Facsimile system with memory

Claim 3

The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the ascertaining step includes the step of searching the first memory to ascertain the beginning address and the ending address of the particular group of the data corresponding to the generally dark areas and generally light areas of the picture.

Claim 4

The method recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: receiving the beginning address, the ending address, and the digital data associated with the particular area; loading the data associated with the particular area into a second memory at a location in the second memory corresponding to the beginning address and ending address of the particular area; and printing at least a portion of the picture in accordance with the data in the second memory.

Claim 5

The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the scanned area of the picture includes generally dark areas separated by generally light areas having a minimum length and wherein the particular group of the data corresponds to a generally dark area of the picture, the method further comprising after the scanning step, the step of expressing the beginning address and ending address of the particular group in digital words having a particular length equal to one-half the minimum length of the generally tight areas of the picture.

Claim 6

A facsimile system including: scanning means for viewing at least one line of a picture and providing a first digital data stream distinguishing areas of substantially dark data from areas of substantially light area; memory means for receiving the digital data from the scanning means and for storing the digital data at addresses in the memory means corresponding to the positions of the associated areas in the picture; first means for recycling the memory means and responsive to dense areas of data corresponding to the substantially dark areas of the picture to determine the first and last addresses of a particular one of the dense areas of the date; second means for storing an address and operable to indicate the address at the output of the first memory means; third means for storing the last address of the particular area; fourth means communicating with the second means, the third means, and the memory means to transmit the first address and the last address of the particular area and the data within the particular area; fifth means connected to the second means and the third means and having characteristics for comparing the address at the output of the memory means with the last address of the particular area, the fifth means providing a first signal enabling the data to be clocked from the memory when the compared addresses have a particular relationship, and providing a second signal inhibiting the clocking of the data from the first memory means when the last address of the particular area is not greater than the first address of the particular area; receiving means for receiving the transmitted data from the communication channel and for constructing a second digital data stream similar to the first digital data stream; and reproducing means responsive to the second digital data stream to reproduce at least one line of the picture.

Claim 7

A facsimile system including: scanning means for viewing at least one line of a picture and providing a first digital data stream distinguishing areas of substantially dark data from areas of substantially light area; memory means for receiving the digital data from the scanning means and for storing the digital data at addresses in the memory means corresponding to the positions of the associated areas in the picture; first means for recycling the memory means and responsive to dense areas of data corresponding to the substantially dark areas of the picture to determine the first and last addresses of a particular one of the dense areas of the date; second means for storing an address and operable to indicate the address at the output of the first memory means; third means for storing the last address of the particular area; fourth means communicating with the second means, the third means, and the memory means to transmit the first address and the last address of the particular area and the data within the particular area; fifth means connected to the second means and the third means and having characteristics for comparing the address at the output of the memory means with the last address of the particular area, the fifth means providing a first signal enabling the data to be clocked from the memory when the compared addresses have a particular relationship, and providing a second signal inhibiting the clocking of the data from the first memory means when the last address of the particular area is not greater than the first address of the particular area; receiving means for receiving the transmitted data from the communication channel and for constructing a second digital data stream similar to the first digital data stream; and reproducing means responsive to the second digital data stream to reproduce at least one line of the picture.

Claim 10

The method recited in claim 6 further comprising the steps of: i. detecting in the digital signal stored in the memory the pressure of an additional group of data bits having generally one of the first characteristics and second characteristics; j. iterating steps (c) through (f) for each of the additional groups of data bits detected in step (i); and k. iterating steps (a) through (j) for another line in the picture when no additional groups of data bits are detected during step (i).

Claim 11

A facsimile system providing for transmission in a communication channel of a signal having digital characteristics dependent upon the light and dark characteristics of a picture, including: scanning means moving in a single direction and at a constant rate of speed for scanning a line of the picture to provide a digital signal including a plurality of data bits forming at least one dense data area defined by a first data bit and a last data bit, the dense data area corresponding to a generally dark area in the scanned line of the picture; memory means communicating with the scanning means, the memory means having a plurality of addresses and characteristics for storing each of the data bits of the digital signal in a different one of the addresses; first means communicating with the memory means for determining the particular address associated with the first data bit of the dense data area and for positioning the particular address at the output of the memory; second means communicating with the memory means for determining the address of the last data bit of the dense data area; and third means communicating with the memory means and the second means for clocking the data bits from the memory means until the address at the output of the memory means corresponds to the address of the last data bit determined by the second means; and fourth means responsive to the data bits clocked from the memory for introducing the data bits into the communication channel.

