PURPOSE: To prevent read original information from being used without restriction by an external information device by providing a ciphering means for original information read by an original reader(TPS).

CONSTITUTION: A contact glass 102 and a scale 103 are arranged above an equipment main body of the TPS, a sheet original or a thick book original is set on the contact glass 102 by a pressure plate, and a scanning unit 104 whose optical path is switched scans the original to read the image of the original set on the contact glass 102. After the original information read by the TPS is ciphered by the original information is sent to a network. Thus, even when the original information data are extracted by an other personal computer connected to the network, the computer without provision of a decoding means cannot reproduce the original information and unrestricted use of the original information on the network is prevented.