Facsimile communication system with communication charge calculation

Claim 1

A facsimile communication system comprising: a facsimile terminal; a store device; a telephone network connecting the facsimile terminal and the store device; a terminal adaptor connected between the facsimile terminal and the telephone network; a voice response unit connected between the telephone network and the store device; and a control device connected to the voice response unit and the store device; the terminal adaptor including means for enabling the facsimile terminal to gain access to the telephone network and the voice response unit, means for inquiring a communication charge on the facsimile terminal of the control device, and means for recording an answer to said inquiring; the voice response unit including means for mediating a communication among the facsimile terminal, the terminal adaptor, the store device, and the control device, means for transmitting an instruction from the control device to the facsimile terminal as a voice response, means for connecting a line between the facsimile terminal and the store device when an answer of the facsimile terminal to the voice response satisfies a predetermined condition, and means for breaking the connection between the facsimile terminal and the store device after a facsimile communication is completed; the store device including means for storing information transmitted from at least one of the facsimile terminal and the control device; the control device including means for storing and managing the information stored in the store device on the basis of a number specified with respect to the information, means for transmitting the stored information to the store device in compliance with a requirement for reading out the information which is outputted from the facsimile terminal, means for calculating the communication charge, and means for controlling a communication with the store device and the voice response unit.