Facsimile apparatus

• US 5,877,872 A
• Filed: 10/08/1997
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Original Assignee: Murata Machinery Limited (Muratec)
• Inventors: Nomura, Akio, Funai, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Moore, David K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grant, II, Jerome
• Application Number:
  US08/940,956
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 379/53, 379/54, 379/60, 379/63, 379/65, 379/88, 379/81, 379/89, 379/82, 379/100.1, 379/90.01, 379/91.02, 379/92.03, 379/93.09, 379/100.05, 379/100.09 , 379/100.15, 358/468, 358/442, 358/407, 358/400
• US Class Current: 358/468
• 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 1/32717 a calling tone, e.g. CI
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32728 an off-hook condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32732 within a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32745 Generating messages, indications or warnings locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3275 Giving priority to one of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32756 Inhibiting connection of another apparatus when a first one is connected

Abstract

When there is a call from outside while a conversation is being had between handsets through an extension line on the called side, a facsimile communication control module is connected with a communication line if a facsimile machine is set to a facsimile signal reception mode whereas users of the handsets are informed of arrival of a call from outside and one handset which is still off hooked after a predetermined period is connected with the communication line if the facsimile machine is set to another mode.

Claims

1. A fax machine, comprising:

at least two handsets for enabling conversational communication with each other through extension lines,

a facsimile communication control module,

means for connecting the facsimile communication control module with a communication line when the fax machine is in a first mode in which operators of the at least two handsets are not informed of ringing signal reception and priority is given to reception of a fax signal even when the two handsets are engaged in conversational communication with each other through the extension line, conversational communication between the two handsets being maintained during connection of the facsimile communication control module with the communication line, and

means for connecting at least one handset which is off hooked after the operators are informed of an arriving call from outside with the communication line when the fax machine is set to a mode other than the first mode, even when the two handsets are communicating with each other through the extension line.