Communication apparatus

Claim 2

A communication apparatus comprising: communicating means performing image communication having an automatic communication mode for automatically responding to a call from a calling destination and communicating with the destination and a manual communication mode for performing communication in accordance with a manual command from an operator; identifying means for identifying whether the calling destination is registered; and control means for selecting one of the automatic communication mode and the manual communication mode in accordance with identification result obtained by said identifying means.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said identifying means comprises memory means for registering communication destinations and for identifying whether the calling destination is registered in said memory means.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said control means selects the automatic communication mode when the calling destination is registered in said memory means and selects the manual communication mode when the calling destination is not registered in said memory means.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said control means selects the manual communication mode when the calling destination is registered in said memory means and selects the automatic communication mode when the calling destination is not registered in said memory means.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said identifying means receives information for identifying the calling destination from the calling destination and identifies in accordance with the received information whether the calling destination is registered in said memory means.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said memory means stores telephone numbers, and said identifying means receives a telephone number of the calling destination from the calling destination and identifies whether the received telephone number is stored in said memory means.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying the calling destination so that an operator can identify the destination.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when said control means selects the manual communication mode, said control means checks whether an operator inputs a communication command within a predetermined time period, and if no communication command is input within a predetermined time period, said control means does not perform communication in response to the call.

Claim 10

A communication apparatus comprising: means for forming a channel loop in response to a call from a calling destination; communicating means performing image communication having an automatic communication mode for automatically responding to the call from the calling destination and communicating with the destination and manual communication mode for performing communication in accordance with a manual command from an operator. identifying means for identifying whether the calling destination is registered; and control means for selecting the automatic communication mode or the manual communication mode in accordance with an identification result obtained by said identifying means, wherein when said control means selects the manual communication mode, said control means checks whether the manual command is input within a predetermined time period, and if no manual command is input within a predetermined time period, said control means disconnects said channel loop.

Claim 11

A communication apparatus comprising: means for forming a channel loop in response to a call from a calling destination; communicating means performing image communication having an automatic communication mode for automatically responding to the call from the calling destination and communicating with the destination and manual communication mode for performing communication in accordance with a manual command from an operator. identifying means for identifying whether the calling destination is registered; and control means for selecting the automatic communication mode or the manual communication mode in accordance with an identification result obtained by said identifying means, wherein when said control means selects the manual communication mode, said control means checks whether the manual command is input within a predetermined time period, and if no manual command is input within a predetermined time period, said control means disconnects said channel loop.

Claim 12

An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said identifying means comprises memory means for registering communication destinations and for identifying whether the calling destination is registered in said memory means.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said control means selects the automatic communication mode when the calling destination is registered in said memory means and selects the manual communication mode when the calling destination is not registered in said memory means.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said control means selects the manual communication mode when the calling destination is registered in said memory means and selects the automatic communication mode when the calling destination is not registered in said memory means.

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said identifying means receives information for identifying the calling destination from the calling destination and identifies in accordance with the received information whether the calling destination is registered in said memory means.

Claim 16

An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said memory means stores telephone numbers, and said identifying means receives a telephone number of the calling destination from the calling destination and identifies whether the received telephone number is stored in said memory means.

Claim 17

An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising display means for displaying the calling destination so that an operator can identify the destination.

Claim 18

A switching method for switching over between an automatic communication mode for automatically responding to a call from a calling destination and performing image communication with the calling destination and a manual communication mode for performing image communication in accordance with a manual command, comprising the steps of: identifying whether the calling destination is registered; and selecting one of the automatic communication mode and the manual communication mode in accordance with the identification result obtained in said identification step.

Claim 19

A switching method for switching over between an automatic communication mode for automatically responding to a call from a calling destination and performing image communication with the calling destination and a manual communication mode for performing image communication in accordance with a manual command, comprising the steps of: identifying whether the calling destination is registered; and selecting one of the automatic communication mode and the manual communication mode in accordance with the identification result obtained in said identification step.

Claim 20

A method according to claim 16, wherein said selecting step selects the automatic communication mode when the calling destination is registered and selects the manual communication mode when the calling destination is not registered.

Claim 21

A method according to claim 16, wherein said selecting step selects the manual communication mode when the calling destination is registered, and selects the automatic communication mode when the calling destination is not registered.