A communication device allows a user to get access from the outside via an
external public line to obtain e-mail data stored in a device connected
to an internal system via a computer network such as a LAN without
causing a reduction in security. More specifically, the communication
device is connected to a LAN via a LAN I/F and also connected to the
public line via a line I/F. If the communication device receives a remote
operation command via the public line, a CPU of the communication device
gets access to a post office of an e-mail server so as to get e-mail data
in accordance with the remote operation command. The obtained e-mail data
is converted to facsimile image data and transmitted by means of
facsimile to a specified destination.