Patent ID: 8233599
Filing Date: 2012-07-31
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A communication apparatus comprising: a main unit configured to connect to the Internet; and at least one secondary unit that is configured to connect to the Internet via the main unit the main unit comprising: a communication control unit that is configured to control telephone communication with an external apparatus via the Internet; a storing unit that is configured to store at least one user ID assigned individually to at least one user authorized to use the communication control unit in association with the main unit and the at least one secondary unit; and an activating unit that is configured to activate the communication control unit for each user ID, wherein the main unit further comprises a response-request signal transmission unit that is configured to, when the power source of the main unit is turned on, transmit a response-request signal prompting each secondary unit to respond to the response-request signal, wherein each secondary unit comprises a response transmission unit that is configured to transmit a response upon receiving the response-request signal while the power ource of the secondary unit is on, wherein the activating unit is configured to activate, upon receiving a response, the communication control unit with respect to the user ID of a secondary unit that has transmitted the response, wherein the main unit further comprises a setting unit that is configured to set a mode in which the main unit is allowed to perform telephone communication with an external apparatus, and wherein the response-request signal transmission unit is configured to transmit the response-request signal to each secondary unit when the power source of the main unit is turned on and the setting unit sets the mode in which the main unit is allowed to perform telephone communication.