Claim 12

A facsimile system providing for transmission in a communication channel of a signal having digital characteristics dependent upon the light and dark characteristics of a picture, including: scanning means moving in a single direction and at a constant rate of speed for scanning a line of the picture to provide a digital signal including a plurality of data bits forming at least one dense data area defined by a first data bit and a last data bit, the dense data area corresponding to a generally dark area in the scanned line of the picture; memory means communicating with the scanning means, the memory means having a plurality of addresses and characteristics for storing each of the data bits of the digital signal in a different one of the addresses; first means communicating with the memory means for determining the particular address associated with the first data bit of the dense data area and for positioning the particular address at the output of the memory; second means communicating with the memory means for determining the address of the last data bit of the dense data area; and third means communicating with the memory means and the second means for clocking the data bits from the memory means until the address at the output of the memory means corresponds to the address of the last data bit determined by the second means; and fourth means responsive to the data bits clocked from the memory for introducing the data bits into the communication channel.

Claim 13

The facsimile system recited in claim 8 further comprising: a first register included in the second means and having properties for storing a digital value corresponding to the last data bit of the dense data area; a second register included in the third means and communicating with the memory means, the second register having properties for storing a digital value corresponding to the address at the output of the memory means so that the digital value stored in the second register increases in value when the data is being closed from the memory by the third means; and a comparator included in the third means and communicating with the first register and the second register for comparing the digital value stored in the second register with the digital value stored in the first register and for inhibiting the clocking of the data bits from the memory means when the digital value stored in the second register is equal to the digital value stored in the first register.

Claim 14

The facsimile transmitter recited in claim 9 wherein the fourth means includes a transmitter communicating with the memory means, the first register in the second means, and the second register in the third means, the transmitter having properties for transmitting the digital value stored in the first memory and corresponding to the address of the first data bit in the dense data area, the digital value stored in the second register and corresponding to the address of the last data bit in the dense data area, and for subsequently transmitting the data being clocked from the memory means and corresponding to the data in the dense data area.

Claim 17

The method recited in claim 11 wherein a discrete area in the picture having generally dark characteristics is associated with a data bit in the digital signal having a first digital characteristic and a discrete area in the picture having generally light characteristics is associated with a data bit having a second digital characteristic and the method further comprises the steps of: receiving the first address associated with the dense data area in the digital signal; receiving the second address associated with the dense data area in the digital signal; providing a second memory having a plurality of addresses corresponding in location to the address of an associated discrete area in the line of the picture; loading data bits having the second digital characteristics into the memory during the second receiving step at the addresses preceding the first address associated with the dense data area of the digital signal; receiving the data transmitted during the transmitting step; loading the data into the memory at the addresses defined by the first address and the second address associated with the dense data area of the digital signal; printing a line of the picture with light and dark area corresponding to the digital characteristics of the data bits in the second memory; whereby the scanned line of the picture is reproduced as the printed line of the picture with a generally dark area located in the printed line in a position corresponding to the location of the generally dark area in the scanned line of the picture.

Claim 18

The method recited in claim 11 wherein the first searching step includes the steps of: providing a first register; serially shifting the memory to determine the first addresss associated with the dense data area of the digital signal; and storing the first address in the first register.

Claim 19

The method recited in claim 13 wherein the second searching step includes the steps of: providing a second register; serially shifting the memory to determine the second address associated with the dense data area of the digital sigNal; and storing the second address in the second register.

Claim 20

The method recited in claim 14 wherein the clocking step includes the steps of: comparing the address at the output of the memory with the address in the second register; and serially shifting the memory until the address at the output of the memory has a particular relationship with the address stored in the second register.

