A facsimile apparatus is provided with changeover means that makes it possible to pass signals through or to bypass a coder, which encrypts transmission information, and a decoder, which decodes encrypted information that has been received. Whether or not a facsimile apparatus belonging to another party has an encrypting/decoding processing function is verified by a pre-procedure signal. If the other party's apparatus possesses an encrypting/decoding processing function, control is performed in such a manner that encrypting/decoding processing is applied solely to an image signal and a training-check signal transmitted before transmission/reception of the image signal, and encrypting/decoding processing is not applied to a procedure signal which accompanies transmission reception transmission/reception of the image signal. If the other party's apparatus does not possess an encrypting/decoding processing function, it is possible to select between terminating communication and performing facsimile communication without executing encrypting/decoding processing.
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0. 42. A facsimile communication method comprising the steps of:
inputting data;
encrypting the inputted data;
determining, based on a recommended procedure signal, whether or not a data-receiving apparatus possesses any decryption function; and
based on a determination result in said determining step, transmitting an encrypted training signal, the encrypted data, and a recommended procedure end signal that is not encrypted in sequence if the data-receiving apparatus possesses a decryption function, and, if the data-receiving apparatus does not possess a decryption function, halting data transmission and terminating communication.
0. 39. A facsimile communication apparatus comprising:
input means for inputting data;
encryption means for encrypting the inputted data;
transmitter means for transmitting the encrypted data;
determination means for determining, based on a recommended procedure signal, whether or not a data-receiving apparatus possesses any decryption function; and
controller means for controlling said transmitter means based on a determination result of said determination means, such that, if the data-receiving apparatus possesses a decryption function, an encrypted training signal, the data encrypted by said encryption means, and a recommended procedure end signal that is not encrypted are transmitted in sequence by said transmitter means, and, if the data-receiving apparatus does not possess a decryption function, data transmission by said transmitter means is halted and communication is terminated.
0. 1. A communication apparatus for subjecting communication information to encryption, comprising:
input means for encrypting the information;
encrypting means for encrypting information;
generating means for generating a procedure signal;
encryption control means for controlling said encrypting means to cause said encrypting means to encrypt the information, and to not encrypt a procedure signal which accompanies transmission of the information; and
transmission means for transmitting the encrypted information.
0. 2. The apparatus according to
0. 3. The apparatus according to
0. 4. The apparatus according to
0. 5. The apparatus according to
0. 6. The apparatus according to
0. 7. A communication apparatus for decrypting encrypted communication information that has been received, said apparatus comprising:
receiving means for receiving encrypted communication information;
decrypting means for decrypting the received communication information; and
decryption control means for controlling said decrypting means to cause said decrypting means to decrypt the information and to not decrypt a procedure signal which accompanies transmission of the information.
0. 8. The apparatus according to
0. 9. The apparatus according to
informing means for informing a transmitting side of a communication of presence of decrypting means for decrypting the encrypted information,
wherein said decryption control means controls said decryption means to decrypt the information which is sent from the transmitting side of a communication in accordance with information from said informing means, and controls said decrypting means to not decrypt a procedure signal which accompanies the transmission of the information.
0. 10. The apparatus according to
0. 11. The apparatus according to
0. 12. An apparatus for subjecting communication information to encryption and decrypting, comprising:
input means for inputting information;
receiving means for receiving information;
generating means for generating a procedure signal;
encrypting-decrypting means for encrypting and decrypting information; and
encryption-decryption control means for controlling said encrypting-decrypting means to cause said encrypting-decrypting means to encrypt or decrypt the information and to not encrypt or decrypt a procedure signal which accompanies the transmission of the information.
0. 13. The apparatus according to
0. 14. The apparatus according to
0. 15. The apparatus according to
0. 16. The apparatus according to
0. 17. The apparatus according to
0. 18. The apparatus according to
informing means for informing a transmitting side of a communication of presence of decrypting means for decrypting the encrypted information,
wherein said encryption-decryption control means controls said encrypting-decrypting means to decrypt the information which is sent from a transmission side of a communication in accordance with information from said informing means, and controls said encrypting-decrypting means to not decrypt a procedure signal which accompanies the transmission of the information.
