Facsimile apparatus with automatic answering telephone function, and communication method in said apparatus

• US 5,974,123 A
• Filed: 04/26/1996
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Shimizu, Hideki, Nakayama, Toru, Nakagawa, Kaori, Takeda, Tomoyuki, Morita, Mitsuo, Uno, Hiromichi
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US08/638,359
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 379/100, 379/102, 379/104, 379/105, 379/97, 379/98, 379/93, 379/88, 379/89, 379/100.15, 379/100.16, 379/100.01, 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/93.09 , 379/93.11, 379/93.26
• US Class Current: 379/100.16
• 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 1/32726 signals other than facsimile protocol signals, e.g. DTMF signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32728 an off-hook condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32732 within a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/902 Auto-switch for an incoming voice data, or fax telephone call, e.g. comp/fax/tel

Abstract

Disclosed is a facsimile apparatus equipped with an automatic answering telephone function, as well as a communication method in this apparatus. When a tone signal from a line is detected after the start of storage of a voice message in response to an incoming call, the voice message presently being recorded is not counted as a received message and a voice message received next is stored in the area in which storage has just been performed. Further, when a DTFM signal, which is a control signal of the automatic answering telephone, is detected, a transition is made to facsimile communication in response to a CNG signal. Thus, erroneous operation in facsimile communication due to a CNG signal recorded in the automatic answering telephone is prevented.

Claims

1. A facsimile apparatus with an automatic answering telephone function, wherein said facsimile apparatus is connected to a line along with an automatic answering telephone and either automatic voice communication by the automatic answering telephones or image communication at the time of an incoming call is selectively executed automatically, said apparatus comprising:

image communication means for communicating image data;

line control means for connecting the line to the automatic answering telephone or to said image communication means;

control signal detecting means for detecting a control signal specific to image communication connected to a line on the side of the automatic answering telephone;

recording-start detecting means for detecting a signal indicative of start of recording of a calling party'"'"'s message in the automatic answering telephone; and

DTMF sending means for sending a DTMF signal from said image communication means, the automatic answering telephone being controlled automatically by the DTMF signal sent from said image communication means.

2. A facsimile apparatus with an automatic answering telephone function, to which an automatic answering telephone is capable of being connected, comprising:

detecting means for detecting an identification signal indicative of facsimile communication;

changeover means for changing over a line from the side of the automatic answering telephone to facsimile communication in a case where said detecting means detects the identification signal; and

control means for judging whether or not the identification signal is detected by said detecting means after the line has been changed over to the side of facsimile communication by said changeover means, and for starting facsimile communication in accordance with the detection of the identification signal.

3. A facsimile apparatus with an automatic answering telephone function, to which an automatic answering telephone is capable of being connected, comprising:

detecting means for detecting an identification signal indicative of facsimile communication;

changeover means for changing over a line from the side of the automatic answering telephone to facsimile communication in a case where said detecting means detects the identification signal; and

control means for judging whether or not another identification signal is detected by said detecting means after the line has been changed over to the side of facsimile communication by said changeover means, and for changing over the line to the side of the automatic answering telephone in a case where the other identification signal is not detected.

4. A facsimile apparatus with an automatic answering telephone function, to which an automatic answering telephone is capable of being connected, comprising:

detecting means for detecting an identification signal indicative of facsimile communication;

changeover means for changing over a line from the side of the automatic answering telephone to facsimile communication in a case where said detecting means detects the identification signal; and

control means for judging whether or not another identification signal is detected by said detecting means within a predetermined period of time after the line has been changed over to the side of facsimile communication by said changeover means, and for starting facsimile communication in accordance with a detection of the other identification signal.

5. A facsimile apparatus with an automatic answering telephone function, to which an automatic answering telephone is capable of being connected, comprising:

detecting means for detecting a call signal from a facsimile communication network;

changeover means for changing over a line from the side of the automatic answering telephone to facsimile communication in a case where said detecting means detects the call signal; and

control means for fudging whether or not another call signal is detected by said detecting means after the line has been changed over to the side of facsimile communication by said changeover means, and for starting facsimile communication in accordance with a detection of the other call signal.