Claim 21

A facsimile apparatus for scanning a picture at a first location and reproducing the picture at a second location communicating with the first location through a communication channel, comprising: scanning means for scanning a plurality of lines of the picture and for providing a digital signal for each of the lines of the picture, the digital signal being defined by digital data having characteristics dependent upon the visual characteristics of a particular one of the lines of the picture; transmitting means responsive to the digital signal from the scanning means for transmitting through the communication channel at least a portion of the digital data in the digital signal; first memory means included in the transmitting means for storing the digital data associated with the particular line of the picture at a location in the first memory means corresponding to the location of the associated visual characteristics in the particular line of the picture; receiving means disposed at the second location and communicating with the transmitting means through the communication channel for receiving the digital data transmitted by the transmitting means; second memory means included in the receiving means and being responsive to the digital data transmitted by the transmitting means for storing the digital data at a location in the second memory means corresponding to the location of the associated visual characteristics in the particular line of the picture; reproducing means communicating with the receiving means at the second location and being responsive to the digital data stored in the second memory means to reproduce the associated line of the picture; first means included in the transmitting means for cycling the first memory means, the first means having characteristics for distinguishing among the digital data in the first memory means areas of primarily a first type of digital data corresponding to generally dark areas of the picture and areas of primarily a second type of digital data corresponding to generally light areas of the picture; second means included in the transmitting means for providing digital information expressing the limits of a particular one of the areas of primarily the first type of digital data; and third means included in the transmitting means for transmitting the digital information corresponding to the limits of the particular area and for transmitting the digital data in the particular area.

Claim 22

A facsimile apparatus for scanning a picture at a first location and reproducing the picture at a second location communicating with the first location through a communication channel, comprising: scanning means for scanning a plurality of lines of the picture and for providing a digital signal for each of the lines of the picture, the digital signal being defined by digital data having characteristics dependent upon the visual characteristics of a particular one of the lines of the picture; transmitting means responsive to the digital signal from the scanning means for transmitting through the communication channel at least a portion of the digital data in the digital signal; first memory means included in the transmitting means for storing the digital data associated with the particular line of the picture at a location in the first memory means corresponding to the location of the associated visual characteristics in the particular line of the picture; receiving means disposed at the second location and communicating with the transmitting means through the communication channel for receiving the digital data transmitted by the transmitting means; second memory means included in the receiving means and being responsive to the digital data transmitted by the transmitting means for storing the digital data at a location in the second memory means corresponding to the location of the associated visual characteristics in the particular line of the picture; reproducing means communicating with the receiving means at the second location and being responsive to the digital data stored in the second memory means to reproduce the associated line of the picture; first means included in the transmitting means for cycling the first memory means, the first means having characteristics for distinguishing among the digital data in the first memory means areas of primarily a first type of digital data corresponding to generally dark areas of the picture and areas of primarily a second type of digital data corresponding to generally light areas of the picture; second means included in the transmitting means for providing digital information expressing the limits of a particular one of the areas of primarily the first type of digital data; and third means included in the transmitting means for transmitting the digital information corresponding to the limits of the particular area and for transmitting the digital data in the particular area.

Claim 23

A facsimile apparatus for scanning a picture at a first location and reproducing the picture at a second location communicating with the first location through a communication channel, comprising: scanning means for scanning a plurality of lines of the picture and for providing a digital signal for each of the lines of the picture, the digital signal being defined by digital data having characteristics dependent upon the visual characteristics of a particular one of the lines of the picture; transmitting means responsive to the digital signal from the scanning means for transmitting through the communication channel at least a portion of the digital data in the digital signal; first memory means included in the transmitting means for storing the digital data associated with the particular line of the picture at a location in the first memory means corresponding to the location of the associated visual characteristics in the particular line of the picture; receiving means disposed at the second location and communicating with the transmitting means through the communicAtion channel for receiving the digital data transmitted by the transmitting means; second memory means included in the receiving means and being responsive to the digital data transmitted by the transmitting means for storing the digital data at a location in the second memory means corresponding to the location of the associated visual characteristics in the particular line of the picture; reproducing means communicating with the receiving means at the second location and being responsive to the digital data stored in the second memory means to reproduce the associated line of the picture; first means included in the transmitting means for cycling the first memory means, the first means having characteristics for distinguishing among the digital data in the first memory means areas of primarily a first type of digital data corresponding to generally dark areas of the picture and areas of primarily a second type of digital data corresponding to generally light areas of the picture; second means included in the transmitting means for providing digital information expressing the limits of a particular one of the areas of primarily the first type of digital data; third means included in the transmitting means for transmitting the digital information corresponding to the limits of the particular area and for transmitting the digital data in the particular area; fourth means included in the receiving means for receiving digital information expressing the limits of the particular area and for cycling the second memory means in the receiving means to an address corresponding to one of the limits of the particular area; fifth means included in the receiving means for clocking the digital data of the particular area into the second memory means of the receiving means; whereby the digital data of the particular area is disposed in the second memory means at addresses dependent upon the position of the particular area in the digital signal and the position of the associated generally dark area in the picture.

