Patent ID: 6219558
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
A facsimile adapter operatively connected to a first facsimile machine having a polling function and being capable of communicating with a second facsimile machine having no polling function, comprising:means for determining whether or not a first digital identification signal showing presence of data to be transmitted from said first facsimile machine is received;means for determining whether or not a second digital identification signal showing absence of data to be transmitted from said second facsimile machine is received;means for stopping transfer of said first digital identification signal for a first predetermined time period after said first digital identification signal is first received;means for determining whether or not said second digital identification signal from said second facsimile machine is received for said first predetermined time period;means for generating a first digital transmit command signal and transmitting said first digital transmit command signal to said first facsimile machine, so that a polling communication is carried out from said first facsimile machine to said second facsimile machine, when said second digital identification signal is received during said first predetermined time period;means for passing said first digital identification signal to said second facsimile machine, when said second digital identification signal has not been received during said first predetermined time period;means for stopping transfer of said second digital identification signal for a second predetermined time period after said second digital identification signal is first received;means for determining whether or not said first digital identification signal from said first facsimile machine is received for said second predetermined time period;means for generating a second digital transmit command signal and transmitting said second digital transmit command signal to said first facsimile machine, so that a polling communication is carried out from said first facsimile machine to said second facsimile machine, when said first digital identification signal is received during said second predetermined time period; andmeans for passing said second digital identification signal to said first facsimile machine, when said first digital identification signal has not been received during said second predetermined time period.