Communication apparatus which outputs communication status data in plural different colors

• US 6,359,707 B1
• Filed: 11/06/1996
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tadokoro, Yoshihisa, Uruma, Kazuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Kimberly A.
• Application Number:
  US08/744,277
• Time in Patent Office: 1,959 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.156, 358/500, 358/501, 358/504, 358/403, 358/404, 358/405, 358/437, 358/440, 358/468, 358/439, 382/162
• US Class Current: 358/500
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/46 Colour picture communication systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/64 Systems for the transmission or the storage of the colour picture signal; Details therefor, e.g. coding or decoding means therefor H04N19/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A color communication apparatus includes a communication device for communicating color data, a color output device capable of outputting a plurality of colors, a generator for generating communication status data, and a controller for outputting the communication status data at least one of the plurality of colors, the color being selected based on the contents of the communication status data.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

communication means for communicating an image;

generating means for generating communication status information relative to image communication by said communication means, said communication status information being comprised by a plurality of items; and

output means for visually outputting said image communicated by said communication means, and for visually outputting said plurality of items by using a respectively different color for each different type of item,

wberein said output means outputs said plurality of items so that an operator can visually discriminate between said plurality of items when viewing said plurality of items at the same time.

2. A color communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of items include an item representing whether a communication error exists during said communication.

3. A color communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said output means changes an output color of said item representing whether the communication error exists during said communication in accordance with existence or non-existence of said communication error.

4. A color communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of items includes an item representing a communication time during said communication.

5. A color communication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said output means changes an output color of said item representing the communication time during said communication in accordance with said communication time.

6. A color communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of items include an item representing whether said communication is transmission or reception.

7. A color communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said output means changes an output color of said item representing whether said communication is transmission or reception in accordance with transmission or reception.

8. A color communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of items include an item representing whether said communication is memory-reception or direct-reception.

9. A color communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said output means changes an output color of said item representing whether said communication is memory-reception or direct reception in accordance with memory-reception or direct-reception.

10. A color communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of items include an item representing whether said communication is local communication or long-distance communication.

11. A color communication apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said output means changes an output color of said item representing whether said communication is local communication or long-distance communication in accordance with local communication or long-distance communication.

12. A color communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of items include an item representing a communication fee during said communication.

13. A color communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said output means changes an output color of said item representing the communication fee during said communication in accordance with said communication fee.

14. A color communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said output means outputs said plurality of items and said color image on the same medium.

15. A color communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said output means comprises a color printer capable of recording a plurality of colors.

16. A color communication apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said color printer comprises a color ink-jet printer.

17. A color communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said color ink-jet printer includes respective heads for cyan, magenta, yellow and black.

18. A color communication apparatus comprising:

reception means for receiving confidential documents;

storage means for storing at least one confidential document received by said reception means in at least one confidential box;

color registration means for registering a different color for each confidential box of said storage means; and

color output means for outputting a confidential document reception report using a color for a confidential box of said storage means registered in said color registration means.

19. A communication method comprising the steps of:

communicating an image;

generating communication status information relative to image communication in said communicating step, said communication status information being comprised by a plurality of items of at least one type; and

visually outputting said image communicated in said communicating step, and visually outputting said plurality of items by using a respectively different color for each different type of item,

wherein said output is performed so that an operator can visually discriminate between said plurality of items when viewing said plurality of items at the same time.

20. A color communication method according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of items include an item representing whether a communication error exists during said communication.

21. A color communication apparatus according to claim 20, wherein in said visually outputting step an output color of said item representing whether the communication error exists is changed during said communication in accordance with existence or non-existence of said communication error.

22. A color communication apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of items includes an item representing a communication time during said communication.

23. A color communication apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said in said visually outputting step an output color of said item representing the communication time during said communication is changed in accordance with said communication time.

24. A color communication apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of items include an item representing whether said communication is transmission or reception.

25. A color communication apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said in said visually outputting step an output color of said item representing whether said communication is transmission or reception is changed in accordance with transmission or reception.

26. A color communication apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of items include an item representing whether said communication is memory-reception or direct-reception.

27. A color communication apparatus according to claim 26, wherein in said visually outputting step an output color of said item representing whether said communication is memory-reception or direct reception is changed in accordance with memory-reception or direct-reception.

28. A color communication apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of items include an item representing whether said communication is local communication or long-distance communication.

29. A color communication apparatus according to claim 28, wherein in said visually outputting step an output color of said item representing whether said communication is local communication or long-distance communication is changed in accordance with local communication or long-distance communication.

30. A color communication apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of items include an item representing a communication fee during said communication.

31. A color communication apparatus according to claim 30, wherein in said visually outputting step an output color of said item representing the communication fee during said-communication is changed in accordance with said communication fee.

32. A color communication apparatus according to claim 19, wherein in said visually outputting step said plurality of items and said color image are output on the same medium.

