Multi-address calling system

Claim 2

A multi-address calling system for transmitting the same picture data to a plurality of destinations, comprising: reading means for reading the picture data; compressing means for compressing the picture data read by said reading means; storing means for storing the picture data compressed by said compressing means; communication control means for transmitting and receiving signals of communication procedures to and from the destinations; and control means for controlling said communication procedures with the destinations so that said communication procedures are effected in parallel with and asynchronous with the operation of said reading means, said compressing means, and said storing means.

Claim 3

A multi-address calling system according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes: means for controlling communication procedures with a first destination so that said communication procedures with said first destination are effected in parallel with and asynchronous with operation of said reading means, said compressing means, and said storing means are the procedures between a transmission source and a first destination.

Claim 4

A multi-address calling system according to claim 1, wherein said communication procedures include a pre-procedure performed before transmitting picture data, and wherein said reading means comprises: means for continuously reading pages of the picture data, independent of said procedure.

Claim 5

A multi-address calling system according to claim 3, wherein said compressing means comprises: means for compressing, independent of said pre-procedure, the picture data read by said reading means.

Claim 6

A multi-address calling system according to claim 3, wherein said storing means comprises: means for storing, independent of said pre-procedure, the compressed picture data.

Claim 7

A multi-address calling system according to claim 3, wherein said control means comprises: read and transmit means for reading a first page of the picture data from said storing means and for transmitting said first page to a first destination, independent of the storing operation of said storing means.

Claim 8

A multi-address calling system according to claim 1, wherein the picture data includes pages, and said communication procedures include a post-procedure performed after transmitting picture data, and said control means comprises: means for reading the picture data on and after a second page from said storing means and for transmitting said picture data on or after the second page to a first destination, immediately after said post-procedure for the previous page is finished.

Claim 9

A multi-address calling system according to claim 1, wherein the picture data includes pages and said control means comprises: read and transmit means for reading a first page of the picture data from said storing means and for transmitting said first page to a second destination, independent of the storing operation of said storing means.

Claim 10

A multi-address calling system according to claim 1, wherein the picture data includes pages, and said communication procedures include a post-procedure performed after transmitting picture data, and said control means comprises: means for reading the picture data on and after a second page from said storing means and transmitting the picture data on and after the second page to the second destination, immediately after said post-procedure for the previous page is finished.

Claim 11

A multi-address calling system according to claim 1, wherein said system multi-address calling system is a facsimile device.

Claim 12

A multi-address calling system for transmitting picture data and communication procedure signals to and receiving communication procedure signals from a plurality of destinations, comprising: read and store means for reading the picture data and for storing the read picture data; communication control means for controlling transmission and reception of the communication procedure signals to and from the destinations; and main control means, operatively connected to said read and store means and to said communication control means, for controlling said read and store means and said communication control means so that said read and store means operates during transmision and reception of the communication procedure signals and independent of the communication procedure signals being received and transmitted.

Claim 13

A multi-address calling system for transmitting picture data and communication procedure signals to and receiving communication procedure signals from a plurality of destinations, comprising: read and store means for reading the picture data and for storing the read picture data; communication control means for controlling transmission and reception of the communication procedure signals to and from the destinations; and main control means, operatively connected to said read and store means and to said communication control means, for controlling said read and store means and said communication control means so that said read and store means operates during transmision and reception of the communication procedure signals and independent of the communication procedure signals being received and transmitted.

Claim 14

A multi-address calling system as recited in claim 11, wherein said read and store means includes; means for compressing said read picture data before it is stored.

Claim 17

A method as recited in claim 12, further comprising the step of: reading a portion of the picture data stored in step (b) and transmitting said portion of the picture data to at least one destination, independent of the stage of completion of step (b).

Claim 18

A method as recited in claim 13, wherein step (b) includes the sub-step of: compressing the picture data before it is stored.

Claim 19

A multi-address calling system according to claim 6, wherein said read and transmit means includes: means for reading said first page of the picture data from the storing means and for transmitting said first page to said first destination, immediately after said pre-procedure for the first destination is finished.

Claim 20

A multi-address calling system according to claim 8, wherein said communication procedures include a pre-procedure performed before transmitting picture data, and said read and transmit means includes: means for reading said first page of the picture data from said storing means and for transmitting said first page to said second destination, immediately after said pre-procedure for said second destination is finished.