Claim 24

A facsimile apparatus for scanning a picture at a first location and reproducing the picture at a second location communicating with the first location through a communication channel, comprising: scanning means for scanning a plurality of lines of the picture and for providing a digital signal for each of the lines of the picture, the digital signal being defined by digital data having characteristics dependent upon the visual characteristics of a particular one of the lines of the picture; transmitting means responsive to the digital signal from the scanning means for transmitting through the communication channel at least a portion of the digital data in the digital signal; first memory means included in the transmitting means for storing the digital data associated with the particular line of the picture at a location in the first memory means corresponding to the location of the associated visual characteristics in the particular line of the picture; receiving means disposed at the second location and communicating with the transmitting means through the communicAtion channel for receiving the digital data transmitted by the transmitting means; second memory means included in the receiving means and being responsive to the digital data transmitted by the transmitting means for storing the digital data at a location in the second memory means corresponding to the location of the associated visual characteristics in the particular line of the picture; reproducing means communicating with the receiving means at the second location and being responsive to the digital data stored in the second memory means to reproduce the associated line of the picture; first means included in the transmitting means for cycling the first memory means, the first means having characteristics for distinguishing among the digital data in the first memory means areas of primarily a first type of digital data corresponding to generally dark areas of the picture and areas of primarily a second type of digital data corresponding to generally light areas of the picture; second means included in the transmitting means for providing digital information expressing the limits of a particular one of the areas of primarily the first type of digital data; third means included in the transmitting means for transmitting the digital information corresponding to the limits of the particular area and for transmitting the digital data in the particular area; fourth means included in the receiving means for receiving digital information expressing the limits of the particular area and for cycling the second memory means in the receiving means to an address corresponding to one of the limits of the particular area; fifth means included in the receiving means for clocking the digital data of the particular area into the second memory means of the receiving means; whereby the digital data of the particular area is disposed in the second memory means at addresses dependent upon the position of the particular area in the digital signal and the position of the associated generally dark area in the picture.

Claim 25

A facsimile apparatus for scanning a picture at a first location and reproducing the picture at a second location communicating with the first location through a communication channel, comprising: scanning means for scanning a plurality of lines of the picture and for providing a digital signal for each of the lines of the picture, the digital signal being defined by digital data having characteristics dependent upon the visual characteristics of a particular one of the lines of the picture; transmitting means responsive to the digital signal from the scanning means for transmitting through the communication channel at least a portion of the digital data in the digital signal; first memory means included in the transmitting means for storing the digital data associated with the particular line of the picture at a location in the first memory means corresponding to the location of the associated visual characteristics in the particular line of the picture; receiving means disposed at the second location and communicating with the transmitting means through the communication channel for receiving the digital data transmitted by the transmitting means; second memory means included in the receiving means and being responsive to the digital data transmitted by the transmitting means for storing the digital data at a location in the second memory means corresponding to the location of the associated visual characteristics in the particular line of the picture; reproducing means communicating with the receiving means at the second location and being responsive to the digital data stored in the second memory means to reproduce the associated line of the picture; first means included in the transmitting means for cycling the first memory means, the first means having characteristics for distinguishing among the digital data in the first memory means areas of a primarily first type of digital data corresponding to gEnerally dark areas of the picture and areas of primarily a second type of digital data corresponding to generally light areas of the picture; and second means included in the transmitting means for transmitting the data associated with a particular one of the areas of the first type of data.

