Patent ID: 7512791

Claim:
A communication apparatus for transferring image data from a first network to a second network, wherein the communication apparatus transfers the image data to a destination on the second network by using one of a plurality of transfer paths that are on the second network, said apparatus comprising: a reception unit configured to receive image data via a first network; a first discrimination unit configured to discriminate if the received image data is confidential or not; a judgment unit configured to judge if security of each transfer path to the destination of the received image data via the second network is ensured or not, when the result of the discrimination by said first discrimination unit indicates the received image data is confidential; a first control unit configured to control, when the result of the discrimination by said first discrimination unit indicates the received image data is not confidential, to transfer the received image data to the destination of the received data via the second network regardless of whether security of the transfer path to the destination of the received image data via the second network is ensured or not; and a second control unit configured to control, when the result of the discrimination by said first discrimination unit indicates the received image data is confidential, to transfer the received image data to the destination of the received data via the second network when the result of the judgment by said judgment unit indicates security of the transfer path is ensured, and to store the received image data in a storage area corresponding to the destination of the received image data without transferring the received image data to the destination when the result of the judgment by said judgment unit indicates security of the transfer path is not ensured.