RADIO COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, HAVING COMBINED FUNCTIONS SUCH AS TERMINAL ADAPTER, DIGITAL RADIO COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, FACSIMILE COMMUNICATION APPARATUS AND SO ON, FOR BEING CONNECTED TO A DIGITAL PUBLIC COMMUNICATION LINE

• US 6,728,534 B1
• Filed: 06/19/1998
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Uchimi, Akihiro, Izumi, Michihiro, Kagaya, Naoto, Tabeta, Hideya
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US09/100,208
• Time in Patent Office: 2,139 Days
• Field of Search: 455/426, 455/403, 455/412, 455/550, 455/556, 455/557, 455/561, 455/554, 455/555, 455/414, 455/502, 455/445, 455/422, 455/424, 455/425, 370/280, 379/100.01, 379/100.02, 379/142.07, 379/93.01
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00305 with a cordless telephone apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00312 with a digital transmission apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, SMS or ISDN device transmitting or receiving via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network or the internet H04N1/00214; transmission of digital information H04L
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00315 with a radio transmission apparatus with a cordless telephone H04N1/00305; systems or arrangements for the transmission of a picture signal specially adapted for transmission via radio H04N1/00103; H04N1/00307 takes precedence; radio transmission systems H04B7/00; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32598 Bus based systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32708 Telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32713 Data transmission device, e.g. switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A radio communication apparatus capable of executing communication and processing of audio data and image data by simplifying the system structure where various apparatuses are connected via a terminal adapter (TA), which conventionally used a large area and whose connection was complicated. More specifically, the system structure comprises: an interface unit (RS232C controller 219, driver 220, PIAFS controller 228, I.460 processor 236) connected with a data terminal (PC) by radio or by cable; radio communication unit (PHS engine unit 237) for realizing radio communication with a wireless telephone unit; and transmission arrangement (first port switch 229, second port switch 233, ISDN interface unit 225 and the like) for transmitting at least one of the data transmitted by the data terminal (PC) or the audio data transmitted by the wireless telephone unit, to the digital public communication line (ISDN).

Claims

1. A facsimile apparatus, connectable to a communication line, comprising:

an interface for connecting a personal computer (PC) with said facsimile apparatus;

radio communication means for performing radio communication with a wireless telephone unit;

selecting means for selecting data from data transmitted by the personal computer and audio data transmitted by the wireless telephone unit; and

transmitting means for transmitting the data selected by said selecting means to the communication line.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication line includes a plurality of communication channels,

said facsimile apparatus further comprises means for selecting a communication channel for outputting data, when the data transmitted by the personal computer or the audio data transmitted by the wireless telephone unit is outputted to the communication line, and

said transmitting means transmits the data transmitted by the personal computer or the audio data transmitted by the wireless telephone unit to the selected communication channel of the communication line.

3. A radio communication apparatus, connectable to a digital public communication line and having function as a digital radio communication base station, comprising:

a wired interface for connecting a data terminal with said radio communication apparatus;

storing means for storing data transmitted by the data terminal via said wired interface;

converting means for converting the data stored by said storing means to serial data having a predetermined format;

radio communication means for performing radio communication with the data terminal or a wireless telephone unit;

selecting means for selecting desired one or two data from the data transmitted by the data terminal via said radio communication means, audio data transmitted by the wireless telephone unit and the serial data; and

transmitting means for transmitting the data selected by said selecting means to the digital public communication line.

4. A facsimile apparatus, connectable to a communication line, comprising:

interface means for connecting a personal computer (PC) with said facsimile apparatus;

a handset for inputting audio data;

radio communication means for performing radio communication with a wireless telephone unit;

selecting means for selecting desired at least one data from data transmitted by the personal computer, audio data transmitted by the wireless telephone unit and the data inputted to said handset; and

transmitting means for transmitting the data selected by said selecting means to the communication line.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said interface means comprises:

a radio-data-transmission protocol processor;

input means for inputting data, transmitted by the data terminal, to said radio-data-transmission protocol processor;

storing means for storing the data received by the radio-data-transmission protocol processor; and

converting means for converting the data stored by said storing means to serial data having different formats,