33. A communication apparatus comprising:

communication means for communicating an image;

generating means for generating communication status information relative to image communication by said communication means, said communication status information being comprised by a plurality of items of at least one type; and

output means for visually outputting said image communicated by said communication means, and for visually outputting said plurality of items;

wherein one type of said plurality of items is output with one color and another type of said plurality of items is output with another color, and

wherein said output means outputs said one type of said plurality of items and said another type of said plurality of items so that an operator can visually discriminate therebetween when viewing said one type of said plurality of items and said another type of said plurality of items at the same time.

34. A communication apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said color output means comprises a color printer capable of recording a plurality of colors.

35. A communication apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said color printer comprises a color ink-jet printer.

36. A communication apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said color ink-jet printer includes respective heads for cyan, magenta, yellow and black.

37. A communication apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said plurality of items including an item representing whether a communication error exists during said communication.

38. A communication apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said output means changes an output color of said item representing whether the communication error exists during said communication in accordance with existence or non-existence of said communication error.

39. A communication apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said plurality of items includes an item representing a communication time during said communication.

40. A communication apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said output means changes an output color of said item representing the communication time during said communication in accordance with said communication time.

41. A communication apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said plurality of items include an item representing whether said communication is transmission or reception.

42. A communication apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said output means changes an output color of said item representing whether said communication is transmission or reception in accordance with transmission or reception.

43. A communication apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said plurality of items include an item representing whether said communication is memory-reception or direct-reception.

44. A communication apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said output means changes an output color of said item representing whether said communication is memory-reception or direct reception in accordance with memory-reception or direct-reception.

45. A communication apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said plurality of items include an item representing whether said communication is local communication or long-distance communication.

46. A communication apparatus according to claim 45, wherein output means changes an output color of said item representing whether said communication is local communication or long-distance communication in accordance with local communication or long-distance communication.

47. A communication apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said plurality of items include an item representing a communication fee during said communication.

48. A communication apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said output means changes an output color of said item representing the communication fee during said communication in accordance with said communication fee.

49. A communication apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said output means outputs said plurality of items and said color image on the same medium.

50. A color communication apparatus comprising:

reception means for receiving confidential documents from different communicators;

storage means for storing received confidential documents so as to distinguish one communicator of confidential documents from another communicator of said confidential documents; and

color output means for outputting confidential document reception information by using an output color predetermined for each communicator of said confidential documents.

51. A communication method comprising the steps of:

communicating an image;

generating communication status information relative to image communication communicated in said communicating step, sid communication status information being comprised by a plurality of items of at least one type; and

visually outputting said image communicated in said communicating step, and for visually outputting said plurality of items;

wherein one type of said plurality of items is output with one color and another type of said plurality of items is output with another color, and

wherein said output step outputs said one type of said plurality of items and said another type of said plurality of items so that an operator can visually discriminate therebetween when viewing said one type of said plurality of items and said another type of said plurality of items at the same time.

52. A communication method according to claim 51, wherein said output step comprises outputting by a color printer capable of recording a plurality of colors.

53. A communication method according to claim 52, wherein said color printer comprises a color ink-jet printer.

54. A communication method according to claim 53, wherein said color ink-jet printer includes respective heads for cyan, magenta, yellow and black.

55. A communication method according to claim 51, wherein said plurality of items include an item representing whether a communication error exists during said communication.

56. A communication method according to claim 55, wherein an output color of said item representing whether the communication error exists during said communication is changed in accordance with existence or non-existence of said communication error.

57. A communication method according to claim 51, wherein said plurality of items includes an item representing a communication time during said communication.

58. A communication method according to claim 57, wherein an output color of said item representing the communication time during said communication is changed in accordance with said communication time.

59. A communication method according to claim 51, wherein said plurality of items include an item representing whether said communication is transmission or reception.

60. A communication method according to claim 59, wherein an output color of said item representing whether said communication is transmission or reception is changed in accordance with transmission or reception.

61. A communication method according to claim 51, wherein said plurality of items include an item representing whether said communication is memory-reception or direct-reception.

62. A communication method according to claim 61, wherein an output color of said item representing whether said communication is memory-reception or direct reception is changed in accordance with memory-reception or direct-reception.

63. A communication method according to claim 51, wherein said plurality of items include an item representing whether said communication is local communication or long-distance communication.

64. A communication method according to claim 63, wherein an output color of said item representing whether said communication is local communication or long-distance communication is changed in accordance with local communication or long-distance communication.

65. A communication method according to claim 51, wherein said plurality of items include an item representing a communication fee during said communication.

66. A communication method according to claim 65, wherein an output color of said item representing the communication fee during said communication is changed in accordance with said communication fee.

67. A communication method according to claim 51, wherein said plurality of items and said color image is output on the same medium.