Facsimile device and communication control method thereof

• US 5,608,545 A
• Filed: 01/17/1995
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Kagawa, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Sr., Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stoll, Thomas L.
• Application Number:
  US08/373,456
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 358/400, 358/442, 358/468, 379/100, 379/58, 379/59, 455/38.3, 455/127, 455/343
• US Class Current: 358/468
• 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 1/00885 Power supply means, e.g. arrangements for the control of power supply to the apparatus or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00899 Detection of supply level or supply failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00901 Using different supplies or connection to an external supply H04N1/00893, H04N1/00896 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00912 Arrangements for controlling a still picture apparatus or components thereof not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32614 related to a single-mode communication, e.g. at the transmitter or at the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0034 Details of the connection, e.g. connector, interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The facsimile device, which can be used with a portable telephone working on a built-in battery, has a voltage detecting section for detecting voltage of a battery of the portable telephone and a control section providing controls to inhibit facsimile communication depending on the voltage detected by the voltage detecting section when facsimile communication is executed with the portable telephone, and the control section determines that life of the battery has been terminated when voltage of the battery in the telephone portable is below a prespecified value and inhibits facsimile communication.

Claims

1. A facsimile device which can be used in connection with a portable telephone working on a built-in battery comprising:

voltage detecting means for detecting voltage of said built-in battery in said portable telephone;

connection verification means for performing a connection check procedure which indicates whether said facsimile device is properly connected to and communicating with the portable telephone; and

control means, connected to the voltage detecting means and the connection verification means, for providing controls to inhibit facsimile communication depending on a voltage detected by said voltage detecting means upon a positive result from the connection check procedure performed by the connection verification means which indicates that the facsimile device is properly connected to and communicating with the portable telephone.

2. A facsimile device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising alert means for notifying an operator of a fact that voltage of said built-in battery of said portable telephone has dropped when a voltage detected by said voltage detecting means is below a prespecified value.

3. A facsimile device which can be used in connection with a portable telephone working on a built-in battery, comprising:

a new voltage detecting means for detecting voltage of said built-in battery of said portable telephone; and

control means for providing controls to forcefully terminate facsimile communication and return operating state of said facsimile device to a stand-by state when a voltage detected by said voltage detecting means has dropped to below a prespecified value during facsimile communication.

4. A facsimile device as set forth in claim 3, further comprising alert means for notifying an operator of a fact that voltage of said built-in battery of said portable telephone has dropped when a voltage detected by said voltage detecting means is below said prespecified value.

5. A communication control method of a facsimile device comprising the steps of:

verifying whether said facsimile device is properly connected to and communicating with a portable telephone;

detecting voltage of the portable telephone;

comparing said detected voltage to a prespecified threshold value;

setting 1 (or

     0) at a voltage flag if said detected voltage is larger than said prespecified threshold value; and

setting 0 (or

     1) at said voltage flag if said detected voltage is smaller than said prespecified threshold value;

wherein said steps of detecting, comparing and setting are executed after a positive result is obtained from the verifying step which indicates that the facsimile device is properly connected to and communicating with the portable telephone.

6. A communication control method of a facsimile device as set forth in claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

starting facsimile communication by pressing a start key;

checking said voltage flag;

executing facsimile communication if said voltage flag is 1 (or

     0);

indicating a portable telephone battery voltage drop message is printed (or displayed); and

inhibiting said facsimile communication.

7. A communication control method of a facsimile device as set forth in claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

making determination as to whether facsimile communication is being executed;

checking said voltage flag if facsimile communication is being executed;

executing a processing for disconnecting a line to forcefully terminate facsimile communication if said voltage flag is not 1 (or

     0); and

printing (or displaying) a portable telephone battery voltage drop message.

8. A facsimile device which can be used in connection with a portable telephone receiving power from a cigarette lighter socket of a motor vehicle comprising:

a power input connector for receiving power from the cigarette lighter socket of the motor vehicle and transfer the power to the facsimile device through a cable;

cigarette lighter socket, separate from the cigarette lighter socket of the motor vehicle, for feeding power to the portable telephone.