Communication apparatus, control method, and computer-usable medium for selecting a network for data transmission

• US 8,949,443 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2004
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Izumi, Michihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Murray, Daniel C
• Application Number:
  US10/559,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20060136596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,890 Days
• Field of Search: 709/230, 709/245, 709/228, 358/1.15, 358/438, 358/440
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/085 specially adapted for interworking of IP-based networks with other networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/001 specially adapted for transmission via digital wireline networks H04N1/00098 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00214 details of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0022 involving facsimile protocols or a combination of facsimile protocols and computer data transmission protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32721 facsimile protocol signals, e.g. DCS or TSI
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3278 using a protocol or handshaking signal, e.g. non-standard set-up [NSS]

Abstract

In a communication apparatus corresponding to a voice-band analog communication path and a network communication path, high-speed and high-reliability data communication is achieved by selecting the appropriate communication path without any complicated user operation. The communication apparatus which performs IP communication and analog communication through an ADSL gateway obtains a communication partner IP address from an SIP proxy when a communication partner telephone number corresponds to a VoIP network, and transmits/receives communication data to/from the communication partner on an IP network based on a file transmission/reception protocol such as FTP, HTTP, or the like. The communication apparatus performs analog facsimile communication on a line switching network when the communication partner telephone number does not correspond to the VoIP network, and performs the analog facsimile communication when the communication partner corresponds to the VoIP network but does not have any digital communication means.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus including a facsimile communication unit configured to communicate using a facsimile protocol, the apparatus comprising:

a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) connection unit configured to establish a VoIP channel via an Internet Protocol (IP) network using a VoIP protocol;

an IP communication unit configured to communicate image data to a communication partner station via the IP network using a file transmission protocol that is one of a plurality of predetermined file transmission protocols;

a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) unit configured to obtain an IP address of the communication partner station from a SIP proxy server, based on a telephone number of the communication partner station, and to communicate a SIP signal;

a determination unit configured to determine whether the communication partner station is capable of using the IP protocol; and

a control unit configured to select the facsimile communication unit or the IP communication unit, in accordance with a determination by the determination unit,

wherein, if the determination unit determines that the communication partner station is capable of using the IP protocol and the SIP unit has received a response indicating that the communication partner station is responding to a call, the control unit selects the IP communication unit, and causes the IP communication unit to communicate the image data to the communication partner station using the file transmission protocol using the IP address of the communication partner station obtained by the SIP unit, and, if the determination unit determines that the communication partner station is not capable of using the IP protocol and the SIP unit has received a response indicating that the communication partner station is responding to a call, the control unit selects the facsimile communication unit, and causes the facsimile communication unit to communicate the image data to the communication partner station using the facsimile protocol via the VoIP channel established by the VoIP connection unit.

2. A control method performed by a communication apparatus that includes a facsimile communication unit configured to communicate using a facsimile protocol and an Internet Protocol (IP) communication unit configured to communicate image data to a communication partner station via an IP network using a file transmission protocol that is one of a plurality of predetermined file transmission protocols, the control method comprising:

a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) connection step of establishing a VoIP channel via the IP network using a VoIP protocol;

an obtaining step of obtaining an IP address of the communication partner station from a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy server, based on a telephone number of the communication partner station, and communicating a SIP signal;

a determining step of determining whether the communication partner station is capable of using the IP protocol; and

a control step of selecting the facsimile communication unit or the IP communication unit, in accordance with a determination in the determining step,

wherein, if a determination is made in the determining step that the communication partner station is capable of using the IP protocol and a response indicating that the communication partner station is responding to a call has been received in the SIP step, the IP communication unit is selected, and the image data is communicated to the communication partner station using the file transmission protocol using the IP address of the communication partner station obtained in the obtaining step, and, if a determination is made in the determining step that the communication partner station is not capable of the IP protocol and a response indicating that the communication partner station is responding to a call has been received in the SIP step, the facsimile communication unit is selected, and the image data is communicated to the communication partner station using the facsimile protocol via the VoIP channel established in the VoIP connection step.

3. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program that, when executed, causes a communication apparatus to perform a control method, wherein the communication apparatus includes a facsimile communication unit configured to communicate using a facsimile protocol and an Internet Protocol (IP) communication unit configured to communicate image data to a communication partner station via an IP network using a file transmission protocol, the control method comprising:

a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) connection step of establishing a VoIP channel via the IP network using a VoIP protocol;

an IP address obtaining step of obtaining an IP address of the communication partner station from a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxy server, based on a telephone number of the communication partner station, and communicating a SIP signal;

a determining step of determining whether the communication partner station is capable of using the IP protocol; and

a control step of selecting the facsimile communication unit or the IP communication unit, in accordance with a determination in the determining step,

wherein, if a determination is made in the determining step that the communication partner station is capable of using the IP protocol and a response indicating that the communication partner station is responding to a call has received in the SIP step, the IP communication unit is selected, and the image data is communicated to the communication partner station using the file transmission protocol using the IP address of the communication partner station obtained in the IP address obtaining step, and, if a determination is made in the determining step that the communication partner station is not capable of using the IP protocol and a response indicating that the communication partner station is responding to a call has been received in the SIP step, the facsimile communication unit is selected, and the image data is communicated to the communication partner station using the facsimile protocol via the VoIP channel established in the VoIP connection step.

