Facsimile and static presentation processing – Facsimile – Specific signal processing circuitry
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-07
2001-05-22
Mehta, Bhavesh (Department: 2621)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Facsimile
Specific signal processing circuitry
C358S400000, C358S402000, C358S434000, C379S088220, C379S093030, C379S100080, C379S100090, C382S115000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06236468
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a communication device provided with a function for storing input information via a telecommunication line and then transferring the stored contents.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional facsimile terminal equipment are provided with a memory area for storing information received in an automatic message recording mode and not addressed to specific individual and plural memory areas for storing information for a specific individual. The above function for storing information for a specific individual is generally called a message box function. Information stored in these memory areas, such as voice data or facsimile data, can be extracted from another communication terminal by a predetermined operation or a function called retrieval. Currently, to extract information for a specific individual, a password for identifying the individual is required; however, a password is not required to extract information not addressed to a specific individual.
Conventional facsimile terminal equipment are also provided with a function for transferring information to a communication terminal corresponding to a registered telephone number or facsimile number by first registering the telephone number of the communication terminal that requires transfer and setting transfer when the information is stored in a memory area in an automatic message recording mode.
In such conventional type facsimile terminal equipment, both the information not addressed to a specific individual and the information for a specific individual are transferred without classification.
However, the above conventional type facsimile terminal equipment cannot provide security for information directed to a specific individual because both information not addressed to a specific individual and information for a specific individual are transferred without classification. Further, information for a specific individual is automatically transferred without verifying cryptographic information such as a password.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has as an object to solve the above problem by providing a communication device that secures the secrecy of information for a specific individual in a transfer.
To achieve the above object, a communication device disclosed in a first aspect is provided with a personal information storing device that stores information that can be input/output via a telecommunication line for a specific individual, a general information storing device that stores information that can be input/output via a telecommunication line and that is not addressed to a specific individual, a personal information input control device that controls storing information input via a telecommunication line for a specific individual in the personal information storing device, and a general information input control device that controls information input via a telecommunication line and that is not addressed to a specific individual in the general information storing device. The communication device further includes a personal information output control device that reads information stored in the personal information storing device for a specific individual and that outputs the information via a telecommunication line, and a general information output control device that reads information stored in the general information storing device, which is not addressed to a specific individual, and that outputs the information via a telecommunication line. The communication device still further includes a calling information storing device that stores calling information for calling an arbitrary number of desired communication terminals with which the communication device can communicate via the telecommunication line. The communication device also includes a transfer device that reads calling information stored in the calling information storing device and that calls the communication terminals corresponding to the calling information if information input via a telecommunication line by the general information input control device, and not addressed to a specific individual, is stored in the general information storing device, transferring information stored in the general information storing device to the communication terminals corresponding to calling information by operating the general information output control device and not transferring information for a specific individual if the information input via a telecommunication line by the personal information input control device for a specific individual is stored in the personal information storing device.
In the above communication device, the transfer device transfers information stored in the general information storing device, and not addressed to a specific individual. The transfer device does not transfer information stored in the personal information storing device for a specific individual. Further, information for a specific individual is not automatically transferred. Thus, security of information for a specific individual is provided.
The above telecommunication line may be also a public circuit and a leased line, and may be wired and wireless.
For the personal information storing device, the general information storing device and the calling information storing device, volatile memory such as random access memory (RAM) and erasable nonvolatile memory such as the EEPROM, for example, can be used. However, the above devices are not limited to these and, for example, a hard disk may be also used. If volatile memory is used, it is desirable that the memory's power supply is backed up by a battery.
The number of provided personal information storing device is arbitrary. However, if plural personal information storing devices are provided, specification information for specifying to/from which personal information storing device data are input or output is required.
The above communication device can include a facsimile terminal equipment and a telephone set, for example. However, the above communication device is not limited to these and, for example, a personal computer, a word processor and an electronic printer to which a call function and a facsimile sending/receiving function are added can also be used.
The personal information input control device, the general information input control device, the personal information output control device, the general information output control device and the transfer device are part of a CPU or a microprocessor that operates according to a predetermined program.
Transferred information not addressed to a specific individual may also be image information, such as a facsimile signal, voice information or both.
A second aspect of the communication device includes a transfer setting device, which sets whether a user transfers data by the transfer device, and a transfer setting storing device, which stores the contents set in the transfer setting device. The transfer device transfers information not addressed to a specific individual if the setting of transfer is stored in the transfer setting storing device. The transfer device does not transfer information not addressed to a specific individual if the setting of transfer is not stored in the transfer setting storing device.
In the above communication device, the transfer device transfers information not addressed to a specific individual if the setting of transfer is stored in the transfer setting storing device. The transfer device does not transfer information not addressed to a specific individual if the setting of transfer is not stored in the transfer setting storing device. In addition, a user can request that information be transferred, making the above communication device convenient to use.
The transfer setting device can be a keyboard. However, the transfer setting device is not limited to a keyboard and, transfer may also be set by operating a mouse, for example.
The transfer setting storing device can be a volatile memory such as a RAM or an erasable nonvolatile memory
Otsuka Shuji
Yasui Kunihiro
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Desire Gregory
Mehta Bhavesh
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
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