 45 and the encryption/decryption means 47 are not energized and the switching means 52 and 56 are closed, the read image information is added with a cipher mark and encrypted. It is sent to the line without any problem.

Also, stamps are not stamped on the manuscript.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention. This second embodiment is characterized by the image information receiving operation, and FIG. 5 also shows the receiving operation.

Note that the hardware configuration of this second embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 2, so a description thereof will be omitted.

This facsimile machine also includes an LCD 16A and a lamp 16B as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, first, when it is determined in step S21 that an incoming call has been received, steps S22 and S2
At 3, CED and NSF are sent out.

In step S24, it is determined whether an NSS has been received.

If reception of NSS is not confirmed, step S25
At , it is determined whether or not DC8 has been received. D
If reception of C3 is confirmed, the normal reception mode is entered.

If the reception of DC8 is not confirmed, step S26
In this step, it is determined whether three seconds have elapsed since the process of step S24 or S25 was first performed.

If 3 seconds have not elapsed, the process proceeds to step S24.
If 3 seconds have elapsed, the process returns to step S23.

If reception of the NSS is confirmed, it is determined in step S27 whether or not an instruction for encrypted communication has been issued from the transmitting station. If encrypted communication instructions are not given,
The process moves to step S30.

If the encrypted communication instruction has been given, the encrypted mark addition flag is set in step 82g. This cipher mark addition flag is set using the cipher mark addition setting means provided on the operation panel of the facsimile machine, as described above in connection with the first embodiment.
If a code mark is to be added to image information during encrypted communication, the flag is set to "1°" by the operator. If a code mark is not to be added, the flag remains at "0".

In step S29, the lamp 16B is turned on.

In step S30, a document (image information) is received.

If it is determined in step S31 that reception of all image information has been completed, in step S32,
Image information is decoded. Of course, if the communication is encrypted communication, the image information is decoded prior to encoding.

If it is determined in step S33 that one page of image information has been decoded and decoded, step S34
In the step, it is determined whether the communication is encrypted communication or not. If the communication is not encrypted, the process moves to step 837.

If the communication is encrypted, it is determined in step S35 whether the encrypted mark addition flag is "1". If the flag is “0”, the process proceeds to step S.
37.

If the flag is "1", a cryptographic mark is added to the beginning position of the image information in step 336.

In step S37, the image information is printed.

Then, in step S3g, it is determined whether the printed image information is the last page.

If it is not the last page, the process returns to step S32,
If it is the last page, the lamp 16B is displayed in step S39.
After the light is turned off, the process ends. Although we have described the case where the receiving side has a memory that receives and stores all the image information, it is also possible to use facsimile machines that continuously perform the receiving, decoding, decoding, and printing processes, for example, one line at a time. It goes without saying that the present invention is applicable. Since the cryptographic mark addition process in this case can be easily understood from the above explanation, the explanation thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 represent the same or equivalent parts.

In FIG. 6, the cipher mark addition setting means 64 is configured by the operator of the facsimile machine to
If a designation is made to further record a code mark on the recording paper on which image information has been recorded, "1" is output.

The output signal line of the encrypted communication determination means 63 is connected to the AND gate 6
One input terminal of 8 and 69, inverters 67 and 71
, as well as to the encryption/decryption means 47.

The protocol control means 62 sends and receives predetermined protocol control signals to and from the other party (transmitting station) via the receiving means 61. At this time, the encrypted communication determining means 63 detects data sent from the other party's device indicating that encrypted communication will be performed.

This detection is performed, for example, by analyzing the NSS sent from the transmitting station.

When the data indicating that this encrypted communication is to be performed is detected, the encrypted communication determining means 63 outputs "1°."

When the image information is received, the protocol control means 62 outputs "1" to the other terminal of the AND gate 69. Therefore, when the encrypted communication determination means 63 detects that encrypted communication is to be performed, the lamp 16B is lit. The protocol control means 62 outputs "0" to the terminal when the communication of the image information is completed.

Further, when the encrypted communication determining means 63 outputs "1", the encryption/decryption means 47 is activated, and furthermore, when the encrypted mark addition setting means 64 outputs "1" (If the addition of a cryptographic mark is requested), the AND gate 68 produces an output and the cryptographic mark adding means 45 is energized.

Conversely, when the encrypted communication determining means 63 outputs "0", the inverters 67 and 71 produce outputs, and the switching means 66 and 7o are closed. The switching means 66 and 7o are normally open.

Therefore, when performing encrypted communication, the image information received by the receiving means 61 is decoded and decoded by the encrypting/decoding means 47 and the encoding/decoding means 46, and then by the encrypted mark adding means 45. , a code mark is added to the first position.

This image information is stored on the recording paper 6 by the recording means 65.
Recorded as 0.

If encrypted communication is not performed, the encrypted mark adding means 45
Since the encryption/decryption means 47 is not energized and the switching means 66 and 70 are closed, the read image information is recorded on the recording paper 60 without being decrypted or adding a code mark. be done.

