Image communication apparatus

Claim 2

An image communication apparatus, comprising: protocol communication means responsive to a calling signal from a line for performing a protocol communication for image communication over the line; image communication means for communicating image data over the line in accordance with the protocol communication; means for discriminating, after receiving the calling signal, whether or not it is possible to communicate image data, and when it is impossible to communicate image data, for causing said protocol communication means to perform a protocol communication that includes receiving a protocol signal from a calling station including data for identifying the calling station without communication of image data by said image communication means; and means for outputting data indicating which calling station issued the calling signal to said apparatus when communication of image data is impossible, on the basis of the data for identifying the calling station included in the protocol signal from the calling station and received by said protocol communication means.

Claim 3

An image communication apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: command means for commanding the outputting of the data by said means for outputting; and said means for outputting, outputting the data in response to a command of said command means.

Claim 4

An image communication apparatus according to claim 1 where said means for outputting outputs the data as a record.

Claim 5

An image communication apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising: time setting means for setting a predetermined absence time, wherein said means for outputting prints out the information from a plurality of calling stations when plural calls are received in the time set by said time setting means.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said discriminating means causes said protocol communication means to perform the protocol communication that includes receipt of the protocol signal from the calling station even when it is impossible to communicate image data due to an absence of recording paper at said apparatus.

Claim 7

An image communication apparatus, comprising: protocol communication means for transmitting and receiving protocol signals of various types over a line; image data communication means for communicating image data over the line in accordance with a protocol communication performed by said protocol communication means; detection means for detecting a calling signal from the line; control means responsive to the calling signal for controlling the protocol communication and image data communication, wherein said control means discriminates whether or not it is possible to communicate image data, and causes said protocol communication means to perform protocol communication that includes receiving a protocol signal from a calling station including data for identifying the calling station when it is impossible to communicate image data; memory means for storing the data that identifies the calling station and is included in the protocol signal from the calling station received by performing the protocol communication; and means for outputting data indicating which calling station issued the calling signal to said apparatus when communication of image data is impossible, on the basis of the identifying data stored in said memory means.

Claim 8

An image communication apparatus, comprising: protocol communication means for transmitting and receiving protocol signals of various types over a line; image data communication means for communicating image data over the line in accordance with a protocol communication performed by said protocol communication means; detection means for detecting a calling signal from the line; control means responsive to the calling signal for controlling the protocol communication and image data communication, wherein said control means discriminates whether or not it is possible to communicate image data, and causes said protocol communication means to perform protocol communication that includes receiving a protocol signal from a calling station including data for identifying the calling station when it is impossible to communicate image data; memory means for storing the data that identifies the calling station and is included in the protocol signal from the calling station received by performing the protocol communication; and means for outputting data indicating which calling station issued the calling signal to said apparatus when communication of image data is impossible, on the basis of the identifying data stored in said memory means.

Claim 9

An image communication apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said means for outputting outputs the data as a record.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said control means causes said protocol communication means to perform the protocol communication that includes receipt of the protocol signal from the calling station even when it is impossible to communicate image data due to an absence of recording paper at said apparatus.

Claim 11

An image communication apparatus which performs a protocol communication by sending and receiving protocol signals of various types and communicates image data on the basis of the protocol communication, said apparatus comprising: means for detecting a calling signal from a calling station over a line; control means, responsive to the calling signal, for executing a communication control procedure that discriminates whether or not it is possible to communicate image data, and either causing communication of image data over the line or causing performance of the protocol communication over the line that includes receiving a protocol signal from a calling station including data for identifying the calling station without communicating image data, in accordance with a result of the discrimination; memory means for storing the data that identifies the calling station and is included in the protocol signal from the calling station received by performing the protocol communication; and means for outputting data indicating which calling station issued the calling signal to said apparatus when communication of image data is impossible, on the basis of the identifying data stored in said memory means.

Claim 12

An image communication apparatus which performs a protocol communication by sending and receiving protocol signals of various types and communicates image data on the basis of the protocol communication, said apparatus comprising: means for detecting a calling signal from a calling station over a line; control means, responsive to the calling signal, for executing a communication control procedure that discriminates whether or not it is possible to communicate image data, and either causing communication of image data over the line or causing performance of the protocol communication over the line that includes receiving a protocol signal from a calling station including data for identifying the calling station without communicating image data, in accordance with a result of the discrimination; memory means for storing the data that identifies the calling station and is included in the protocol signal from the calling station received by performing the protocol communication; and means for outputting data indicating which calling station issued the calling signal to said apparatus when communication of image data is impossible, on the basis of the identifying data stored in said memory means.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, when it is impossible to communicate image data, said control means notifies the calling station that communication of image data is impossible by including a notice in the communication protocol.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said control means discriminates a type of terminal of the calling station, and notifies the impossibility of communication of image delta by executing the communication protocol in accordance with a result of the discrimination.

