Data communication apparatus having the function of automatically switching data communication and telephone communication

Claim 2

A data communication method comprising the steps of: sending a predetermined tone signal periodically in response to a calling signal from a communication line; detecting a predetermined signal relating to data communication; stopping sending the predetermined tone signal in response to a detection of the predetermined signal; performing data communication in response to a further detection of the predetermined signal after stopping sending of the predetermined tone signal; performing an operator calling operation for informing an operator of telephone communication; and stopping the operator calling operation in response to a detection of the predetermined signal.

Claim 3

A data communication method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: monitoring whether a signal indicating a connecting state of the communication line while periodically sending the predetermined tone signal, and immediately releasing the communication line in accordance with a detection of the signal indicating the connecting state.

Claim 4

A data communication apparatus comprising: tone sending means for periodically sending a predetermined tone signal in response to a calling signal from a communication line; detecting means for detecting a predetermined signal which indicates data communication; stop means for stopping sending of the predetermined tone signal by said tone sending means in response to a detection by said detecting means; data communication means for performing data communication in response to another detection by said detecting means after stopping sending the predetermined tone signal; and means for performing an operator calling operation which indicates telephone communication, wherein said performing means starts the operator calling operation after a predetermined time has elapsed from receiving the calling signal, wherein said stop means stops the operator calling operation in response to a detection by said detecting means subsequent to commencement of the operator calling operation.

Claim 5

A data communication apparatus comprising: tone sending means for periodically sending a predetermined tone signal in response to a calling signal from a communication line; detecting means for detecting a predetermined signal which indicates data communication; stop means for stopping sending of the predetermined tone signal by said tone sending means in response to a detection by said detecting means; data communication means for performing data communication in response to another detection by said detecting means after stopping sending the predetermined tone signal; and means for performing an operator calling operation which indicates telephone communication, wherein said performing means starts the operator calling operation after a predetermined time has elapsed from receiving the calling signal, wherein said stop means stops the operator calling operation in response to a detection by said detecting means subsequent to commencement of the operator calling operation.

Claim 6

A data communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said tone sending means sends a voice signal or a quasi ring back tone signal as the predetermined tone signal.

Claim 7

A data communication apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for detecting a signal indicating a connecting state of the communication line, and wherein said control means monitors whether or not the signal indicating the connecting state is detected while periodically sending the predetermined tone signal, and immediately releases the communication line in accordance with a detection of the signal indicating the connecting state.

Claim 8

A data communication apparatus for switching data communication and telephone communication, comprising: tone sending means for periodically sending a predetermined tone signal in response to a calling signal from a communication line; first detecting means for detecting a first predetermined signal relating to data communication; second detecting means for detecting a second predetermined signal relating to telephone communication; operator calling means for performing an operator calling operation for informing an operator of telephone communication; data communication means for performing data communication; and control means for monitoring detection of the first predetermined signal and the second predetermined signal while said tone sending means is periodically sending the predetermined tone signal, for causing said operator calling means to perform the operator calling operation in accordance with a detection of the second predetermined signal, and for causing said data communication means to perform data communication in accordance with a detection of the first predetermined signal.

Claim 9

A data communication apparatus for switching data communication and telephone communication, comprising: tone sending means for periodically sending a predetermined tone signal in response to a calling signal from a communication line; first detecting means for detecting a first predetermined signal relating to data communication; second detecting means for detecting a second predetermined signal relating to telephone communication; operator calling means for performing an operator calling operation for informing an operator of telephone communication; data communication means for performing data communication; and control means for monitoring detection of the first predetermined signal and the second predetermined signal while said tone sending means is periodically sending the predetermined tone signal, for causing said operator calling means to perform the operator calling operation in accordance with a detection of the second predetermined signal, and for causing said data communication means to perform data communication in accordance with a detection of the first predetermined signal.

Claim 10

A data communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said tone sending means sends a voice signal or a quasi ring back tone signal as the predetermined tone signal.

Claim 11

A data communication apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising means for detecting a signal indicating a connection state of the communication line, and wherein said control means monitors whether or not the signal indicating the connecting state is detected while periodically sending the predetermined tone signal, and immediately releases the communication line in accordance with a detection of the signal indicating the connecting state.