(Modified example) (1) In the above explanation, the lamp 16B was explained as being automatically turned on when the communication is encrypted communication, but it is also possible to add a code mark to image information and to add a code mark to the document Similarly to the code mark stamp on the fax machine, the operator of the facsimile machine may be able to select its lighting.

(2) In the first embodiment, during encrypted communication,
The explanation has been made assuming that the lamp 16B is turned on, a code mark is stamped on the document from which the image information has been read, and the code mark is added to the image information to be transmitted. At least one of stamping the code mark and adding the code mark to the image information may be performed.

Similarly, in the second embodiment, at least one of lighting the lamp 16B and adding a code mark to the image information may be performed.

(3) Also, along with or in place of adding a code mark to image information or stamping a code mark to a manuscript,
It goes without saying that data indicating that encrypted communication has been performed may be recorded on recording paper (recording paper different from the recording paper on which image information is recorded) and output.

(4) Furthermore, in conjunction with or instead of lighting the lamp 16B, a buzzer or the like may be sounded, or the operator may be made aware of the fact that encrypted communication is or has been carried out by voice. .

Furthermore, the fact that encrypted communication has been carried out is memorized for each encrypted communication, and under predetermined circumstances (for example, at the instruction of an operator or when a predetermined number of communication records have been stored), those communication records can be stored. may be output in the format shown in FIG. 7, for example.

With such a communication record, it is also possible to manage image information communication performed by the facsimile device.

Such a technique can also be adopted on the receiving station side.

Further, it may be possible to display on the LCD 16A that encrypted communication is being performed or that it has been performed.

(5) In the above description, the code mark is added to the beginning of the image information, but it may be added to the end of the image information, or to the left or right side of the image information.

(6) In the first embodiment, the transmitting station itself adds a code mark to the image information and stamps the code mark on the document in response to instructions from the transmitting station. It goes without saying that a request may be made to the transmitting station to add an encryption mark to the image information.

Similarly, in the second embodiment, it has been explained that the receiving station itself adds an encryption mark to the image information according to instructions from the receiving station. It goes without saying that a request to add a mark may be issued.

Such processing can be easily performed by adding each request signal to the protocol control signal, so a detailed explanation of its configuration will be omitted.

(7) In the above description, the encryption/decryption means 47 was explained as being provided separately from the encoding/decryption means 46, but the method of this encryption/decryption is not limited to any one. Also good.

Also, as an encryption/decryption method,
No. 776, or the patent application filed by the applicant on April 23, 1990 (title of invention: facsimile communication eavesdropping prevention method), etc., can be used to encrypt/decrypt It is not necessary to provide the means 47 in particular.

In other words, eavesdropping can be prevented by, for example, determining the actual encoding/decoding method using a predetermined method and adding data of a false encoding/decoding method different from the determined method to the protocol control signal. If a wiretapping device is detected, the wiretapping device will receive the image information using the false encoding/decoding method. Encrypted communication can be performed.

Further, even if the actual transmission speed is determined by a predetermined method and data with a false transmission speed different from the determined transmission speed is output as the protocol control signal, the encryption/decryption means 47 can be used without providing the encryption/decryption means 47. Enables substantial encrypted communication.

(8) In the above explanation, it was assumed that the encryption mark is added, the buzzer is energized, etc. when or if encrypted communication is performed, but conversely, when normal communication is performed Alternatively, if encrypted communication has been carried out, a mark indicating that encrypted communication has not been carried out may be added, or a buzzer may be activated.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, depending on whether the communication is encrypted or not, the operator of the facsimile machine or the original Alternatively, since the person handling the received image information is made to recognize the received image information, the following effects can be achieved.

(1) If the receiving station does not have an encryption/decryption device,
Or, if the normal communication mode is set, even if normal communication is performed, the operators of the transmitting station and receiving station can be made aware of this fact, so the communication can be intercepted and its contents leaked. If there is a risk, it is possible to stop communication.

(2) If encrypted communication is performed, the operator of the receiving station or the recipient of the received image information will be informed of the importance of the received image information.
Since the confidentiality can be recognized, the received image information can be handled carefully.

(3) Similarly, the operator of the transmitting station and the owner of the manuscript can be reminded of the importance and confidentiality of the transmitted manuscript, and can be made to handle the manuscript with care.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of essential parts of the operation panel according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the output format of communication records. Means agent Patent attorney Michito Hiraki 1 other person 16A...LCD, 16B...lamp, 41...
Encrypted communication setting means, 42... stamp addition setting means,
43.64... Encryption mark addition setting means, 44A...
・Standber, 45... Encryption mark adding means, 47...
・Encryption/decryption means, 63... Encrypted communication judgment diagram

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a facsimile machine having an encrypted communication function, depending on whether the communication is an encrypted communication or not, a notification to that effect is sent to the operator of the facsimile machine or the manuscript or received image information. A facsimile machine characterized by being equipped with a recognition means that allows a user to recognize the facsimile machine.