6. A facsimile apparatus with an automatic answering telephone function, to which an automatic answering telephone is capable of being connected, comprising:

detecting means for detecting a signal transmitted from a facsimile apparatus on a calling sides

changeover means for changing over a line from the side of the automatic answering telephone to facsimile communication in a case where said detecting means detects the signal; and

control means for judging whether or not another signal transmitted from a facsimile apparatus on a calling side is detected by said detecting means after the line has been changed over to the side of facsimile communication by said changeover means, and for starting facsimile communication in accordance with a detection of the other signal.

7. A facsimile apparatus equipped with an automatic answering telephone function, comprising:

starting means for starting an automatic answering telephone in a case where there is an incoming call from a line when an automatic answering mode is in effect;

changeover means for detecting a specific tone signal from the line and performing an automatic changeover from a telephone mode to a facsimile mode when the tone signal is detected; and

filter means for removing a band component, which corresponds to the tone signal, from an answer message generated in said automatic answering telephone.

8. A facsimile apparatus equipped with an automatic answering telephone function, comprising:

starting means for starting an automatic answering telephone in a case where there is an incoming call from a line when an automatic answering mode is in effect;

changeover means for detecting a specific tone signal from the line and performing an automatic changeover from a telephone mode to a facsimile mode when the tone signal is detected; and

means for generating an inverted signal of an answer message generated in said automatic answering telephone, adding the inverted signal to a signal accepted from the line, and supplying a signal resulting from the addition to a circuit for detecting the tone signal.

9. A method for a facsimile apparatus with an automatic answering telephone function, the facsimile apparatus having image communication means for communicating image data, wherein the facsimile apparatus is connected to a line along with an automatic answering telephone and either automatic voice communications by the automatic answering telephone, or image communication at the time of an incoming call is selectively executed automatically, said method comprising the steps of:

connecting the line to the automatic answering telephone or to the image communication means;

detecting a control signal specific to image communication connected to a line on the side of the automatic answering telephone;

starting recording when a signal indicative of start of recording of a calling party'"'"'s message in the automatic answering telephone is detected; and

sending a DTMF signal to the automatic answering telephone when the control signal is detected at the time of recording of the calling party'"'"'s message.

10. A data communication apparatus with an automatic answering telephone function, to which an automatic answering telephone is capable of being connected, for selectively performing an automatic answering telephone operation or data communication, comprising:

a data communication unit for communicating data;

detecting means for detecting an identification signal indicating data communication;

switching means for selectively connecting a line to one of said data communication unit and the automatic answering telephone unit; and

control means (1) for determining whether or not the identification signal is detected by said detecting means in a case where the line has been connected to the automatic answering telephone unit, (2) for causing said switching means to switch the line from the automatic answering telephone unit to said data communication unit in a case where the identification signal is detected by said detecting means, and (3) for causing said data communication unit to perform the data communication in a case where the identification signal is detected by said detecting means after switching the line to said data communication unit.

11. A data communication apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said control means causes said switching means to switch the line from said data communication unit to the automatic answering telephone unit in a case where the identification signal is not detected after switching the line from the automatic answering telephone unit to said data communication unit.

12. A data communication apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said control means determines whether or not the identification signal has been detected within a predetermined period of time after switching the line from the automatic answering telephone unit to said data communication unit.

13. A data communication apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the identification signal is a call from a data communication network.

14. A data communication apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the identification signal is a signal transmitted from a data communication apparatus on a calling side.

15. A method for a facsimile apparatus with an automatic answering telephone function, to which an automatic answering telephone is capable of being connected, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting an identification signal indicative of facsimile communication;

changing over a line from the side of the automatic answering telephone to facsimile communication in a case where the identification signal is detected;

judging whether or not the identification signal is detected after the line has been changed over to the side of facsimile communication; and

starting facsimile communication in accordance with the detection of the identification signal.

16. A method for a facsimile apparatus with an automatic answering telephone function, to which an automatic answering telephone is capable of being connected, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting an identification signal indicative of facsimile communication;

changing over a line from the side of the automatic answering telephone to facsimile communication in a case where the identification signal is detected;

judging whether or not another identification signal is detected after the line has been changed over to the side of facsimile communication; and

changing over the line to the side of the automatic answering telephone in a case where the other identification signal is not detected in said judging step.

