Communication device having the capability of performing information exchange between a facsimile medium and an electronic information medium such as an e-mail medium

A communication method for a communication device connected to both a computer network and a public switched telephone network, said method comprising the steps of:

• administering authorized e-mail recipients to direct a job execution for e-mail data which is transmitted form an e-mail sender and stored in an e-mail server connected to the computer network;
• receiving a remote operation command via the public switched telephone network;
• in response to the command, designating a post office from a plurality of post offices provided in the e-mail server in response to a direction from an authorized e-mail recipient administered is said administering step, the plurality of post offices being provided in the e-mail server connected to the computer network;
• receiving, from the e-mail server, e-mail data stored in the post office designated by said designating a post office step;
• converting the e-mail data received by said e-mail receiving step into facsimile image data;
• and
• transmitting the facsimile image data by a facsimile communication to a desired destination,
• wherein said e-mail sender and said e-mail server transmit e-mail data to said e-mail server and said communication device respectively without prior knowledge of the job execution directed by the authorized e-mail recipient.

A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program containing routines executable as a method by a computer in a communication device connected to both a computer network and a public switched telephone network, the program comprising:

• program code for administering authorized e-mail recipients to direct a job execution for e-mail data which is transmitted from an e-mail sender and stored in an e-mail server connected to the computer network;
• program code for receiving a remote operation command via the public switched telephone network;
• program code for, in response to the command, designating a post office from a plurality of post offices provided in the e-mail server in response to a direction from an authorized e-mail recipient administered using said program code for administering, the plurality of post offices being provided in the e-mail server connected to the computer network;
• program code for receiving, from the e-mail server, e-mail data stored in the post office designated by said designating a post office step;
• program code for converting the e-mail data received by said e-mail receiving step into facsimile image data;
• and
• program code for transmitting the facsimile image data by a facsimile communication to a desired destination,
• wherein said e-mail sender and said e-mail server transmit e-mail data to said e-mail server and said communication device respectively without prior knowledge of the job execution directed by the authorized e-mail recipient.