Facsimile and static presentation processing – Facsimile – Image transmission accuracy verification
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-08
2001-07-24
Grant, II, Jerome (Department: 2624)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Facsimile
Image transmission accuracy verification
C379S100010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266159
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication device having a confidential data storage area for storing confidential data for specific individuals transmitted from remote communication devices via a communication circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, a storage area used in facsimile devices, which is often called a “message box,” is provided with a plurality of storage areas for storing confidential data for specific individuals. Each of these storage areas is allocated to a different specific individual. When the facsimile device is set in an answering mode, facsimiles or voice can be transmitted via a telephone circuit from remote facsimile devices or similar devices having communication functions and recorded in a storage area corresponding to a designated message box number. Then, a specific individual wishing to know the contents of messages sent to him or her can directly operate the facsimile device to extract the contents of this message box by performing prescribed operations that include the entering of a personal identification number (PIN) or security access code. The specific individual can also extract the messages via the telephone circuit using remote facsimile devices by also performing the prescribed operations. In other words, when the data stored in the storage area corresponding to the message box is facsimile data, the data can be printed out on recording paper. When the stored data is voice data, the data can be played back as voice data from a speaker.
However, conventional facsimile devices are inconvenient in that messages cannot be inputted into the message box via a telephone circuit unless the facsimile device has bene set to a specific mode, such as the answering mode. Further, the contents of the message box cannot be extracted via a telephone circuit unless the facsimile device is in this specific mode. Hence, when a person calls the facsimile device not in the answering mode to input a message into the message box, that person must wait until someone answers, request that the facsimile device be set to the answering mode, and then hang up and redial. Moreover, if no one answers the telephone when the facsimile device is not set in the answering mode, it is completely impossible to input a message into the message box. The very same problems occur when the owner of the message box wishes to retrieve the contents of his or her message box via the telephone circuit.
On the other hand, there exist facsimile devices provided with a handset capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving data between a base unit. The handset is capable of calling a remote communication device and receiving calls from the remote communication devices even when the handset is at a position separated from the base unit. Further, the handset is capable of remotely controlling the base unit through the execution of prescribed operations and can set the base unit to be able to receive a facsimile, which is extremely convenient.
However, conventional facsimile devices are inconvenient in that the handset cannot be used to control the storing of data in a message box for a specific individual, which data has been transmitted through the telephone wires, nor the outputting through telephone wires of data for a specific individual, which data is stored in the message box. Hence, when a person calls the facsimile device to input a message into the message box, if someone answers on the handset, the caller must request that the facsimile device be set in the answering mode, and then hand up and redial. The very same problem occurs when the owner of the message box wishes to retrieve the contents of his or her message box via a telephone circuit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the problems described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication device that allows a message box to be accessed without the need to hang up the telephone and redial, even when the user answers the telephone in response to the telephone ring.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a communication device that allows a message to be inputted into a message box not only when the facsimile device is in the answering mode, but also when the facsimile device is in a facsimile/telephone switching mode and a manual reception mode.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a communication device which allows the message box to be accessed from a handset.
In order to attain the above and other objects, the present invention provides a communication device capable of transmitting and receiving data via a communication circuit, the device comprising: data reception means capable of receiving confidential data for at least one specific individual via a communication circuit; confidential data storage means capable of storing the received confidential data for the at least one specific individual; confidential data input means for inputting the received confidential data for the at least one specific individual into the confidential data storage means; and confidential data input control means for controlling the confidential data input means to input the received confidential data into the confidential data storage means based on either first predetermined information inputted via the communication circuit or a first predetermined operation performed by a user.
According to another aspect, the present invention provides a communication system for transmitting and receiving data via a communication circuit, the communication system comprising: a base unit capable of transmitting and receiving data via a communication circuit; and a handset capable of wirelessly transmitting and receiving data with the base unit, the handset including detecting means for detecting a user's executed predetermined operation and transmission means for transmitting to the base unit predetermined information corresponding to the user's executed predetermined operation when the detecting means detects the user's executed predetermined operation, wherein the base unit includes: confidential data reception means capable of receiving confidential data for at least one specific individual via the communication circuit; confidential data storage means capable of storing the received confidential data for the least one specific individual; confidential data input means for inputting the received confidential data for the at least one specific individual into the confidential data storage means; and confidential data input control means for controlling the confidential data input means to input the received confidential data into the confidential data storage means based on the predetermined information transmitted from the handset.
According to another aspect, the present invention provides a program storage medium for storing data of a program indicative of a process for controlling a communication device connected to a communication circuit, the communication device including a storage area capable of storing received confidential data for at least one specific individual, the program comprising: a program of receiving confidential data for at least one specific individual via a communication circuit; a program of inputting the received confidential data for the at least one specific individual into the storage area; and a program of controlling the confidential data inputting program to input the received confidential data into the confidential data storage based on either first predetermined information inputted via the communication circuit or a first predetermined operation performed by a user.
According to still another aspect, the present invention provides a program storage medium for storing data of a program indicative of a process for controlling a communication system including a base unit connected to a communication circuit and a handset which wirelessly communicate data with the base unit, the base unit including a confidential data storage area capable of storing confidential data
Otsuka Shuji
Yasui Kunihiro
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Grant II Jerome
Oliff & Berridge PLC.
LandOfFree
Communication device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Communication device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Communication device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2538876