Data communication apparatus

• US 6,498,836 B1
• Filed: 04/19/1999
• Issued: 12/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kenmochi, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAN, WING F
• Application Number:
  US09/294,111
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: 379/100.01, 379/100.06, 379/100.09, 379/100.12, 379/100.14, 379/100.15, 379/100.17, 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/77, 379/80, 379/88-3-, 358/402-404, 358/444
• US Class Current: 379/100.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27 Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/642 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/652 Means for playing back the recorded messages by remote control over a telephone line H04M1/658 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/658 Means for redirecting recorded messages to other extensions or equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/022 Paging systems personal calling arrangements or devices G08B3/1008; selective calling networks H04W84/022
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32363 at the transmitter or at the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32379 Functions of a still picture terminal memory associated with reception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3239 Forwarding image data, e.g. to an absent recipient
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32395 Informing an absent addressee of receipt
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32708 Telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32719 a facsimile calling signal, e.g. CNG
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32723 speech signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32726 signals other than facsimile protocol signals, e.g. DTMF signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3261 of multimedia information, e.g. a sound signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3298 Checking or indicating the storage space

Abstract

A data communication apparatus includes a receiving unit for receiving data, a memory unit for storing received data, an informing unit for, after memory reception is performed by the memory unit, automatically calling a predetermined destination and informing that memory reception is performed, and a transmitting unit for transmitting data of the memory unit in accordance with reception of a control signal.

Claims

1. A facsimile apparatus, comprising:

receiving means for receiving units of data in accordance with a facsimile communication procedure;

storing means for storing a plurality of the units of data received by said receiving means and identification (ID) information for respectively identifying each unit of data received by said receiving means;

ID information receiving means for receiving ID information from a destination station;

processing means for selectively reading out some, but fewer than all, of the plurality of stored units of data from said storing means having ID information corresponding to the ID information received by said ID information receiving means; and

transmitting means for transmitting the read-out units of data in accordance with the facsimile communication procedure to the destination station.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ID information is type information for selecting a data type of the data stored in said storing means, and said processing means reads out from said storing means the some of the received units of data corresponding the data type selected based on the type information, and causes said transmitting means to transmit the read-out units of data.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said data type indicates facsimile image data or a voice message.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising adding means for adding the ID information to the received units of data at every time when said storing means stores the received units of data.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said identification information is a film number.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said data is image data.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising notifying means for calling a predetermined destination to notify reception of the units of data, in response to reception of the units of data by said receiving means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising notifying means for calling a predetermined destination to notify reception of the units of data, in response to reception of the units of data by said receiving means, wherein said notifying means notifies the identification information.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ID information receiving means receives the ID information as a DTMF signal.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting either a mode to permit storage of the received units of data in said storing means or a mode to inhibit storage of the received units of data in said storing means.

11. A data communication method, comprising the steps of:

receiving units of data in accordance with a facsimile communication procedure;

storing, in a storing means, a plurality of the units of data received in said receiving step and identification (ID) information for respectively identifying each unit of data received by said receiving means;

receiving ID information from a destination station;

selectively reading out some, but fewer than all, of the plurality of stored units of data from the storing means having ID information means corresponding to the ID information received in said ID information receiving step; and

transmitting the read-out units of data in accordance with the facsimile communication procedure to the destination station.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the ID information is type information for selecting a data type of the data stored in the storing means, and said reading step reads out from the storing means the some of the received units of data corresponding the data type selected based on the type information, and causes said transmitting step to transmit the read-out units of data.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said data type indicates facsimile image data or a voice message.

14. A method according to claim 11, further comprising an adding step of adding the ID information to the received units of data at every time when the storing means stores the received units of data.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said identification information is a film number.

16. A method according to claim 11, wherein said data is image data.

17. A method according to claim 11, further comprising a notifying step of calling a predetermined destination to notify reception of the units of data, in response to reception of the units of data in said receiving step.

18. A method according to claim 11, further comprising a notifying step of calling a predetermined destination to notify reception of the units of data, in response to reception of the units of data in said receiving step, wherein said notifying step notifies the identification information.

19. A method according to claim 11, wherein said ID information receiving step receives the ID information as a DTMF signal.

20. A method according to claim 11, further comprising a setting step of setting either a mode to permit storage of the received units of data in the storing means or a mode to inhibit storage of the received units of data in the storing means.