0. 19. The apparatus according to
0. 20. The apparatus according to
0. 21. A communication method for communication apparatuses for subjecting communication information to encryption, comprising the steps of:
inputting information;
generating a procedure signal;
encrypting information inputted at the input step;
disabling encrypting of a procedure signal generated at the generating step and which accompanies transmission of the information; and
transmitting the encrypted information and the procedure signal.
0. 22. The method according to
0. 23. The method according to
0. 24. The method according to
0. 25. The method according to
0. 26. A communication method for communication apparatuses for decrypting encrypted communication information that has been received, comprising the steps of:
receiving communication information;
separating the communication information into encrypted information and a procedure signal; and
decrypting the encrypted information and preventing decrypting and a procedure signal.
0. 27. The method according to
0. 28. The method according to
0. 29. The method according to
0. 30. The method according to
0. 31. A communication method for communication apparatuses for subjecting communication information to encryption and decrypting processing, comprising the steps of:
inputting information;
generating a procedure signal;
encrypting information inputted at the input step and not encrypting the procedure signal generated at the generated step;
receiving communication information;
separating encrypted information and a procedure signal from the communication information; and
decrypting the information and not decrypting the procedure signal separated at the separation step.
0. 32. The method according to
0. 33. The method according to
0. 34. The method according to
0. 35. The method according to
0. 36. The method according to
wherein the information which is sent from a transmitting side of communication in accordance with the information of the presence of the decrypting function, is decrypted and a procedure signal which accompanies the transmission of the information is not decrypted.
0. 37. The method according to
0. 38. The method according to
0. 40. The facsimile communication apparatus according to
signal receiver means for receiving a procedure signal from the data-receiving apparatus, wherein said determination means determines whether or not the data-receiving apparatus possesses the decryption function based on the procedure signal received by said signal receiver means.
0. 41. The facsimile communication apparatus according to
0. 43. The facsimile communication method according to
0. 44. The facsimile communication method according to
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This application is a This There also is a mode used when the other party's apparatus does not possess an encryption function. In this mode, the apparatus asks for an indication from the operator. When the operator responds, within a predetermined period of time, by entering an enable instruction which allows transmission/reception without encryption of an image signal, the apparatus subsequently performs facsimile communication without encryption.
<Description of Operation (FIGS. 2 through 4) 4)>
A transceiving operation in the embodiment having the foregoing arrangement will now be described in detail with reference to
Operation will be described taking as an example a case where the apparatus of the embodiment has been set to mode (1) mentioned above, namely the mode in which the facsimile apparatus is on the sending side and always transmits/receives an image signal upon first encrypting the signal.
In
In the present embodiment, the flow controller 11 on both the sending and receiving sides is set in such manner that, in an initial state, the output of the switch circuit 16-a is connected to the switch circuit 16-b and the switch circuit 16-b delivers the signal from the switch circuit 16-a to the modulating circuit 5.
Further, the flow controller 11 on both the sending and receiving sides is set in such manner that, in an initial state, the switch circuit 16-c delivers the signal from the demodulating circuit 8 to the switch circuit 16-d and the switch circuit 16-d delivers the signal from the switch circuit 16-c to the received-data control circuit 9.
In a case where facsimile communication is to be carried out when the set state mentioned above prevails, first well-known call processing is executed. For example, when the other facsimile apparatus 60 is called from the facsimile apparatus of the embodiment and the other facsimile apparatus 60 responds so that a communication line is formed between the two apparatus, first the other facsimile apparatus 60 transmits a well-known pre-procedure signal 101 (NSF, DIS), which has not been encrypted, to the apparatus on the calling side.
The pre-procedure 101 is a signal which communicates the function possessed by the apparatus on the called side to the apparatus on the calling side. In
The pre-procedure signal 101 is sent to the control-signal analyzer 10 via the NCU 6, demodulating circuit 8, switch circuit 16-c, switch circuit 16-d and received-data control circuit 9 of the apparatus on the calling side. The pre-procedure signal is analyzed by the control-signal analyzer 10, whose output is delivered to the flow controller 11.
When the apparatus on the called side is confirmed as being one having an encryption function, the pre-procedure signal (NSS, DCS) indicated at 102 in
The pre-procedure signal 102 is a signal which indicates, to the receiving side, the communication mode, etc., in the transmission of the ensuing image signal. In
Thereafter, the flow controller 11 of the facsimile apparatus on the sending side is set in such a manner that the output of switch circuit 16-a is delivered to the coder 17-a and the switch circuit 16-b outputs the signal from the coder 17-a.