Claim 26

A facsimile apparatus for scanning a picture at a first location and reproducing the picture at a second location communicating with the first location through a communication channel, comprising: scanning means for scanning a plurality of lines of the picture and for providing a digital signal for each of the lines of the picture, the digital signal being defined by digital data having characteristics dependent upon the visual characteristics of a particular one of the lines of the picture; transmitting means responsive to the digital signal from the scanning means for transmitting through the communication channel at least a portion of the digital data in the digital signal; first memory means included in the transmitting means for storing the digital data associated with the particular line of the picture at a location in the first memory means corresponding to the location of the associated visual characteristics in the particular line of the picture; receiving means disposed at the second location and communicating with the transmitting means through the communication channel for receiving the digital data transmitted by the transmitting means; second memory means included in the receiving means and being responsive to the digital data transmitted by the transmitting means for storing the digital data at a location in the second memory means corresponding to the location of the associated visual characteristics in the particular line of the picture; reproducing means communicating with the receiving means at the second location and being responsive to the digital data stored in the second memory means to reproduce the associated line of the picture; first means included in the transmitting means for cycling the first memory means, the first means having characteristics for distinguishing among the digital data in the first memory means areas of a primarily first type of digital data corresponding to gEnerally dark areas of the picture and areas of primarily a second type of digital data corresponding to generally light areas of the picture; and second means included in the transmitting means for transmitting the data associated with a particular one of the areas of the first type of data.

Claim 27

A facsimile apparatus for scanning a picture at a first location and reproducing the picture at a second location communicating with the first location through a communication channel, comprising: scanning means for scanning a plurality of lines of the picture and for providing a digital signal for each of the lines of the picture, the digital signal being defined by digital data having characteristics dependent upon the visual characteristics of a particular one of the lines of the picture; transmitting means responsive to the digital signal from the scanning means for transmitting through the communication channel at least a portion of the digital data in the digital signal; first memory means included in the transmitting means for storing the digital data associated with the particular line of the picture at a location in the first memory means corresponding to the location of the associated visual characteristics in the particular line of the picture; receiving means disposed at the second location and communicating with the transmitting means through the communication channel for receiving the digital data transmitted by the transmitting means; second memory means included in the receiving means and being responsive to the digital data transmitted by the transmitting means for storing the digital data at a location in the second memory means corresponding to the location of the associated visual characteristics in the particular line of the picture; reproducing means communicating with the receiving means at the second location and being responsive to the digital data stored in the second memory means to reproduce the associated line of the picture; first means included in the transmitting means for cycling the first memory means, the first means having characteristics for distinguishing among the digital data in the first memory means areas of a primarily first type of digital data corresponding to generally dark areas of the picture and areas of primarily a second type of digital data corresponding to generally light areas of the picture; second means included in the transmitting means for transmitting the data associated with a particular one of the areas of the first type of data; third means included in the receiving means for clocking the data of the particular area into the second memory means for the receiving means at addresses corresponding to the position of the particular area in the digital signal and the position of the corresponding generally dark area in the picture; fourth means included in the receiving means for providing digital data of the second type of digital data corresponding to the generally light areas in the picture; and fifth means included in the receiving means for clocking the data provided by the fourth means into the second memory means of the receiving means at locations in the second memory means defined by at least one of the areas of the first type of digital data.

Claim 28

A facsimile apparatus for scanning a picture at a first location and reproducing the picture at a second location communicating with the first location through a communication channel, comprising: scanning means for scanning a plurality of lines of the picture and for providing a digital signal for each of the lines of the picture, the digital signal being defined by digital data having characteristics dependent upon the visual characteristics of a particular one of the lines of the picture; transmitting means responsive to the digital signal from the scanning means for transmitting through the communication channel at least a portion of the digital data in the digital signal; first memory means included in the transmitting means for storing the digital data associated with the particular line of the picture at a location in the first memory means corresponding to the location of the associated visual characteristics in the particular line of the picture; receiving means disposed at the second location and communicating with the transmitting means through the communication channel for receiving the digital data transmitted by the transmitting means; second memory means included in the receiving means and being responsive to the digital data transmitted by the transmitting means for storing the digital data at a location in the second memory means corresponding to the location of the associated visual characteristics in the particular line of the picture; reproducing means communicating with the receiving means at the second location and being responsive to the digital data stored in the second memory means to reproduce the associated line of the picture; first means included in the transmitting means for cycling the first memory means, the first means having characteristics for distinguishing among the digital data in the first memory means areas of a primarily first type of digital data corresponding to generally dark areas of the picture and areas of primarily a second type of digital data corresponding to generally light areas of the picture; second means included in the transmitting means for transmitting the data associated with a particular one of the areas of the first type of data; third means included in the receiving means for clocking the data of the particular area into the second memory means for the receiving means at addresses corresponding to the position of the particular area in the digital signal and the position of the corresponding generally dark area in the picture; fourth means included in the receiving means for providing digital data of the second type of digital data corresponding to the generally light areas in the picture; and fifth means included in the receiving means for clocking the data provided by the fourth means into the second memory means of the receiving means at locations in the second memory means defined by at least one of the areas of the first type of digital data.

