Facsimile apparatus having operator's presence presuming function

• US 6,057,945 A
• Filed: 05/04/1999
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Baba, Keizou
• Primary Examiner(s): Rogers, Scott
• Application Number:
  US09/304,530
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 358/468, 358/434, 358/441, 358/400, 379/100.01, 379/100.05, 379/100.16, 379/100.15, 379/372, 379/373
• US Class Current: 358/468
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00 Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32005 Automation of particular receiver jobs, e.g. rejecting unwanted calls requesting a communication from a transmitter H04N1/32771; with picture signal storage for forwarding messages H04N1/32358
• 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 1/32719 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 1/32747 Controlling the connection of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3275 Giving priority to one of the apparatus

Abstract

A facsimile unit performs a facsimile reception operation of responding to a calling signal automatically and receiving transmitted facsimile data. A telephone unit performs a telephone reception operation of responding to a calling signal only after an operator responds to rings generated so that an operator may conduct a telephone conversation through the facsimile apparatus. A presuming unit presumes whether or not an operator is present based on certain obtained information. A selecting unit allows the facsimile unit to perform the facsimile reception operation and prevents the telephone from performing the telephone receiving operation if the presuming unit presumes that there is no operator. The selecting unit prevents the facsimile unit from performing the facsimile reception operation and allows the telephone to perform the telephone receiving operation if the presuming unit presumes that there is an operator.

Claims

1. A facsimile apparatus comprising:

a facsimile unit for automatically responding to a calling signal after a predetermined number of rings;

a telephone unit for responding to a calling signal after an operator responds to rings generated due to said calling signal so that an operator may conduct a telephone conversation through said facsimile apparatus;

a light level detector for detecting the light level on said facsimile apparatus; and

a processing device configured to set the predetermined number of rings based on the light level, wherein the predetermined number of rings is set to a first value when the light level is below a threshold value and the predetermined number of rings is set to a second value when the light level is above the threshold value.

2. The facsimile apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a selecting circuit for allowing said facsimile unit to respond to the calling signal and preventing said telephone unit from responding to the calling signal when said light level is below the threshold value, said selecting circuit preventing said facsimile unit from responding to the calling signal and allowing said telephone unit to respond to the calling signal when said light level is above the threshold value.

3. The facsimile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing device is further configured to:

presume whether an operator is present based on the detected light level;

disconnect said telephone unit from said telephone line in a case where said operator is presumed to not be present;

connect said telephone unit to said telephone line in a case where said operator is presumed to be present; and

wherein said facsimile unit responds to the calling signal when said telephone unit has been disconnected from said telephone line.

4. The facsimile apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an electrophotography device for forming a toner image on a recording sheet using an electrophotography method;

a fixing device for fixing said toner image on said recording sheet by applying heat to said recording sheet having said toner image; and

a heat source for supplying heat to said fixing device when the light level is above the threshold value, said heat source stopping the supply of the heat to said fixing device when the light level is below the threshold value.

5. The facsimile apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an accepting circuit for accepting an incoming call signal immediately after receiving the calling signal; and

a switching circuit for causing said telephone unit to generate rings in response to the accepted incoming call in a case where said light level is above the threshold value and for causing said facsimile unit to respond to the calling signal and receive facsimile data, without generating any rings, when said light level is below the threshold value.

6. The facsimile apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first value is less than the second value.