Meanwhile, the flow controller 11 of the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side changes over the switch circuits in accordance with an indication for performing encrypted communication contained in the non-standard function-setting (NSS) signal of the pre-procedure signal 102. This flow controller 11 is set in such a manner that the output of switch 16-c will be delivered to the decoder 17-b and the output from switch circuit 16-d will become the output from switch circuit 16-c.
These set states of the switches on the sending and receiving sides are established at transmission of the training-check signal 103, which is transmitted subsequently, and at transmission of an image signal 105, described below. At transmission of other signals, these switches are placed in a state which does not allow signal passage through the coder 17-a and decoder 17-b.
Furthermore, the switches on the receiving side are placed in similar set states only at reception of a training-check signal corresponding to an instruction on the sending side and at reception of an image signal. At other times, these switches are placed in a state which does not allow signal passage through the coder 17-a and decoder 17-b.
Consequently, on the sending side, the transmission training-check signal and image signal are subsequently modulated by the modulating circuit 5 following encrypting by the coder 17-a, and the modulated signals are transmitted to the other party's apparatus.
On the receiving side, these modulated, encrypted data are demodulated by the demodulating circuit 8, after which the decoder 17-b restores the demodulated data to the original signals that prevailed prior to encryption.
As a consequence, the flow controller 11, which transmits the pre-procedure signal 102 and changes over the switch circuits, instructs the control-signal generator 2 to generate the training-check signal. This signal is subjected to encryption processing by the coder 17-a, the encrypted signal is modulated by the modulating circuit 5, and the resulting signal is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side.
The encrypted training-check signal is indicated at numeral 103 in FIG. 2. This signal is for performing a check to determine whether the facsimile apparatus on the receiving side is capable of receiving an image signal normally at the present transmission speed and communication specifications.
In the other facsimile apparatus 60 which has received the encrypted training-check signal 103, the set states of the switches are in accordance with the indication of the foregoing pre-procedure signal 102, as mentioned above. After being demodulated by the demodulating circuit 8, the signal is decoded by the decoder 17-b to be converted into the signal that prevailed prior to encryption. As a result of reception of the reception training-check signal, a reception preparation-complete signal (CFR) is send sent back.
At this time the coder 17-a is in the cut-off state on the receiving side, and therefore the control signal from the control-signal` generator 2 is modulated by the modulating circuit 5 and transmitted to the sending side without being encrypted. This signal, shown at numeral 104 in
On the sending side, which has received signal 104, preparations for transmission in accordance with the present communication specifications will have been completed and the apparatus will be in a state capable of transmission at any time. Consequently, a read image signal from the reader 1 is subjected to encryption processing similar to that described above, and the encrypted signal is transmitted to the receiving side.
At this time the flow controller 11 performs control in such a manner that the output from the changeover circuit 3 to the transmission-data control circuit 4 becomes the read data from the reader 1, whereby the read data from the reader 1 is outputted as image signal 105 to the transmission channel 51 via the transmission-data control circuit 4, coder 17-a, modulating circuit 5 and NCU 6.
The encrypted image signal is delivered to, say, the other facsimile apparatus 60 via the transmission circuit network 50 and transmission line 52.
On the receiving side, the encrypted image signal is demodulated by the demodulating circuit 8, after which the demodulated signal is restored by the decoder 17-b to the signal that prevailed prior to encryption. This signal is sent to the recorder 15 via the received-data control circuit 9, and the recorder 15 prints out the data indicated by the received signal.
The arrangement is such that when this transmission of the image signal is completed, the flow controller 11 on the sending side causes the output of switch circuit 16-a to be connected to switch circuit 16-b and causes switch circuit 16-b to output the signal from switch circuit 16-a to the modulating circuit 5. Thus, a procedure-end signal (EOP) 106, which is not encrypted, is transmitted.
At this time, on the receiving side, the arrangement is such that the switch circuit 16-c outputs the signal from the demodulating circuit 8 to the switch circuit 16-d and the switch circuit 16-d outputs the signal from the switch circuit 16-c to the received-data control circuit 9. As a consequence, the procedure-end signal (EOP) 106, which is not encrypted, is analyzed by the control-signal analyzer 10 on the receiving side, and the flow controller is capable of recognizing that the apparatus on the sending side will not send any further image signals.
