Communication apparatus having a non-ringing call receiving mode and an energy-saving stand-by mode

• US 5,909,488 A
• Filed: 08/20/1996
• Issued: 06/01/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Koizumi, Shigeru, Kiguchi, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/699,942
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 379/56, 379/93.09, 379/100, 379/100.15, 379/201, 379/210, 379/88, 379/67, 379/100.16, 379/373, 379/375, 379/418, 379/93, 379/102.04, 379/382, 379/413, 358/400, 358/434, 358/442, 358/443, 358/468, 358/438
• US Class Current: 379/376.02
• 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 1/00896 using a low-power mode, e.g. standby
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00915 Assigning priority to, or interrupting, a particular operation
• 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 1/3271 Telephone answering machine
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32717 a calling tone, e.g. CI
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32719 a facsimile calling signal, e.g. CNG
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32728 an off-hook condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32732 within a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32741 Generating ringing or calling signals or tones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32763 Supplying power to the apparatus

Abstract

A communication apparatus has a power saving stand-by mode for reducing power consumption during stand-by and a non-ringing call receiving mode for communication without ringing an attached telephone set at the arrival of a call. In the power saving stand-by mode, an operation state of a relay for attaining the non-ringing call receiving mode is held by a stand-by power supply to render both modes compatible to each other.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus having a non-ringing call receiving mode in which one of data communication and telephone communication is automatically detected without ringing a telephone set connected to a telephone set connecting terminal when a call arrives and an energy saving stand-by (ESS) mode for reducing power consumption during a stand-by state, comprising:

switching means for connecting/disconnecting the telephone set to/from a telephone line;

quasi-calling signal generating means for ringing the telephone set when the telephone communication in the non-ringing call receiving mode is detected;

control means, having at least an output port to output a control signal for controlling said switching means, for controlling an operation of said switching means by outputting the control signal to said switching means, wherein the telephone set is disconnected from the telephone line in the non-ringing call receiving mode, and wherein, when the ESS mode is set, a power supply supplying power to said control means is turned off in the stand-by state; and

holding means for holding a state of the control signal from the output port of said control means to said switching means when the power supply to said control means is turned off.

2. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a power supply supplying power to said holding means is maintained during the stand-by state in the ESS mode.

3. A communication apparatus having a non-ringing call receiving mode in which one of data communication and telephone communication is automatically detected without ringing a telephone set connected to a telephone set connecting terminal when a call arrives, and an energy saving stand-by (ESS) mode for reducing power consumption during a stand-by state, comprising:

switching means for connecting/disconnecting the telephone set to/from the line;

control means, having at least an output port to output a control signal for controlling said switching means, for controlling an operation of said switching means by outputting the control signal to said switching means, wherein the telephone set is disconnected from the line in the non-ringing call receiving mode;

a power supply controllable by said control means and including a main power supply and a stand-by power supply, wherein, when the ESS mode is set, supply of power to said control means is turned off in the stand-by state; and

holding means for holding a state of the control signal from the output port of said control means to said switching means when the power supply to said control means is turned off.

4. A communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a power supply supplying power to said holding means is maintained on the stand-by power supply during the stand-by state in the ESS mode.

5. A communication apparatus having a non-ringing call receiving mode in which one of data communication and telephone communication is automatically detected without ringing a telephone set connected to a telephone set connecting terminal when a call arrives, and an energy saving stand-by (ESS) mode for reducing power consumption during a stand-by state, comprising:

first switching means for switching connection to a line between the telephone set and the communication apparatus;

second switching means arranged between said first switching means and the telephone set for connecting/disconnecting the telephone set to/from the line;

detection means for detecting a calling signal from the line;

control means, having at least an output port to output a control signal for controlling said switching means, for controlling an operation of said switching means by outputting the control signal to said switching means, wherein the telephone set is disconnected from the line in a first non-ringing call receiving mode, wherein, in a second non-ringing call receiving mode, the telephone set is connected to the line in a stand-by state and then is immediately disconnected from the line in response to a detection by said detection means so that the telephone set is slightly rung on the calling signal from the line, and wherein, when the ESS mode is set, a power supply supplying power to said control means is turned off in the stand-by state;

holding means for holding a state of the control signal from the output port of said control means to said switching means when the power supply to said control means is turned off; and

selection means for selecting the first or second non-ringing call receiving mode.

6. A communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a power supply supplying power to said holding means is maintained during the stand-by state in the ESS mode.

7. A communication apparatus having a non-ringing call receiving mode in which one of data communication and telephone communication is automatically detected without ringing a telephone set connected to a telephone set connecting terminal when a call arrives, comprising:

first switching means for switching connection to a line between the telephone set and the communication apparatus;

second switching means arranged between said first switching means and the telephone set for connecting/disconnecting the telephone set to/from the line;

detection means for detecting a calling signal from the line;

control means, having at least an output port to output a control signal for controlling said switching means, for controlling an operation of said switching means by outputting the control signal to said switching means, wherein the telephone set is disconnected from the line in a first non-ringing call receiving mode, wherein, in a second non-ringing call receiving mode, the telephone set is connected to the line in a stand-by state and then is immediately disconnected from the line in response to a detection by said detection means so that the telephone set is rung momentarily on the calling signal from the line;

holding means for holding a state of the control signal from the output port of said control means to said switching means when the power supply to said control means is turned off; and

selection means for selecting the first or second non-ringing call receiving mode.

8. A communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a power supply supplying power to said control means is turned off in the stand-by state in an energy saving stand-by (ESS) mode for reducing power consumption during the stand-by state.

9. A communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a power supply supplying power to said holding means is maintained during the stand-by state in the ESS mode.