Facsimile apparatus and alarm system with cordless telephone set

• US 5,353,329 A
• Filed: 04/21/1993
• Issued: 10/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hayashi, Motohiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Application Number:
  US08/050,735
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/61, 379/100, 379/159, 379/160, 379/208, 379/215, 358/400
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00305 with a cordless telephone apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32704 Establishing a communication with one of a facsimile and another telecommunication apparatus sharing a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32708 Telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32745 Generating messages, indications or warnings locally

Abstract

A facsimile apparatus incorporating a cordless telephone set includes a base unit transmitting and receiving a signal to and from a remote unit with a radio signal, and a facsimile communication device. During voice communication with the remote unit via a telephone line, an alarm is issued to the user when the voice communication continues for more than a predetermined time period. An alarm is also given to the user of internal line voice communication when there is a telephone call from an external line during voice communication between the base unit and the remote unit. Therefore, the reception of a reception signal to the facsimile apparatus is not inhibited because an alarm is issued when voice communication continues for more than a predetermined time period and when there is a telephone call from an external line during internal line voice communication.

Claims

1. A facsimile apparatus comprising:

first communication means for transmitting and receiving an aural signal via a telephone line, said first communication means further including an internal line voice communication device capable of voice communication without said telephone line,

second communication means for transmitting and receiving an image signal via said telephone line,

calling signal detecting means for detecting a calling signal to at least one of said first and second communication means from said telephone line,

determining means for determining whether or not said internal line voice communication device is available when said calling signal detecting means detects said calling signal,

alarm means for generating an alarm when said determining means determines that said internal line voice communication device is not available,

connection means for automatically connecting said at least one of the first and second communication means, for which a calling signal was detected to said telephone line when said alarm means fails to generate an alarm; and

switching means for allowing a user to manually switch from an internal line to the external line when said alarm means generates an alarm.

2. A facsimile apparatus comprising:

first communication means for transmitting and receiving an aural signal via telephone line, said first communication means further including an internal line voice communication device for voice communication via electromagnetic, the internal line voice communication device being selectively connectable to the telephone line yet operable without being connected to said telephone line;

second communication means for transmitting and receiving an image signal via said telephone line;

calling signal detecting means for detecting a calling signal to at least one of said first and second communication means from said telephone line;

determining means for determining whether or not said internal line voice communication device is being used by a user when said calling signal detecting means detects said calling signal;

alarm means for generating an alarm at the internal line voice communication device, when said determining means determines that said internal line voice communication device is being used by the user; and

connecting means for automatically connecting said telephone line to said second communication means when said determining means determines that said internal line voice communication device is not being used by the user.

3. A facsimile apparatus comprising:

first communication means for transmitting and receiving an aural signal via telephone line, said first communication means further including an internal line voice communication device for voice communication via electromagnetic waves, the internal voice communication being selectively connectable to the telephone line yet operable without being connected to said telephone line;

second communication means for transmitting and receiving an image signal via said telephone line;

calling signal detecting means for detecting a calling signal to at least one of said first and second communication means from said telephone line;

determining means for determining whether or not said internal line voice communication device is being used by a user when said calling signal detecting means detects said calling signal;

alarm means for generating an alarm at the internal line voice communication device, when said determining means determines that said internal line voice communication device is being used by the user; and

connecting means for automatically connecting said telephone line to said first communication means when said determining means determines that said internal line voice communication device is not being used by the user.

5. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising connecting means for automatically connecting said at least one of said first and second communication means, for which a calling signal was detected, to said telephone line when said alarm means generates an alarm.

4. A facsimile apparatus comprising:

first communication means for transmitting and receiving an aural signal via a telephone line, said first communication means further including an internal line voice communication device capable of voice communication without said telephone line,

second communication means for transmitting and receiving an image signal via said telephone line,

calling signal detecting means for detecting a calling signal to at least one of said first and second communication means from said telephone line,

determining means for determining whether or not said internal line voice communication device is available when said calling signal detecting means detects said calling signal,

alarm means for generating an alarm, to a user of the internal line voice communication device, when said determining means determines that said internal line voice communication device is not available, so that the user knows that an external line, for the one of the first and second communication means, for which a calling signal was detected, is available,

connecting means for automatically connecting said telephone line to said one of the first and second communication means, for which the calling signal was detected, when said alarm means fails to generate an alarm; and

switch means, for allowing a user to manually switch from an internal line to the external line when said alarm means generates an alarm.

6. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising connecting means for manually connecting the at least one of the said first and second communication means,. for which a calling signal was detected, to said telephone line when said alarm means generates an alarm.

7. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said internal line communication means includes a handset and a telephone transmitter.

8. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said alarm is provided from said telephone transmitter.