Communication method and apparatus

Claim 2

A communication apparatus capable of transmission and reception through a plurality of communication channels, comprising: setting means for setting a communication mode; and transmitting means which, when a communication mode wherein at least one communication channel is not used has been set by said setting means, is for performing transmission without using this communication channel when transmission has been designated.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising priority-mode setting means for setting a communication mode in which priority is given to transmission, wherein when a designation is made in such a manner that transmission set by said priority-mode setting means is given priority, said transmitting means performs transmission upon selecting a communication channel for transmission irrespective of the communication mode set by said setting means.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting means transmits a facsimile signal through the communication channels, and said at least one communication channel is used in reception of the facsimile signal.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting means transmits a facsimile signal through the communication channels, and said at least one communication channel is used in communication by telephone.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication channels are B channels of an ISDN.

Claim 7

A communication apparatus capable of performing transmission and reception simultaneously through a plurality of communication channels of an ISDN basic interface, comprising: setting means for setting a communication mode; and transmission-enable means which, when at least one communication channel among said plurality of communication channels is placed in an idle state for transmission in accordance with the communication mode, allows said transmission to take place.

Claim 8

A communication apparatus capable of performing transmission and reception simultaneously through a plurality of communication channels of an ISDN basic interface, comprising: setting means for setting a communication mode; and transmission-enable means which, when at least one communication channel among said plurality of communication channels is placed in an idle state for transmission in accordance with the communication mode, allows said transmission to take place.

Claim 9

A communication apparatus capable of performing transmission and reception through a plurality of communication channels, comprising: setting means for setting a communication mode; discriminating means which, when a communication mode wherein at least one communication channel is not used has been set by said setting means, is for determining whether all other communication channels are busy when there is an incoming call; and receiving means so adapted as not to receive the incoming call when said discriminating means determines that all other communication channels are busy.

Claim 10

A communication apparatus capable of performing transmission and reception through a plurality of communication channels, comprising: setting means for setting a communication mode; discriminating means which, when a communication mode wherein at least one communication channel is not used has been set by said setting means, is for determining whether all other communication channels are busy when there is an incoming call; and receiving means so adapted as not to receive the incoming call when said discriminating means determines that all other communication channels are busy.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising priority-mode setting means for setting a communication mode in which priority is given to reception, wherein when a designation is made in such a manner that reception set by said priority-mode setting means is given priority, said receiving means performs reception upon selecting an idle communication channel irrespective of the communication mode set by said setting means.

Claim 12

The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said receiving means receives a facsimile signal through the communication channels, and said at least one communication channel is used in reception of the facsimile signal.

Claim 13

The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said receiving means receives a facsimile signal through the communication channels, and said at least one communication channel is used in communication by telephone.

Claim 14

The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said communication channels are B channels of an ISDN.

Claim 15

A communication apparatus capable of performing transmission and reception simultaneously through a plurality of communication channels of an ISDN basic interface comprising: setting means for setting a communication mode; and reception-enable means which, when at least one communication channel among said plurality of communication channels is placed in an idle state for an incoming call in accordance with the communication mode, allows reception in response to this incoming call to take place.

Claim 16

A communication apparatus capable of performing transmission and reception simultaneously through a plurality of communication channels of an ISDN basic interface comprising: setting means for setting a communication mode; and reception-enable means which, when at least one communication channel among said plurality of communication channels is placed in an idle state for an incoming call in accordance with the communication mode, allows reception in response to this incoming call to take place.

Claim 17

A communication method for transmitting and receiving through a plurality of communication channels, comprising the steps of: setting a communication mode; and when a communication mode wherein at least one communication channel is not used has been set, performing transmission without using this communication channel when transmission has been designated.

Claim 18

A communication method for transmitting and receiving through a plurality of communication channels, comprising the steps of: setting a communication mode; and when a communication mode wherein at least one communication channel is not used has been set, performing transmission without using this communication channel when transmission has been designated.

Claim 19

The method according to claim 13, wherein when a communication mode which gives priority to transmission has been set, transmission is performed upon selecting a communication channel for transmission irrespective of the communication mode set.

Claim 20

A communication method for transmitting and receiving through a plurality of communication channels, comprising the steps of: setting a communication mode; when a communication mode wherein at least one communication channel is not used has been set, determining whether all other communication channels are busy when there is an incoming call, and inhibiting reception of the incoming call when all other communication channels are determined to be busy.

Claim 21

A communication method for transmitting and receiving through a plurality of communication channels, comprising the steps of: setting a communication mode; when a communication mode wherein at least one communication channel is not used has been set, determining whether all other communication channels are busy when there is an incoming call, and inhibiting reception of the incoming call when all other communication channels are determined to be busy.

Claim 22

The method according to claim 15, wherein when a communication mode which gives priority to reception has been set, reception is performed upon selecting an idle communication channel irrespective of the communication mode set.

Claim 23

A communication apparatus capable of performing transmission and reception through a plurality of communication channels of an ISDN basic interface, comprising: designating means for designating one B channel of the ISDN so as to be free for transmission or reception; transmitting means for transmitting a facsimile signal through B channels of the ISDN; receiving means for receiving a facsimile signal through B channels of the ISDN; discriminating means which, when a facsimile signal is being transmitted or received via another B channel of the ISDN, determines whether a designation is entering from said designating means when transmission or reception of a facsimile signal via the other B channel has been designated; and inhibiting means for inhibiting transmission or reception through said other B channel when a designation is entering from said designating means.

Claim 24

A communication apparatus capable of performing transmission and reception through a plurality of communication channels of an ISDN basic interface, comprising: designating means for designating one B channel of the ISDN so as to be free for transmission or reception; transmitting means for transmitting a facsimile signal through B channels of the ISDN; receiving means for receiving a facsimile signal through B channels of the ISDN; discriminating means which, when a facsimile signal is being transmitted or received via another B channel of the ISDN, determines whether a designation is entering from said designating means when transmission or reception of a facsimile signal via the other B channel has been designated; and inhibiting means for inhibiting transmission or reception through said other B channel when a designation is entering from said designating means.

Claim 25

A communication method capable of performing transmission and reception through a plurality of communication channels of an ISDN basic interface, characterized in that if transmission or reception of a facsimile signal via a second B channel of the ISDN is designated when transmission or reception of a facsimile signal is being performed via said second B channel, it is determined whether a designation which leaves a first B channel of the ISDN free for transmission or reception has been inputted, and transmission or reception through said second B channel is inhibited when this designation has been inputted.

Claim 26

A communication method capable of performing transmission and reception through a plurality of communication channels of an ISDN basic interface, characterized in that if transmission or reception of a facsimile signal via a second B channel of the ISDN is designated when transmission or reception of a facsimile signal is being performed via said second B channel, it is determined whether a designation which leaves a first B channel of the ISDN free for transmission or reception has been inputted, and transmission or reception through said second B channel is inhibited when this designation has been inputted.