Communication apparatus capable of communication with single partner using a plurality of communication channels, and control method thereof

• US 6,771,752 B1
• Filed: 04/06/1999
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kurosawa, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sing, Simon P.
• Application Number:
  US09/286,788
• Time in Patent Office: 1,946 Days
• Field of Search: 379/100.15, 379/100.16, 379/93.09, 379/93.11, 379/100.01, 379/114.07, 379/93.05, 379/100.17, 370/524, 370/357.05
• US Class Current: 379/100.16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32797 Systems adapted to communicate over more than one channel, e.g. via ISDN changing transmission mode according to type of channel H04N2201/33364; multichannel or multilink communication protocols H04L69/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33307 prior to start of transmission, input or output of the picture signal only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33338 adapting to particular facsimile group, e.g. G3
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33353 according to the available bandwidth used for a single communication, e.g. the number of ISDN channels used
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33307 of a particular mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0457 Connection protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13179 Fax, still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13202 Network termination [NT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13208 Inverse multiplexing, channel bonding, e.g. TSSI aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1325 Priority service
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13332 Broadband, CATV, dynamic bandwidth allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 Recorded announcement

Abstract

In order to allow various user setups associated with a communication using a plurality of communication channels, the number of communication channels used in a communication with a single partner is varied depending on whether or not the automatic answering mode is set. The number of communication channels used in the communication with the single partner can be independently set in correspondence with transmission and reception. The number of communication channels used in the communication with another communication partner can be independently set in correspondence with whether an incoming call or a call origination request is detected.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

setting means for setting an automatic answering mode for automatically answering an incoming call, and recording a voice message from a calling party;

communication means capable of communicating with a partner via a plurality of communication channels;

a detecting means for detecting whether a bulk communication request is received from the calling party; and

control means for selectively controlling a communication with the partner via either the plurality of communication channels or a single channel in accordance with whether or not the automatic answering mode has been set, wherein said control means sends a message to the calling party indicating that the bulk communication can be made.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

detection means for detecting an incoming call, and wherein said control means makes the control when said detection means detects the incoming call.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication means makes a communication via a digital line.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the digital line is an integrated services digital network.

5. A method of controlling a communication apparatus comprising:

a setting step of setting an automatic answering mode for automatically answering an incoming call, and recording a voice message from a calling party;

a communication step of communicating with a partner via a plurality of communication channels;

a detecting step of detecting whether a bulk communication request is received form the calling party; and

a control step of selectively controlling a communication with the partner via either the plurality of communication channels or a single channel in accordance with whether or not the automatic answering mode has been set, wherein said control step sends a message to the calling party indicating that the bulk communication can be made.