Claim 29

The facsimile apparatus recited in claim 19 wherein the reproducing means is responsive to the first and second types of data in the second memory means of the receiving means print at least one line of the picture.

Claim 30

A facsimile system responsive to a picture at a first end of a communication channel to reproduce a picture at a second end of a communication channel, the facsimile system including: scanning means for viewing a line of the picture and for providing a first digital data stream having a first type of data corresponding to generally dark areas of the scanned line and having a second type of data corresponding to generally light areas of the scanned line; a transceiver disposeD at the first end of the communication channel and operable in a transmit mode of operation between the scanning means and communication channel; first memory means included in the transceiver for receiving the first digital data stream from the scanning means and for storing the first type of digital data of the first data stream at addresses in the first memory means corresponding to the positions of the associated generally dark areas in the line of the picture; first means included in the transceiver for cycling the first memory means, the first means being responsive to dense areas of the data corresponding to the generally dark areas of the picture to determine the first and last addresses of a particular one of the dense areas of the data; second means included in the transceiver for storing the first address of the particular area; third means included in the transceiver for storing the last address of the particular area; fourth means included in the transceiver communicating with the second means, the third means, and the first memory means to transmit into the communication channel the first and last addresses of the particular area and the data in the particular area; receiving means disposed at the second end of the communication channel and including means for receiving the first and last addresses of the particular area and the data in the particular area from the communication channel, and for constructing in the receiving means a second digital data stream similar to the first digital data stream; and reproducing means responsive to the second digital data stream to reproduce at least one line of the picture.

Claim 31

A facsimile system responsive to a picture at a first end of a communication channel to reproduce a picture at a second end of a communication channel, the facsimile system including: scanning means for viewing a line of the picture and for providing a first digital data stream having a first type of data corresponding to generally dark areas of the scanned line and having a second type of data corresponding to generally light areas of the scanned line; a transceiver disposeD at the first end of the communication channel and operable in a transmit mode of operation between the scanning means and communication channel; first memory means included in the transceiver for receiving the first digital data stream from the scanning means and for storing the first type of digital data of the first data stream at addresses in the first memory means corresponding to the positions of the associated generally dark areas in the line of the picture; first means included in the transceiver for cycling the first memory means, the first means being responsive to dense areas of the data corresponding to the generally dark areas of the picture to determine the first and last addresses of a particular one of the dense areas of the data; second means included in the transceiver for storing the first address of the particular area; third means included in the transceiver for storing the last address of the particular area; fourth means included in the transceiver communicating with the second means, the third means, and the first memory means to transmit into the communication channel the first and last addresses of the particular area and the data in the particular area; receiving means disposed at the second end of the communication channel and including means for receiving the first and last addresses of the particular area and the data in the particular area from the communication channel, and for constructing in the receiving means a second digital data stream similar to the first digital data stream; and reproducing means responsive to the second digital data stream to reproduce at least one line of the picture.

Claim 32

The facsimile system set forth in claim 21 wherein the receiving means includes a second transceiver operable in a receive mode of operation between the communication channel and the reproduction means, the second transceiver including: fifth means for storing the first address of the particular area; sixth means for storing the last address of the particular area; second memory means for storing the data in the particular area; eighth means connected to the fifth means and the second memory means for clocking the second memory means to the first address of the particular area is positioned at the input to the second memory means; and ninth means connected to the seventh means and the second memory means for clocking the data from the communication channel into the second memory means until the address at the input to the second memory means is the last address of the particular area.

Claim 33

The facsimile system set forth in claim 21 further comprising fifth means included in the first transceiver and connected to the first memory means, the second means and the third means, the fifth means having characteristics for comparing the address at the output of the first memory means with the last address of the particular area, and for providing a first signal enabling the data to be clocked from the first memory means when the compared addresses have a particular relationship.

