Patent ID: 6947968

Claim:
A communication apparatus connected to a communication network, said apparatus comprising: destination designating means for designating a destination apparatus; input means for inputting transmission information to be transmitted to the destination apparatus designated by said destination designating means without using the communication network; facsimile communication means for transmitting the transmission information inputted by said input means to a destination apparatus in accordance with facsimile communication specifications; encryption means for encrypting the transmission information inputted by said input means without using the communication network, wherein the transmission information is encrypted before being transmitted through the communication network to maintain confidentiality of the transmission information; electronic-mail communication means for transmitting the transmission information inputted by said input means or encrypted by said encryption means to a destination apparatus in accordance with electronic-mail specifications; communication designating means for causing transmission of the transmission information by selecting either said facsimile communication means or said electronic-mail communication means; security designating means, comprising a confidential button, for designating whether the transmission information is confidential or not according to an operation of said confidential button, wherein said confidential button is used when confidentiality of the transmission information is to be maintained, regardless of whether the transmission information is to be sent as e-mail or as a facsimile transmission; and control means for controlling said facsimile communication means, said encryption means, and said electronic-mail communication means such that, if the transmission information has been designated as being confidential by said security designating means, said facsimile communication means transmits the inputted transmission information to the destination apparatus by facsimile transmission using a private security function which enables the inputted transmission information to be outputted by the destination apparatus when a correct secret number is entered, through the communication network without the encryption of the inputted transmission information by said encryption means, when said facsimile communication means has been designated by said communication designating means, and said electronic-mail communication means sends the encrypted transmission information to the destination apparatus by electronic mail through the communication network, when said electronic-mail communication means has been designated by said communication designating means.