Communication system with line-master, master-slave disconnection detection means

• US 5,739,921 A
• Filed: 08/23/1996
• Issued: 04/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems, Inc. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems, Inc. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kitajima, Ikuo
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, KIM Y
• Application Number:
  US08/701,983
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 358/434-440, 358/444, 358/442, 358/468
• US Class Current: 358/442
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• 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 1/32641 of transmission or transmitted data, e.g. interruption or wrong number of pages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32662 remotely, e.g. to the transmitter from the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32694 Storing a fault condition in memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3202 of communication or activity log or report
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3214 of a date
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3215 of a time or duration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3219 of a job status, e.g. successful execution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3221 of a job number or identification, e.g. communication number
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission

Abstract

A communication (comm) system is disclosed which comprises a master comm apparatus (app) coupled to a comm line and at least a slave comm app communicating with the master comm app and the comm line using wireless comm, the master comm app including: a detection portion for detecting a disconnection between the master comm app and the comm line and between the master comm app and the slave comm app and detecting a cause of the disconnection; a data generation portion responsive to the detection portion for generating logging data according to the disconnection and the cause; a memory for storing the logging data from the data generation portion; and a reading portion for reading the logging data from the memory in response to a request. The logging data is transmitted to the telephone line or a maintenance terminal wire-less communicated with the master comm app in response to a data transmission request. When one of slave comm app requests a forwarding, the slave comm app sends a forwarding request and data of a cause of disconnection caused by the forwarding and the master comm app generates first logging data including the data of cause of disconnection and after completion of the comm (fax) operation caused by the forwarding and generates second logging data in response to the disconnection from the telephone line.

Claims

1. A communication system:

comprising a master communication apparatus coupled to a communication line and at least a slave communication apparatus communicating with said master communication apparatus and said communication line using wireless communication, wherein said master communication apparatus comprises;

detection means for detecting a disconnection between said master communication apparatus and said communication line and between said master communication apparatus and said slave communication apparatus and detecting a cause of said disconnection;

data generation means responsive to said detection means for generating logging data in accordance with said disconnection and said cause;

storing means for storing said logging data from said data generation means; and

reading means for reading said logging data from said storing means in response to a request.

2. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said master communication apparatus further comprises receiving means for receiving a logging data request signal from said communication line and sending means for sending said logging data from said reading means in response to said logging data request signal from said communication line.

3. A communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least said slave communication apparatus comprises a maintenance terminal including:

communication means for communicating with said master communication apparatus using wireless communication;

data request means for generating and sending data request signal to said master communication apparatus in response to a data request using said communication means;

receiving means for receiving said said logging data from said master communication apparatus using said communication means; and

outputting means for outputting said logging data from said receiving means, wherein said master communication apparatus further comprises second control means for receiving said data request from said maintenance terminal, for operating said reading means to read said logging data, and for sending said logging data from said reading means to said maintenance terminal.

4. A communication system comprising:

a master communication apparatus, coupled to a communication line; and

at least a slave communication apparatus including;

communication means for communicating with said master communication apparatus and said communication line using wireless communication; and

ringing means for generating a ringing tone in response to said master communication apparatus; and

input means for receiving a forwarding command, wherein said master communication apparatus comprises;

control means for operating said ringing means of at least said slave communication apparatus in response to a call from said communication line, for connecting said communication line in response to a response to the operation of said ringing means from one of at least said slave communication apparatus, for receiving said forwarding command from one of at least said slave communication apparatus, for providing a first disconnection in response to the received forwarding command, for effecting a communication operation in accordance with the received forwarding command, for detecting a completion of said communication operation, and for providing a second disconnection from said communication line in response to the detected completion;

data generation means responsive to said control means for generating first logging data in response to said first disconnection and for generating a second logging data in response to said second disconnection;

storing means for storing said first and second logging data from said data generation means; and

reading means for reading said first and second logging data from said storing means in response to a request.

5. A communication system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said master communication apparatus further comprises

facsimile means for effecting a facsimile communication with said communication line and said control means effects said communication operation by operating said facsimile means to receive a facsimile communication.

6. A communication system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said master communication apparatus further comprises receiving means for receiving a logging data request signal from said communication line and sending means for sending said first and second logging data from said reading means in response to said received logging data request signal.

7. A communication system as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least said slave communication apparatus comprises a maintenance terminal including:

communication means for communicating with said master communication apparatus using wireless communication;

data request means for generating and sending data request signal to said master communication apparatus in response to a data request using said communication means;

receiving means for receiving said first data and said second logging data from said master communication apparatus; and

outputting means for outputting said first and second logging data from said receiving means, wherein said master communication apparatus further comprises second control means for receiving said data request from said maintenance terminal, for operating said reading means to read said first and second logging data, and for sending said first and second logging data from said reading means to said maintenance terminal.

8. A communication system comprising:

a master communication apparatus, coupled to a communication line; and

at least a slave communication apparatus including;

communication means for communicating with said master communication apparatus and said communication line using wireless communication; and

call signal sending means for sending a call signal to said master communication apparatus in response to a call request; and

forwarding signal sending means for generating and sending a forwarding command signal to said master communication apparatus in response to a forwarding request, wherein said master communication apparatus further comprises;

control means for providing a connection with said communication line in response to said call request from one of at least said slave communication apparatus to provide a communication between said communication line and at least said slave communication apparatus, for receiving said forwarding signal from one of at least said slave communication apparatus, for providing a first disconnection in response to the received forwarding signal, for effecting a communication in accordance with the received forwarding command signal, for detecting a completion of said communication operation, and for providing a second disconnection from said communication line in response to the detected completion;

data generation means responsive to said control means for generating first logging data in response to said first disconnection and for generating a second logging data in response to said second disconnection;

storing means for storing said first and second logging data from said data generation means; and

reading means for reading said first and second logging data from said storing means in response to a request.

9. A communication system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said master communication apparatus further comprises facsimile means for effecting a facsimile communication with said communication line and said control means;

effects said communication operation by operating said facsimile means to receive a facsimile communication.

10. A communication system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said master communication apparatus further comprises receiving means for receiving a logging data request signal from said communication line and sending means for sending said first and second logging data from said reading means in response to said logging data request signal.

11. A communication system as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least said slave communication apparatus comprises a maintenance terminal including:

communication means for communicating with said master communication apparatus using wireless communication;

data request means for generating and sending data request signal to said master communication apparatus in response to a data request;

receiving means for receiving said first data and said second logging data from said master communication apparatus; and

outputting means for outputting said first and second logging data from said receiving means, wherein said master communication apparatus further comprises second control means for receiving said data request signal from said maintenance terminal, for operating said reading means to read said first and second logging data and sending said first and second logging data from said reading means to said maintenance terminal in response to the received data request signal.