17. A method for a facsimile apparatus with an automatic answering telephone function, to which an automatic answering telephone is capable of being connected, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting an identification signal indicative of facsimile communication;

changing over a line from the side of the automatic answering telephone to facsimile communication in a case where the identification signal is detected;

judging whether or not another identification signal is detected within a predetermined period of time after the line has been changed over to the side of facsimile communication; and

starting facsimile communication in accordance with a detection of the other identification signal in said judging step.

18. A method for a facsimile apparatus with an automatic answering telephone function, to which an automatic answering telephone is capable of being connected, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a call signal from a facsimile communication network;

changing over a line from the side of the automatic answering telephone to facsimile communication in a case where the call signal is detected;

judging whether or not another call signal is detected after the line has been changed over to the side of facsimile communication; and

starting facsimile communication in accordance with a detection of the other call signal in said judging step.

19. A method for a facsimile apparatus with an automatic answering telephone function, to which an automatic answering telephone is capable of being connected, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a signal transmitted from a facsimile apparatus on a calling side;

changing over a line from the side of the automatic answering telephone to facsimile communication in a case where the signal is detected;

judging whether or not another signal transmitted from a facsimile apparatus on a calling side is detected after the line has been changed over to the side of facsimile communication; and

starting facsimile communication in accordance with a detection of the other signal in said judging step.

20. A method for a data communication apparatus with an automatic answering telephone function, to which an automatic answering telephone is capable of being connected, the data communication apparatus having a data communication unit, the data communication apparatus for selectively performing an automatic answering telephone operation or data communication, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting an identification signal indicating data communication;

selectively connecting a line to one of the data communication unit and the automatic answering telephone unit;

determining whether or not the identification signal is detected in a case where the line has been connected to the automatic answering telephone unit;

causing the line to be switched from the automatic answering telephone unit to the data communication unit in a case where the identification signal has been detected;

causing the data communication unit to perform the data communication in a case where the identification signal is detected after switching the line to the data communication unit.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the line is switched from the data communication unit to the automatic answering telephone unit in a case where the identification signal is not detected after switching the line from the automatic answering telephone unit to the data communication unit.

22. A method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of determining whether or not the identification signal has been detected within a predetermined period of time after switching the line from the automatic answering telephone unit to the data communication unit.

23. A method according to claim 20, wherein the identification signal is a call from a data communication network.

24. A method according to claim 20, wherein the identification signal is a signal transmitted from a data communication apparatus on a calling side.

25. A facsimile apparatus with an automatic answering telephone function, to which an automatic answering telephone is capable of being connected, comprising:

detecting means for detecting an identification signal indicative of facsimile communication;

changeover means for changing over a line from the side of the automatic answering telephone to facsimile communication in a case where said detecting means detects the identification signal; and

control means for judging again whether or not the identification signal is detected by said detecting means after the line has been changed over to the side of facsimile communication by said changeover means, and for changing over the line to the side of the automatic answering telephone in a case where the identification signal is not detected again.

26. A facsimile apparatus with an automatic answering telephone function, to which an automatic answering telephone is capable of being connected, comprising:

detecting means for detecting an identification signal indicative of facsimile communication;

changeover means for changing over a line from the side of the automatic answering telephone to facsimile communication in a case where said detecting means detects the identification signal; and

control means for judging again whether or not the identification signal is detected by said detecting means within a predetermined period of time after the line has been changed over to the side of facsimile communication by said changeover means, and for starting facsimile communication in accordance with a detection of the identification signal.

27. A facsimile apparatus with an automatic answering telephone function, to which an automatic answering telephone is capable of being connected, comprising:

detecting means for detecting a call signal from a facsimile communication network;

changeover means for changing over a line from the side of the automatic answering telephone to facsimile communication in a case where said detecting means detects the call signal; and

control means for judging again whether or not the call signal is detected by said detecting means after the line has been changed over to the side of facsimile communication by said changeover means, and for starting facsimile communication in accordance with a detection of the the call signal.

28. A facsimile apparatus with an automatic answering telephone function, to which an automatic answering telephone is capable of being connected, comprising:

detecting means for detecting a signal transmitted from a facsimile apparatus on a calling side;

changeover means for changing over a line from the side of the automatic answering telephone to facsimile communication in a case where said detecting means detects the signal; and

control means for judging again whether or not the signal transmitted from a facsimile apparatus on a calling side is detected by said detecting means after the line has been changed over to the side of facsimile communication by said changeover means, and for starting facsimile communication in accordance with a detection of the the signal.