wherein said selecting means selects desired at least one data from the converted serial data, the audio data transmitted by the wireless telephone units and the data inputted to said handset.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for selecting whether or not the data, transmitted by the personal computer, is to be inputted to said radio-data-transmission protocol processor,

wherein said selecting means selects desired at least one data from the converted serial data, the data transmitted by the personal computer before serial conversion, the audio data transmitted by the wireless telephone unit and the data inputted to said handset.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising processing means for performing conversion processing (I.460) of converting transmission speed of data transmitted by the personal computer, in a case where the data is not inputted to the radio-data-transmission protocol processor.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a memory for storing the data received from the communication line in a case where the data selected by said selecting means is the data received from the personal computer;

means for converting the data stored in a memory, into a format of radio-data-transmission protocol at the radio-data-transmission protocol processor;

means for transmitting the converted data to the personal computer.

9. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for switching a signal selection combination selected by said selecting means in accordance with a type of data element included in a line connection control message transmitted by the wireless telephone unit or the personal computer.

10. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

reading means for reading an image;

printing means for printing image data;

modulating means for modulating a signal subject to transmission;

analogue signal selecting means for selecting either an analogue signal modulated and outputted by said modulating means or an analogue audio signal inputted to said handset; and

an analogue/digital conversion processor for converting the analogue signal selected by said analogue signal selecting means to PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) data.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a plurality of decoding means for decoding time-division-multiplexed data received by radio,

wherein said analogue/digital conversion processor comprises means for being connected with said decoding means on one-to-one basis.

12. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

means for connecting said selecting means with an echo canceller;

means for controlling the echo canceller not to perform echo cancel operation when data is transmitted by the personal computer; and

means for controlling the echo canceller to perform echo cancel operation when data is transmitted by the wireless telephone unit or the handset.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising means for controlling the echo canceller not to perform echo cancel operation, if a communication attribute included in an outgoing call request message, which is transmitted by the personal computer or the wireless telephone unit, is digital data.

14. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a first connector for being directly connected with a station switch board of the communication line;

converting means for converting a signal received from the station switch board to a predetermined time-division-multiplexed digital signal;

input means for inputting the signal, converted by said converting means, into a driver/receiver circuit; and

a second connector for being connected to said driver/receiver circuit via a transformer.

15. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

first conversion means for performing serial/parallel conversion of the data received from the communication line in synchronization with a clock extracted from the communication line; and

second conversion means for performing parallel/serial conversion of the data, converted by said first conversion means, in synchronization with a radio communication line, wherein the data converted by said second conversion means is transmitted to the radio communication line.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the data is transferred between said first conversion means and said second conversion means through a first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffer.

17. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

means for assembling/disassembling a time-division-multiplexed frame;

means for generating a multiplied clock synchronizing with the clock extracted from the communication line; and

means for assembling/disassembling the time-division-multiplexed frame in synchronization with the generated clock.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said multiplied-clock-generating means comprises:

means for dividing the generated clock;

means for comparing a phase of the divided clock with that of the clock extracted from the communication line;

means for filtering the comparison result;

means for inputting an output from said filtering means to a voltage control oscillator to alter a frequency of the clock to be generated in accordance with the phase difference; and

control means for controlling such that the frequency of the generated clock is within a predetermined value.

19. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for receiving the data, received from the communication line, by the personal computer or the wireless telephone unit or the handset, which has been selected by said selecting means for data transmission.

20. A radio communication apparatus, connectable to a communication line, comprising:

printing means for printing data;

receiving means for wirelessly receiving data from a data terminal connected by radio; and

means for causing said printing means to print the data received by said receiving means,

wherein data from the data terminal is selectively and automatically routed to the printing means for printing or to another device via the communication line.