Claim 12

A data communication apparatus for switching data communication and telephone communication, comprising: tone sending means for periodically sending a predetermined tone signal in response to a calling signal from a communication line; first detecting means for detecting a first signal relating to data communication; second detecting means for detecting a second signal relating to telephone communication; operator calling means for performing an operator calling operation for informing an operator of telephone communication; data communication means for performing data communication; and control means for monitoring detection of the first signal and the second signal while periodically sending the predetermined tone signal, and for causing said operator calling means to perform the operator calling operation when the first signal is not detected before a predetermined time elapses from receiving the call signal and for causing said data communication means to perform data communication in accordance with a detection of the first signal, and for changing a period of the operator calling operation by said operator calling means in accordance with a detection of the second signal.

Claim 13

A data communication apparatus for switching data communication and telephone communication, comprising: tone sending means for periodically sending a predetermined tone signal in response to a calling signal from a communication line; first detecting means for detecting a first signal relating to data communication; second detecting means for detecting a second signal relating to telephone communication; operator calling means for performing an operator calling operation for informing an operator of telephone communication; data communication means for performing data communication; and control means for monitoring detection of the first signal and the second signal while periodically sending the predetermined tone signal, and for causing said operator calling means to perform the operator calling operation when the first signal is not detected before a predetermined time elapses from receiving the call signal and for causing said data communication means to perform data communication in accordance with a detection of the first signal, and for changing a period of the operator calling operation by said operator calling means in accordance with a detection of the second signal.

Claim 14

A data communication apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for detecting a signal indicating a connecting state of the communication line, and wherein said control means monitors whether or not the signal indicating the connecting state is detected while periodically sending the predetermined tone signal, and immediately releases the communication line in accordance with a detection of the signal indicating the connecting state.

Claim 15

A switching method between data communication and telephone communication, comprising the steps of: periodically sending a predetermined tone signal in response to a calling signal from a communication line; monitoring detection of a first signal relating to data communication and a second signal relating to telephone communication while periodically sending the predetermined tone signal; performing data communication in response to a detection of the first signal; and performing an operator calling operation to inform an operator of telephone communication in response to a detection of the second signal.

Claim 16

A switching method between data communication and telephone communication, comprising the steps of: periodically sending a predetermined tone signal in response to a calling signal from a communication line; monitoring detection of a first signal relating to data communication and a second signal relating to telephone communication while periodically sending the predetermined tone signal; performing data communication in response to a detection of the first signal; and performing an operator calling operation to inform an operator of telephone communication in response to a detection of the second signal.

Claim 17

A switching method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of: monitoring whether a signal indicating a connecting state of the communication line while periodically sending the predetermined tone signal, and immediately releasing the communication line in accordance with a detection of the signal indicating the connecting state.

Claim 18

A switching method between data communication and telephone communication comprising the steps of: periodically sending a predetermined tone signal in response to a calling signal from a communication line; monitoring detection of a first signal relating to data communication and a second signal relating to telephone communication while periodically sending the predetermined tone signal; performing data communication in response to a detection of the first signal; performing an operator calling operation for informing an operator of telephone communication when the first signal is not detected before a predetermined time elapses from receiving the calling signal; and changing a period of the operator calling operation in response to a detection of the second signal.

Claim 19

A switching method between data communication and telephone communication comprising the steps of: periodically sending a predetermined tone signal in response to a calling signal from a communication line; monitoring detection of a first signal relating to data communication and a second signal relating to telephone communication while periodically sending the predetermined tone signal; performing data communication in response to a detection of the first signal; performing an operator calling operation for informing an operator of telephone communication when the first signal is not detected before a predetermined time elapses from receiving the calling signal; and changing a period of the operator calling operation in response to a detection of the second signal.

Claim 20

A switching method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of: monitoring whether a signal indicating a connecting state of the communication line while periodically sending the predetermined tone signal, and immediately releasing the communication line in accordance with a detection of the signal indicating the connecting state.