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said control means causes the performance of a protocol communication that includes receipt of the protocol signal from the calling station even when it is impossible to communicate image data due to an absence of recording paper at said apparatus.

Claim 16

An image communication apparatus which performs a communication protocol by sending and receiving protocol signals of various types and communicates image data on the basis of the communication protocol, said apparatus comprising: means for communicating image data over a line; extracting means for extracting identification data for identifying a calling station from a predetermined protocol signal received from the calling station over the line by performing the communication protocol; converting means for converting the identification data into a voice signal; registration means for registering a predetermined telephone number; output means for outputting as an audible signal the voice signal produced by said converting means; and control means for changing a destination of an output from said output means in accordance with whether or not the telephone number is registered in said registration means.

Claim 17

An image communication apparatus which performs a communication protocol by sending and receiving protocol signals of various types and communicates image data on the basis of the communication protocol, said apparatus comprising: means for communicating image data over a line; extracting means for extracting identification data for identifying a calling station from a predetermined protocol signal received from the calling station over the line by performing the communication protocol; converting means for converting the identification data into a voice signal; registration means for registering a predetermined telephone number; output means for outputting as an audible signal the voice signal produced by said converting means; and control means for changing a destination of an output from said output means in accordance with whether or not the telephone number is registered in said registration means.

Claim 18

An image communication apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said means for communicating performs an image communication and said output means outputs the voice signal at the end of the image communication.

Claim 19

An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising means for calling a predetermined destination registered in advance to send the voice signal, received from said converting means, to the destination.

Claim 20

An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said control means dials a telephone number registered in the registration means to send an output signal from said output means to a predetermined partner station when the telephone number is registered in said registration means, and supplies the output signal from said output means to a speaker when the telephone number is not registered in said registration means.

Claim 21

An image communication method comprising the steps of: performing a protocol communication for image communication over a line responsive to a calling signal received from the line; communicating image data over the line in accordance with the protocol communication; discriminating, after receiving the calling signal, whether or not it is possible to communicate image data and, when it is impossible to communicate image data, performing a protocol communication of said protocol communicating step that includes receiving a protocol signal from a calling station including data for identifying the calling station without communication of image data of said image communicating step; and outputting data indicating which calling station issued the calling signal when communication of image data is impossible, on the basis of the data for identifying the calling station included in the protocol signal from the calling station and received in said protocol communicating step.

Claim 22

An image communication method comprising the steps of: performing a protocol communication for image communication over a line responsive to a calling signal received from the line; communicating image data over the line in accordance with the protocol communication; discriminating, after receiving the calling signal, whether or not it is possible to communicate image data and, when it is impossible to communicate image data, performing a protocol communication of said protocol communicating step that includes receiving a protocol signal from a calling station including data for identifying the calling station without communication of image data of said image communicating step; and outputting data indicating which calling station issued the calling signal when communication of image data is impossible, on the basis of the data for identifying the calling station included in the protocol signal from the calling station and received in said protocol communicating step.

Claim 23

An image communication method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of inputting a command for outputting the data in said outputting step, wherein the data is outputted in said outputting step in response to the command.

Claim 24

An image communication method according to claim 17, wherein the data is outputted as a record in said outputting step.

Claim 25

An image communication method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of setting a predetermined absence time, wherein in said outputting step the data for all calls received in the time set in said time setting step is printed out.

Claim 26

An image communication method according to claim 17, wherein in said protocol communicating step, the protocol communication is performed that includes receipt of the protocol signal from the calling station even when it is impossible to communicate image data due to an absence of recording paper at said apparatus.

Claim 27

An image communication method, comprising the steps of: transmitting and receiving protocol signals of various types over a line; communicating image data over the line in accordance with a protocol communication performed in said protocol communication step; detecting a calling signal from the line; controlling the protocol communication and image data communication responsive to the calling signal, said controlling step including discriminating whether or not it is possible to communicate image data and performing the protocol communication of said protocol communication step that includes receiving a protocol signal from a calling station including data for identifying the calling station when it is impossible to communicate image data; storing the data that identifies the calling station and is included in the protocol signal from the calling station received by performing the protocol communication; and outputting data indicating which calling station issued the calling signal when communication of image data is impossible on the basis of the identifying data stored in said storing step.