The apparatus on the receiving side, which has received the procedure-end signal (EOP) 106, transmits a message confirmation signal (MCF) 107 to the sending side without encryption, thereby notifying the sending side of the fact that the procedure-end signal (EOP) 106 has been received.
By virtue of the foregoing operation, only the training-check signal and image signal are encrypted prior to transmission to the other party, and the other party is capable of correctly receiving the encrypted data represented by these two signals.
Reference will be had to
In
In
In all cases, the apparatus on the called side first sends the pre-procedure signal, indicated at 101, which includes the non-standard function (NSF) and digital identification signal (DIS). As a result, the calling side, which has identified the fact that the apparatus on the called side possesses an encryption function and is capable of facsimile communication using encrypted image signals, transmits a pre-procedure signal, indicated at 202, which includes a non-standard function instruction (NSC) (which in turn includes an instruction indicating that the training-check signal and image signal are to be transmitted upon being encrypted) and a digital transmission instruction (DIC) for causing an image signal to be transmitted by the apparatus on the called side.
The called apparatus, which has received this procedure signal, determines that it is a request for polling communication and sends back a digital instruction signal (DCS) to inform the calling station that the called apparatus will transmit an image signal.
Since preparations for communication of an image signal are completed by the forgoing procedure, control is executed in the apparatus on the called side in such a manner that a transmission signal is directed through the coder 17-a in order to be encrypted and then transmitted. In the apparatus on the calling side, on the other hand, control is executed in such a manner that the received signal is directed through the decoder 17-a so that the encrypted signal is restored to the original signal.
Thereafter, the procedures 103 through 106 are executed. The coder 17-1 and decoder 17-b are once again excluded from the transmitted/received signal processing path, transmission/reception of the procedure signals 107, 108, which are not encrypted, is executed, and polling communication is terminated.
Finally, reference will be had to
As shown in
Thus, in accordance with the present embodiment, encryption processing is not applied to procedure signals, and only a training-check signal and image signal are encrypted. As a result, additional time required by encrypting of procedure signals can be eliminated, thereby making it possible to determine more rapidly whether communication is possible. In addition, by preventing transmission of an encrypted signal to a facsimile apparatus not possessing an encryption function, erroneous operation of the receiving facsimile apparatus can be avoided and transmission of an encrypted signal to a speaker on a telephone by incorrect dialing can be prevented.
In the example of the facsimile apparatus described above, a mode in which transmission/reception of image signals is always carried out following encryption is set in a case where communication is performed with another party's apparatus. If the facsimile apparatus on the called side does not possess an encryption function, the line is opened immediately and facsimile communication does not take place. However, the invention is not limited to the foregoing example. An arrangement can be adopted in which it is possible to set the facsimile apparatus to any of the aforementioned modes and carry out facsimile communication in any of these modes.
Even in such an arrangement, control can be executed in such a manner that ordinary transmission/reception without encryption will be performed without disconnecting the telephone line and terminating communication, depending upon the contents of the communication.
Specifically, assume a case where the operating mode of the apparatus has been set, by an operator input from the control panel 14, to the aforementioned mode (2), namely the mode in which image signals are or are not encrypted before transmission/reception if the other party's apparatus does or does not possess an encryption function, respectively. When it is discriminated in this case that the other party's apparatus does not possess an encryption function, as is determined from the pre-procedure signal 101 from the called side including the non-standard function (NSF) and the digital identification signal (DIS), it will suffice to hold the coder 17-a and decoder 17-b in the disconnected state without performing changeover control of the switch circuits 16-a through 16-d. In the procedures 103, 106 shown in
FIG. 6A and
At the time of transmission, the transmitting mode is designated by an input from the keys (not shown) of the control panel 14, and the number of the party to be called is entered from these keys, whereupon processing for calling the entered number is executed at step S1 of the flowchart in FIG. 6A. When the line is connected to the other party, the system waits for receipt of a facsimile procedure signal (specifically, NSF.DIS in case of a G3 machine) from the other party's apparatus at step S2. when When the procedure signal is received, the program proceeds to step S3, at which the transmitting mode that has been set prior to transmission is discriminated. In a case whereby the ordinary transmitting mode has been set, the program proceeds to step S4, at which ordinary transmission processing is executed. The program proceeds to step S5 in a case where an automatic mode has been set, and to step S15 in a case where the encrypting mode has been set.
