Facsimile and static presentation processing – Facsimile – Auxiliary signal
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-16
2002-09-17
Coles, Edward (Department: 2622)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Facsimile
Auxiliary signal
C358S436000, C358S437000, C358S400000, C358S407000, C379S100010, C379S100020
Reexamination Certificate
active
06452697
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to facsimile apparatuses connected to a computer which transmit documents created by the computer to other facsimile apparatuses via a telephone line.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, development of networks has made it a common practice to connect other devices, especially personal computer (hereafter referred to as “PC”) to facsimile apparatuses connected to a telephone line to communicate information such as sending documents created by a PC to other facsimile apparatuses.
Conventionally, two methods are available for connection between a facsimile apparatus and PC, simply connecting an external telephone terminal of a line control board of the facsimile apparatus and a modem with a facsimile function via line cord (hereafter referred to as “1st method”) and using a dedicated interface such as RS232C (hereafter referred to as “2nd method”).
However, according to the 1st method, when another facsimile apparatus which is a called site does not respond to a call from the PC, the PC must also send 2nd and subsequent calls, which increase a load of the PC.
On the other hand, according to the 2nd method, when there is no answer from the called site, it is possible for the facsimile apparatus to carry out a redial or notify the PC of communication results. However, this method requires the facsimile apparatus to have a dedicated interface circuit, increasing the scale of circuit. It also requires driver software to be installed in the PC.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a facsimile apparatus which will allow connection with a computer without using a dedicated interface and can reduce the load of the computer in redialing when there is no answer from the called site.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a line control board for the facsimile apparatus which is connected to a computer without using a dedicated interface through control of the facsimile apparatus and can reduce the load of the computer in redialing when there is no answer from the called site.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a communication control method in the facsimile apparatus which is connected to a computer without using a dedicated interface and can reduce the load of the computer in redialing when there is no answer from the called site.
The present invention provides a facsimile apparatus, comprising:
first interface means for connecting a first telephone line which is connected to an external terminal;
second interface means for connecting a second telephone line which is connected with a called site;
first transmission control means for transmitting transmit data from said external terminal to said second telephone line at detecting a call from said external terminal and then connecting said first interface means and said second interface means;
storage means for storing information of the called site and said transmit data received from said external terminal; and
second transmit control means for monitoring said second telephone line and disconnecting said first interface means and said second interface means when said called site is not in condition to receive said transmit data and then transmitting said stored transmit data by redialing said called site based on said stored information of the called site.
The present invention provides a line control board, comprising:
first interface means for connecting a first telephone line which is connected to an external terminal;
second interface means for connecting a second telephone line which is connected to a called site;
first switching means for switching the connection destination of said first telephone line;
second switching means for switching the connection destination of said second telephone line
third interface means for connecting a facsimile apparatus and receiving an instruction from the facsimile apparatus;
wherein said first switching means and said second switching means change the destinations of the first telephone line and the second telephone line according to said instruction.
The present invention provides a communication control method for a facsimile apparatus, comprising the steps of:
detecting a call from an external terminal connected to the facsimile apparatus via a first telephone line and sending transmit data from said external terminal to a second telephone line connected to said facsimile apparatus;
storing the information of the called site and said transmit data received from said external terminal;
monitoring said second telephone line and redialing said called site based on said stored information of the called site to transmit said stored transmit data when said called site is not in condition to receive said transmit data.
The present invention provides a facsimile apparatus by way of which transmit data is sent from an external terminal to a called site, comprising:
first interface that is connected to a first telephone line connected by said external terminal;
second interface that is connected to a second telephone line connected by said called site;
modem for transmitting/receiving data via said first telephone line or said second telephone line;
call detector that detects a call signal input from said external terminal via said first interface;
connection confirmation signal detector that detects a connection confirmation signal input from said called site via said second interface;
busy signal detector that detects a busy signal input via said second interface;
memory that stores said transmit data input via said first interface;
switch that switches between a first path that connects said first Interface and said modem, a second path that connects said first interface and said second interface and a third path that connects said modem and said second interface;
central processing unit that controls switching between said first path, second path and third path by said switch and transmission/reception of said data by said modem;
wherein:
said central processing unit, in response to a detection signal from said call detector, makes said switch change from said first path to said second path to send said call signal to said called site, then, in response to a detection signal from said connection confirmation signal detector, send said transmit data from said external terminal to said called site, while it makes said switch change from said second path to said third path according to a detection signal from said busy signal detector and makes said modem transmit said transmit data stored in said memory to said called site.
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Carter Tia
Coles Edward
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Matsushita Graphic Communication Systems Inc.
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