21. A radio communication apparatus, connectable to a public communication line, comprising:

printing means for printing data;

receiving means for wirelessly receiving data from a data terminal connected by radio;

a radio-data-transmission protocol processor for processing the data received by said receiving means from the data terminal via radio communication;

converting means for converting a format of the data processed by said radio-data-transmission protocol processor;

means for causing said printing means to print the data converted by said converting means;

a first data bus to which said printing means and/or a scanner is connected;

a second data bus to which said radio-data-transmission protocol processor is connected;

a shared register to which said first data bus and said second data bus are connected; and

means for writing/reading the data, processed by said radio-data-transmission protocol processor, in said shared register,

wherein said printing means prints the data inputted to said shared register.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said first data bus and said second data bus are respectively connected to a first processor and a second processor, the first processor controlling said printing means and/or said scanner, and the second processor controlling said radio-data-transmission protocol processor.

23. A radio communication apparatus, connectable to a communication line, comprising:

a scanner for scanning image data; and

transmitting means for transmitting the image data, scanned by said scanner, to a data terminal connected by radio,

wherein the image data is selectively and automatically routed to the data terminal via radio or to another device via the communication line.

24. A radio communication apparatus, connectable to a public communication line, comprising:

a scanner for scanning image data;

a radio-data-transmission protocol processor for processing the image data scanned by said scanner;

converting means for converting a format of data processed by said radio-data-transmission protocol processor;

transmitting means for transmitting the data, converted by said converting means, to a data terminal connected by radio;

a first data bus to which printing means and/or said scanner means is connected;

a second data bus to which said radio-data-transmission protocol processor is connected;

a shared register to which said first data bus and said second data bus are connected; and

means for writing/reading the data, processed by said radio-data-transmission protocol processor, in said shared register,

wherein said printing means prints the data inputted to said shared register.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said first data bus and said second data bus are respectively connected to a first processor and a second processor, the first processor controlling said printing means and/or said scanner, and the second processor controlling said radio-data-transmission protocol processor.

26. A radio communication apparatus, connectable to a public communication line and having function as a digital radio communication base station, comprising:

interface means for connecting a data terminal with said radio communication apparatus by radio or by cable;

a handset for inputting audio data;

radio communication means for performing radio communication with at least one of a plurality of wireless telephone units;

selecting means for selecting at least one data from data transmitted by the data terminal, audio data transmitted by the wireless telephone units and the data inputted to said handset;

transmitting means for transmitting the data selected by said selecting means to the public communication line;

modulating means for modulating a signal subject to transmission;

analogue signal selecting means for selecting either an analogue signal modulated and outputted by said modulating means or an analogue audio signal inputted to said handset; and

an analogue/digital conversion processor for converting the analogue signal selected by said analogue signal selecting means to PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) data.

27. A radio communication apparatus, connectable to a public communication line and having function as a radio communication base station, comprising:

interface means for connecting a data terminal with said radio communication apparatus by radio or by cable;

a handset for inputting audio data;

radio communication means for performing radio communication with at least one of a plurality of wireless telephone units;

selecting means for selecting at least one data from data transmitted by the data terminal, audio data transmitted by the wireless telephone units and the data inputted to said handset;

transmitting means for transmitting the data selected by said selecting means to the public communication line;

a first connector for being directly connected with a station switch board of the public communication line;

converting means for converting a signal received from the station switch board to a predetermined time-division-multiplexed digital signal;

input means for inputting the signal, converted by said converting means, into a driver/receiver circuit; and

a second connector for being connected to said driver/receiver circuit via a transformer.

28. A radio communication apparatus, connectable to a digital public communication line and having function as a digital radio communication base station, comprising:

interface means for connecting a data terminal with said radio communication apparatus by radio or by cable;

radio communication means for performing radio communication with at least one of a plurality of wireless telephone units;

first conversion means for performing serial/parallel conversion of the data received from the digital public communication line in synchronization with a clock extracted from the digital public communication line; and

second conversion means for performing parallel/serial conversion of the data, converted by said first conversion means, in synchronization with a digital radio communication line,

wherein the data converted by said second conversion means is transmitted to the digital radio communication line.

29. A radio communication apparatus, connectable to a communication line and having a function as a radio communication base station, comprising:

interface means for connecting a data terminal with said radio communication apparatus by radio or cable;

radio communication means for performing radio communication with a plurality of wireless telephone units; and

generating means for generating a multiplied clock in accordance with the clock extracted from the communication line,

wherein the radio communication is performed in synchronization with the. multiplied clock generated by said generating means.