The received NSF.DIS signal is analyzed at step S5, and it is determined at step S6 whether the other party's apparatus has an encrypting mode. If the other party's apparatus does not have an encrypting mode, then the program proceeds from step S6 to step S4, where an ordinary transmission is made. In a case where the other party's apparatus does have an encrypting mode, NSS is set to information indicative of an encrypting mode designation, and NSS.DCS is transmitted at step S7 of the flowchart in FIG. 6B.
Switches 16-a, 16-b are changed over to the side of coder 17-a at step S8, and TCF is encrypted and transmitted at step S9.
Next, at steps S10 and S11, the system waits for receipt of CFR or FTT (training failure) from the other party's apparatus. When CFT is received, the program proceeds to step S12, at which transmission of an encrypted image is performed. When FTT is received, the program returns to step S7, at which the transmission speed is made to fall back and the training sequence (steps S9, S10 and S11) is executed again. RTC (a signal for restoration to reception of the procedure signal at six consecutive EOL's) is transmitted at step S12 at the end of one page of an image transmission, and the switches 16-a, 16-b are changed over at step S13 to disconnect the coder 17-a. A post-procedure (transmission of EOP, reception of MCF from the other party's apparatus, transmission of DCS) is executed at step S14, and image processing is executed. If there is a next page of an image for transmission following the end of the one page of image transmission at step S12, MPS (a multiple-page signal) or EOM (a message-end signal) is transmitted, and MCF is received, after the switches 16-a, 16-b are changed over at step S13. Transmission of the next page of the image is carried out after the switches 16-a, 16-b are again changed over to the side of the coder 17-a.
If it is found at step S3 of the flowchart in
In a case where an image is transmitted upon encryption, the recorder 15 outputs (at step S14) a printed report, indicative of the results of transmission, bearing a message that the transmission was performed in the encrypting mode.
Operation in the case of reception will be described next.
When there is an incoming call from the circuit network 51, the program proceeds to step R1 in
Next, at step R7, the encrypted TCF from the other party's apparatus is received, this is decoded by the decoder 17-b, and a training-check is performed. It is determined at step R8 whether the result of the training-check is acceptable. If the result of the training-check is not acceptable, FTT is transmitted at step R9, and the program returns to step R3.
When CFR is transmitted at step R10, image reception is carried out at steps R11. , R12 until RTC is received. When RCT has been received, the switches 16-c, 16-d are changed over at step R13, thereby disconnecting the decoder 17-b. A post-procedure (reception of EOP, transmission of MCF, opening of the line by reception of DCN) is executed at step R14.
In a case where MPS is received at step R14, the switches 16-c, 16-d are again changed over to the side of decoder 17-b after MCF is transmitted, and the program returns to step R11. In a case where EOM is received at step R14, the program returns to step R3 after MCF is transmitted.
The following actions and effects can be achieved in accordance with the present embodiment described above:
(1) By encrypting only a training-check signal and image signal in a communication procedure, it is possible to shorten the time required for transmission/reception of communication procedure signals, all of which must first be encrypted in the prior art but are not encrypted in the present invention.
(2) By arranging it so that unnecessarily encrypted signals are not transmitted, the other party's apparatus is not induced to operate erroneously if it should not possess an encryption function.
(3) If a connection should happen to be made to an ordinary telephone as by incorrect dialing, an encrypted signal offensive to the ear of the called party will not be transmitted, thereby making it possible to lessen any discomfort caused.
(4) In communication with a facsimile apparatus not having an encryption function, control can be performed in such a manner that ordinary transmission/reception is carried out without encryption. By setting the facsimile apparatus of the present invention to this operating mode, the apparatus can be made operable just as an ordinary facsimile apparatus, even though it possesses an encryption function.
In accordance with the present invention as described above, encryption processing is not applied to procedure signals, and only a training-check signal and image signal are encrypted. As a result, additional time required by encrypting of procedure signals can be eliminated, thereby making it possible to determine more 5 rapidly whether communication is possible. In addition, by preventing transmission of an encrypted signal to a facsimile apparatus not possessing an encryption function, erroneous operation of the receiving facsimile apparatus can be avoided and transmission of an encrypted signal to a speaker on a telephone by incorrect dialing can be prevented.
As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.
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