4. A communication apparatus including a facsimile communication unit configured to communicate using a facsimile protocol, the apparatus comprising:

a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) connection unit configured to establish a VoIP channel via an Internet Protocol (IP) network using a VoIP protocol;

an IP communication unit configured to communicate image data to a communication partner station via the IP network using a file transmission protocol that is one of a plurality of predetermined file transmission protocols;

a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) unit configured to obtain an IP address of the communication partner station from a SIP proxy server, based on a telephone number of the communication partner station, and to communicate a SIP signal; and

a control unit configured to select the facsimile communication unit or the IP communication unit to communicate the image data to the communication partner station,

wherein, if the SIP unit has received a response indicating that the communication partner station is responding to a call, the control unit selects the facsimile communication unit and causes the facsimile communication unit to communicate the image data to the communication partner station using the facsimile protocol via the VoIP channel established by the VoIP connection unit.

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a determination unit configured to determine whether the communication partner station is capable of using the IP protocol,

wherein, if the determination unit determines that the communication partner station is capable of using the IP protocol and the SIP unit has received a response indicating that the communication partner station is responding to a call, the control unit selects the IP communication unit, and causes the IP communication unit to communicate the image data to the communication partner station using the file transmission protocol using the IP address of the communication partner station obtained by the SIP unit, and, if the determination unit determines that the communication partner station is not capable of using the IP protocol and the SIP unit has received a response indicating that the communication partner station is responding to a call, the control unit selects the facsimile communication unit, and causes the facsimile communication unit to communicate the image data to the communication partner station using the facsimile protocol via the VoIP channel established by the VoIP connection unit.

6. A control method performed by a communication apparatus that includes a facsimile communication unit configured to communicate using a facsimile protocol and an Internet Protocol (IP) communication unit configured to communicate image data to a communication partner station via an IP network using a file transmission protocol that is one of a plurality of predetermined file transmission protocols, the control method comprising:

a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) connection step of establishing a VoIP channel via an IP network using a VoIP protocol;

an IP communication step of communicating image data to a communication partner station via the IP network using a file transmission protocol that is one of a plurality of predetermined file transmission protocols;

a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) step of obtaining an IP address of the communication partner station from a SIP proxy server, based on a telephone number of the communication partner station, and communicating a SIP signal; and

a control step of selecting the facsimile communication unit or the IP communication unit to communicate the image data to the communication partner station,

wherein, if a response indicating that the communication partner station is responding to a call has been received in the SIP step, the facsimile communication unit is selected and the facsimile communication unit is caused to communicate the image data to the communication partner station using the facsimile protocol via the VoIP channel established in the VoIP connection step.

7. The control method according to claim 6, further comprising:

a determining step of determining whether the communication partner station is capable of using the IP protocol,

wherein, if a determination is made in the determining step that the communication partner station is capable of using the IP protocol and a response indicating that the communication partner station is responding to a call has been received in the SIP step, the IP communication unit is selected, and the image data is communicated to the communication partner station using the file transmission protocol using the IP address of the communication partner station obtained in the obtaining step, and, if a determination is made in the determining step that the communication partner station is not capable of the IP protocol and a response indicating that the communication partner station is responding to a call has been received in the SIP step, the facsimile communication unit is selected, and the image data is communicated to the communication partner station using the facsimile protocol via the VoIP channel established in the VoIP connection step.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program that, when executed, causes a communication apparatus to perform a control method, wherein the communication apparatus includes a facsimile communication unit configured to communicate using a facsimile protocol and an Internet Protocol (IP) communication unit configured to communicate image data to a communication partner station via an IP network using a file transmission protocol, the control method comprising:

a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) connection step of establishing a VoIP channel via an IP network using a VoIP protocol;

an IP communication step of communicating image data to a communication partner station via the IP network using a file transmission protocol that is one of a plurality of predetermined file transmission protocols;

a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) step of obtaining an IP address of the communication partner station from a SIP proxy server, based on a telephone number of the communication partner station, and communicating a SIP signal; and

a control step of selecting the facsimile communication unit or the IP communication unit to communicate the image data to the communication partner station,

wherein, if a response indicating that the communication partner station is responding to a call has been received in the SIP step, the facsimile communication unit is selected and the facsimile communication unit is caused to communicate the image data to the communication partner station using the facsimile protocol via the VoIP channel established in the VoIP connection step.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 8, further comprising:

a determining step of determining whether the communication partner station is capable of using the IP protocol,

wherein, if a determination is made in the determining step that the communication partner station is capable of using the IP protocol and a response indicating that the communication partner station is responding to a call has received in the SIP step, the IP communication unit is selected, and the image data is communicated to the communication partner station using the file transmission protocol using the IP address of the communication partner station obtained in the IP address obtaining step, and, if a determination is made in the determining step that the communication partner station is not capable of using the IP protocol and a response indicating that the communication partner station is responding to a call has been received in the SIP step, the facsimile communication unit is selected, and the image data is communicated to the communication partner station using the VoIP protocol via the VoIP channel established in the VoIP connection step.