Image information communication apparatus for concurrently storing and transmitting image information

Claim 2

An image formation communication apparatus for communicating with a plurality of remote image information communication apparatuses via a communication network, said image information communication apparatus comprising: image storing means for storing transmission image data in an image memory, said transmission image data being produced by encoding and compressing raw image data obtained by reading an original document of which image data is to be transmitted to one of said remote image information communication apparatuses; parallel storing and transmitting means for concurrently performing a storing operation of said transmission image data and a transmitting operation for transmitting said transmission image data stored in said image memory; and control means for controlling said transmitting operation of said parallel storing and transmitting means and a receiving operation for receiving image data from one of said remote image information communication apparatuses and for storing said received image data in said image memory so that said receiving operation is prohibited after said parallel storing and transmitting means has initiated the storing operation of said transmission image data, and the initiation of the storing operation of said transmission image data by said parallel storing and transmitting means is prohibited when said receiving operation is being performed.

Claim 3

An image information communication apparatus for communicating with a plurality of remote image information communication apparatuses via a communication network, said image information communication apparatus being operated in either one of a G4 facsimile communication mode and a G3 facsimile communication mode, said image information communication apparatus comprising: switch means for switching an operation of said image information communication apparatus to one of the G4 facsimile communication mode and the G3 facsimile communication mode; image storing means for storing transmission image data in an image memory, said transmission image data being produced by encoding and compressing raw image data obtained by reading an original document of which image data is to be transmitted to one of said remote image information communication apparatuses, said transmission image data being stored by each set of single-page image data corresponding to a single page of said original document, said each set of single page image data being divided into a plurality of sets of block data; first transmitting means for transmitting said transmission image data by each of said sets of block data when the operation of said image information communication apparatus is switched to the G3 facsimile communication mode; and second transmitting means for transmitting said transmission image data by each set of said single-page image data only when the operation of said image data communication apparatus is switched to the G4 facsimile communication mode.

Claim 4

An image information communication apparatus for communicating with a plurality of remote image information communication apparatuses via a communication network, said image information communication apparatus being operated in either one of a G4 facsimile communication mode and a G3 facsimile communication mode, said image information communication apparatus comprising: switch means for switching an operation of said image information communication apparatus to one of the G4 facsimile communication mode and the G3 facsimile communication mode; image storing means for storing transmission image data in an image memory, said transmission image data being produced by encoding and compressing raw image data obtained by reading an original document of which image data is to be transmitted to one of said remote image information communication apparatuses, said transmission image data being stored by each set of single-page image data corresponding to a single page of said original document, said each set of single page image data being divided into a plurality of sets of block data; first transmitting means for transmitting said transmission image data by each of said sets of block data when the operation of said image information communication apparatus is switched to the G3 facsimile communication mode; and second transmitting means for transmitting said transmission image data by each set of said single-page image data only when the operation of said image data communication apparatus is switched to the G4 facsimile communication mode.

Claim 5

The image information communication apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second transmitting means comprises determining means for determining whether or not said transmission image data is to be decoded and expanded to said raw image data so as to change said transmission image data in said image memory before transmitting said transmission image data to one of said remote image information communication apparatuses.

Claim 6

The image information communication apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said determining means determines that said transmission image data is to be encoded and expanded when said transmission image data contains said raw image data.

Claim 7

The image information communication apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said determining means determines that said transmission image data is to be decoded and expanded when an encoding and compressing mode of said image information communication apparatus is different from an encoding and compressing mode of one of said remote image information communication apparatuses being connected.

Claim 8

The image information communication apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said determining means determines that said transmission image data is to be decoded and expanded when a first image size of said image information communication apparatus is different from a second image size of one of said remote image information communication apparatuses being connected.

Claim 9

The image information communication apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said determining means determines that said transmission image data is to be decoded and expanded when a first resolution of said image information communication apparatus is different from a second resolution of one of said remote image information communication apparatuses being connected.

Claim 10

The image information communication apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said determining means determines that said transmission image data is to be decoded and expanded when said first resolution and said second resolution are different in a line density.

Claim 11

The image information communication apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said determining means determines that said transmission image data is to be decoded and expanded when said first resolution and said second resolution are different in a length unit.

Claim 12

The image information communication apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said determining means determines that said transmission image data is to be decoded and expanded when additional information is to be added to said transmission image data before said transmission image data is transmitted.

Claim 13

The image information communication apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said additional information is transmitter terminal identification information.

Claim 14

The image information communication apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said additional information is display information of a calling number of one of said remote image information communication apparatuses being connected.

Claim 15

The image information communication apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second transmitting means comprises a decoding and expanding unit for decoding and expanding said transmission image data to said raw image data when said determining means determines that said transmission image data is to be encoded and compressed, said second transmitting means further comprising an encoding and compressing unit for encoding and compressing said raw image data produced by said decoding and expanding unit after a change is made to said raw image data produced by said decoding and expanding unit.

Claim 16

The image information communication apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: parallel storing and transmitting means for concurrently performing a storing operation of said transmission image data and a transmitting operation for transmitting said transmission image data stored in said image memory; and control means for controlling said transmitting operation of said parallel storing and transmitting means and a receiving operation for receiving image data from one of said remote image information communication apparatuses so that said receiving operation is prohibited when said transmitting operation is being performed and said transmitting operation is prohibited when said receiving operation is being performed.