Communication apparatus capable of communication with single partner using a plurality of communication channels, and control method thereof

• US 20040196962A1
• Filed: 04/16/2004
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Yuji Kurosawa
• Original Assignee: Yuji Kurosawa
• Inventors: Kurosawa, Yuji
• Application Number:
  US10/825,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20040196962A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/67.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32797 Systems adapted to communicate over more than one channel, e.g. via ISDN changing transmission mode according to type of channel H04N2201/33364; multichannel or multilink communication protocols H04L69/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33307 prior to start of transmission, input or output of the picture signal only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33338 adapting to particular facsimile group, e.g. G3
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33353 according to the available bandwidth used for a single communication, e.g. the number of ISDN channels used
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33307 of a particular mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0457 Connection protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13179 Fax, still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13202 Network termination [NT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13208 Inverse multiplexing, channel bonding, e.g. TSSI aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1325 Priority service
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13332 Broadband, CATV, dynamic bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 Recorded announcement

Abstract

In order to allow various user setups associated with a communication using a plurality of communication channels, the number of communication channels used in a communication with a single partner is varied depending on whether or not the automatic answering mode is set. The number of communication channels used in the communication with the single partner can be independently set in correspondence with transmission and reception. The number of communication channels used in the communication with another communication partner can be independently set in correspondence with whether an incoming call or a call origination request is detected.

Claims

1-4. -4. (CANCELLED)

5. A communication apparatus comprising:

setting means for setting independently whether or not an outgoing call is granted and whether or not an incoming call is granted;

communication means capable of communicating with a partner via a plurality of communication channels; and

control means for independently controlling the number of communication channels in the outgoing call and the incoming call separately in accordance with the setting by said setting means.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said communication means can communicate with a plurality of communication partners, and said setting means can set the number of channels used when a communication with another communication partner is to be started while communicating using the communication channels, the number of which is controlled by said control means.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said setting means sets whether or not a communication with another communication partner is granted.

9. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said communication apparatus can connect a plurality of external communication apparatuses, and

said setting means can set whether or not a communication via the plurality of communication channels is granted in each of the plurality of external communication apparatuses.

10. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said communication means can communicate using a plurality of communication schemes, and

said setting means can set whether or not a communication via the plurality of communication channels is granted in each of the plurality of communication schemes.

6. (CANCELLED)

11. A communication apparatus comprising:

communication means capable of communicating with a partner via a plurality of communication channels;

detection means for detecting an incoming call or an outgoing call while said communication means communicates via the plurality of communication channels; and

setting means for independently setting the number of communication channels granted for the communication with the partner in a case wherein said detection means detects the incoming call, and a case wherein said detection means detects the outgoing call, respectively.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said setting means sets whether or not the incoming call is accepted when said detection means detects the incoming call, and whether or not the outgoing call is accepted when said detection means detects the outgoing call.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said communication apparatus can connect a plurality of external communication apparatuses, and

said setting means can set whether or not a communication via the plurality of communication channels is granted in each of the plurality of external communication apparatuses.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said communication means can communicate using a plurality of communication schemes, and

said setting means can also set whether or not a communication via the plurality of communication channels is granted in each of the plurality of communication schemes.

15-18. -18. (CANCELLED)

19. A method of controlling a communication apparatus comprising:

a setting step of setting independently whether or not an outgoing call is granted and whether or not an incoming call is granted;

a communication step of communicating with a partner via the plurality of communication channels; and

a control step of independently controlling the number of communication channels in the outgoing call and the incoming call separately in accordance with the setting in the setting step.

20-24. -24. (CANCELLED)

25. A method of controlling a communication apparatus comprising:

a communication step of communicating with a partner via a plurality of communication channels;

a detection step of detecting an incoming call or an outgoing call while the communication via the plurality of communication channels is made in the communication step; and

a setting step of independently setting the number of communication channels granted for the communication with the partner in a case wherein the incoming call is detected in the detection step, and a case wherein the outgoing call is detected in the detection step respectively.

26-31. -31. (CANCELLED)