Claim 34

The facsimile system recited in claim 23 wherein the fifth means provides a second signal inhibiting the clocking of the data from the memory means when the last address of the particular area is not greater than the first address of the particular area.

Claim 35

A facsimile system for viewing a picture at a first location and for reproducing the picture at a second location communicating with the first location through a telephone line, including; scanning means at the first location for viewing at least one line of the picture and for providing a first digital data signal having first portions of the signal with characteristics dependent upon the areas of substantial darkness in the picture and second portions of the signal with characteristics dependent upon the areas of the substantial lightness in the picture; a first transceiver disposed at the first location and operable in a transmIt mode of operation between the scanning means and a telephone line; a memory included in the first transceiver and responsive to the first digital data signal from the scanning means for storing the first digital data signal at addresses in the memory corresponding to the relative positions of the areas of substantial darkness and substantial lightness in the picture; first means included in the first transceiver and communicating with the memory for storing the beginning address of a particular one of the first portions of the first digital data signal; second means included in a first transceiver and communicating with the memory for storing the ending address of the particular one of the first portions of the first digital data signal; third means included in a first transceiver and communicating with the first means, the second means and the memory for transmitting from the first means the beginning address, for transmitting from the second means the ending address, and for transmitting from the memory the particular portion of the first digital data signal defined by the beginning address stored in the second means and the ending addresss stored in the first means; a second transceiver disposed at the second location and operable in a receive mode of operation to receive the transmitted portions of the digital data signal from the telephone line, the second transceiver having properties for storing the transmitted portions of the digital data signal and for reconstructing the second portion of the digital data signal to provide a second digital data signal having characteristics similar to the characteristics of the first digital data signal; and reproducing means disposed at the second location and responsive to the second digital data signal to reproduce at least one line of the picture.

Claim 36

A facsimile system for viewing a picture at a first location and for reproducing the picture at a second location communicating with the first location through a telephone line, including; scanning means at the first location for viewing at least one line of the picture and for providing a first digital data signal having first portions of the signal with characteristics dependent upon the areas of substantial darkness in the picture and second portions of the signal with characteristics dependent upon the areas of the substantial lightness in the picture; a first transceiver disposed at the first location and operable in a transmIt mode of operation between the scanning means and a telephone line; a memory included in the first transceiver and responsive to the first digital data signal from the scanning means for storing the first digital data signal at addresses in the memory corresponding to the relative positions of the areas of substantial darkness and substantial lightness in the picture; first means included in the first transceiver and communicating with the memory for storing the beginning address of a particular one of the first portions of the first digital data signal; second means included in a first transceiver and communicating with the memory for storing the ending address of the particular one of the first portions of the first digital data signal; third means included in a first transceiver and communicating with the first means, the second means and the memory for transmitting from the first means the beginning address, for transmitting from the second means the ending address, and for transmitting from the memory the particular portion of the first digital data signal defined by the beginning address stored in the second means and the ending addresss stored in the first means; a second transceiver disposed at the second location and operable in a receive mode of operation to receive the transmitted portions of the digital data signal from the telephone line, the second transceiver having properties for storing the transmitted portions of the digital data signal and for reconstructing the second portion of the digital data signal to provide a second digital data signal having characteristics similar to the characteristics of the first digital data signal; and reproducing means disposed at the second location and responsive to the second digital data signal to reproduce at least one line of the picture.

Claim 37

The facsimile system recited in claim 25 wherein the memory is a first memory and the system further comprises: fourth means communicating with the first memory and operable to indicate the address at the output of the first memory; and fifth means for comparing the address stored in the second means with the address stored in the fourth means and for clocking the data from the first memory until the address associated with the fifth means corresponds to the address stored in the second means.

Claim 38

The facsimile system recited in claim 26 wherein the fifth means comprises: sixth means for cycling the first memory, the sixth means responsive to the first means and the fourth means to cycle the first memory until the address associated with the fourth means corresponds to the address stored in the first means; and a comparator communicating with the second means and the fourth means and providing a first signal when the address associated with the fourth means is less than the address stored in the second means and for providing a second signal when the address associated with the fourth means is equal to the address stored in the second means; whereby the sixth means is responsive to the first signal from the comparator to begin the cycling of the data from the first memory and is responsive to the second signal from the comparator to end the cycling of the data from the first memory so that only the particular one of the first portion of the first digital data signal is clocked from the memory.