Concurrent voice and data communication
First Claim
1. A communication apparatus connectable to a communication line, comprising:
- first communication means for performing voice communication via the communication line;
second communication means for performing data communication via the communication line;
third communication means for concurrently performing the voice communication and the data communication via the communication line;
designation means for designating any one of a voice communication mode for performing the voice communication, a data communication mode for performing the data communication, and a concurrent communication mode for concurrently performing the voice communication and the data communication; and
switch means for connecting the communication line to said first communication means, said second communication means or said third communication means in accordance with the mode designated by said designation means.
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Abstract
A communication apparatus is provided which is capable of facsimile communication, voice communication and concurrent voice/facsimile communication. In one version, the apparatus has first and second connecting units for connection to a voice communication terminal (such as a conventional telephone) and a data communication terminal (a facsimile apparatus or the like), respectively. A selector selects between those two connecting units. An analog signal from either the voice communication terminal or the data communication terminal is binarized, the two streams of data (if the apparatus is in concurrent transmission mode) are mixed, and the resulting data stream is converted to an analog signal for transmission. Similarly, an incoming analog signal, if received in the concurrent communication mode, is separated into binary voice and binary non-voice data, which are then separately processed and output as appropriate. Also, it is possible to switch among voice, data, and concurrent voice/data modes.
42 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A communication apparatus connectable to a communication line, comprising:
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first communication means for performing voice communication via the communication line; second communication means for performing data communication via the communication line; third communication means for concurrently performing the voice communication and the data communication via the communication line; designation means for designating any one of a voice communication mode for performing the voice communication, a data communication mode for performing the data communication, and a concurrent communication mode for concurrently performing the voice communication and the data communication; and switch means for connecting the communication line to said first communication means, said second communication means or said third communication means in accordance with the mode designated by said designation means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A communication apparatus connectable to a communication line, comprising:
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first communication means for performing voice communication via the communication line; second communication means for performing data communication via the communication line; third communication means for performing the voice communication and the data communication as concurrent communication via the communication line; first switch means for selectively connecting the communication line to said first communication means; second switch means for selectively connecting the communication line to said second communication means; third switch means for selectively connecting the communication line to said third communication means; and control means for performing the voice communication by said first communication means, the data communication by said second communication or the concurrent communication by said third communication means in accordance with switching operations of said first switch means, said second switch means and said third switch means. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A communication method of a communication apparatus connectable to a communication line, the apparatus comprising first communication means for performing voice communication, second communication means for performing data communication, and third communication means for performing the voice communication and the data communication as concurrent communication, said method comprising the steps of:
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setting a voice communication mode for performing the voice communication, a data communication mode for performing the data communication, or a concurrent communication mode for concurrently performing the voice communication and the data communication; and controlling switch means for connecting the communication line to the first communication means, the second communication means or the third communication means, in accordance with the mode set in said setting step. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A communication method of a communication apparatus connectable to a communication line, the apparatus comprising first communication means for performing voice communication, second communication means for performing data communication, and third communication means for performing the voice communication and the data communication as concurrent communication, said method comprising:
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a first switching step of selectively connecting the communication line to the first communication means; a second switching step of selectively connecting the communication line to the second communication means; and a third switching step of selectively connecting the communication line to the third communication means, wherein the voice communication by the first communication means, the data communication by the second communication means or the concurrent communication by the third communication means is performed in accordance with switching operations in said first switching step, said second switching step, and said third switching step. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A communication apparatus connectable to a communication line, comprising:
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first connecting means for connecting to an external voice apparatus; second connecting means for connecting to an external data communication apparatus; multiplexing means for multiplexing a voice signal from the external voice communication apparatus connected to said first connecting means with a data signal from the external data apparatus connected to said second connecting means; first switch means for connecting the external voice communication apparatus to the communication line in performing the voice communication and for connecting the external voice communication apparatus to said multiplexing means in performing multiplexing communication of the voice communication and the data communication; second switch means for connecting the external data communication apparatus to the communication line in performing the data communication and for connecting the external data communication apparatus to said multiplexing means in performing multiplexing communication of the voice signal and the data signal; and third switch means for connecting said multiplexing means to the communication line in performing multiplexing communication of the voice signal and the data signal. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. A communication method of a communication apparatus connectable to a communication line, an external voice communication apparatus and an external data communication apparatus, the apparatus comprising multiplexing means for multiplexing a voice signal from the voice communication apparatus with a data signal from the external data communication apparatus, said method comprising:
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a first switching step of connecting the external voice communication apparatus to the communication line in performing the voice communication and for connecting the external voice communication apparatus to the multiplexing means in performing multiplexing communication of the voice signal and the data signal; a second switching step of connecting the external data communication apparatus to the communication line in performing the data communication and for connecting the external voice communication apparatus to the multiplexing means in performing multiplexing communication of the voice signal and the data signal; and a third switching step of connecting the multiplexing means to the communication line in performing multiplexing communication of the voice signal and the data signal. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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Specification