Claim 28

An image communication method, comprising the steps of: transmitting and receiving protocol signals of various types over a line; communicating image data over the line in accordance with a protocol communication performed in said protocol communication step; detecting a calling signal from the line; controlling the protocol communication and image data communication responsive to the calling signal, said controlling step including discriminating whether or not it is possible to communicate image data and performing the protocol communication of said protocol communication step that includes receiving a protocol signal from a calling station including data for identifying the calling station when it is impossible to communicate image data; storing the data that identifies the calling station and is included in the protocol signal from the calling station received by performing the protocol communication; and outputting data indicating which calling station issued the calling signal when communication of image data is impossible on the basis of the identifying data stored in said storing step.

Claim 29

An image communication method according to claim 22, wherein in said outputting step the data is outputted as a record.

Claim 30

A method according to claim 22, wherein in said controlling step the protocol communication of said protocol communication step is performed that includes receipt of the protocol signal from the calling station even when it is impossible to communicate image data due to an absence of recording paper at said apparatus.

Claim 31

An image communication method which performs a protocol communication by sending and receiving protocol signals of various types and communicates image data on the basis of the protocol communication, said method comprising the steps of: detecting a calling signal from a calling station over a line; responsive to the calling signal, executing a communication control procedure that discriminates whether or not it is possible to communicate image data, and either causing communication of image data over the line or causing performance of the communication protocol over the line that includes receiving a protocol signal from a calling station including data for identifying the calling station without communicating image data, in accordance with a result of the discrimination; storing the data that identifies the calling station and is included in the protocol signal from the calling station received by performing the protocol communication; and outputting data indicating which calling station issued the calling signal when communication of image data is impossible on the basis of the identifying data stored in said storing step.

Claim 32

An image communication method which performs a protocol communication by sending and receiving protocol signals of various types and communicates image data on the basis of the protocol communication, said method comprising the steps of: detecting a calling signal from a calling station over a line; responsive to the calling signal, executing a communication control procedure that discriminates whether or not it is possible to communicate image data, and either causing communication of image data over the line or causing performance of the communication protocol over the line that includes receiving a protocol signal from a calling station including data for identifying the calling station without communicating image data, in accordance with a result of the discrimination; storing the data that identifies the calling station and is included in the protocol signal from the calling station received by performing the protocol communication; and outputting data indicating which calling station issued the calling signal when communication of image data is impossible on the basis of the identifying data stored in said storing step.

Claim 33

A method according to claim 25, wherein when it is impossible to communicate image data, the calling station is notified that communication of image data is impossible by including a notice in the communication protocol executed in said control step.

Claim 34

A method according to claim 25, wherein in said discriminating step, a type of terminal of the calling station is discriminated and when it is impossible to communicate image data, the calling station is notified that communication of image data is impossible by including a notice in the communication protocol executed in said control step in accordance with a result of the discrimination.

Claim 35

A method according to claim 25, wherein the protocol communication is performed that includes receipt of the protocol signal from the calling station even when it is impossible to communicate image data due to an absence of recording paper at said receiving apparatus.

Claim 36

An image communication method which performs a communication protocol by sending and receiving protocol signals of various types and communicates image data on the basis of the communication protocol, said method comprising the steps of: communicating image data over a line; extracting identification data for identifying a calling station from a predetermined protocol signal received from the calling station over the line by performing the communication protocol; converting the identification data into a voice signal; registering a predetermined telephone number; outputting as an audible signal the voice signal produced in said converting step; and changing a destination of an output from said outputting step in accordance with whether or not the telephone number is registered in said registering step.

Claim 37

An image communication method which performs a communication protocol by sending and receiving protocol signals of various types and communicates image data on the basis of the communication protocol, said method comprising the steps of: communicating image data over a line; extracting identification data for identifying a calling station from a predetermined protocol signal received from the calling station over the line by performing the communication protocol; converting the identification data into a voice signal; registering a predetermined telephone number; outputting as an audible signal the voice signal produced in said converting step; and changing a destination of an output from said outputting step in accordance with whether or not the telephone number is registered in said registering step.

Claim 38

An image communication method according to claim 29, wherein in said communicating step an image communication is performed, and in said outputting step the voice signal is outputted at the end of the image communication.

Claim 39

A method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of calling a predetermined destination registered in advance to send the voice signal, received from said converting step, to the destination.

Claim 40

A method according to claim 29, wherein in said changing step a telephone number registered in the registering step is dialed to send an output signal from said output step to a predetermined partner station when the telephone number is registered in said registering step, and supplies the output signal from said outputting step to a speaker when the telephone number is not registered in said registering step.