Abstract:
An image forming apparatus includes: an image reading device for reading an original document image to form the image in a copying mode; a modem device for decoding data sent from a public network; a first memory for registering telephone identification information for a remote station; a detector for detecting a telephone identification provided with a caller identification service of a communication enterprise; and a controller for controlling the modem device, realizing a first communication mode for receiving facsimile data to form the image in a facsimile mode, or a second communication mode for diagnosis of the apparatus and for setting control information of the apparatus from the remote station through the modem device. The controller realizes the first communication mode when the telephone identification does not coincide with the registered telephone identification, and realizes the second communication mode when the telephone identification coincides with the registered telephone identification.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a communication apparatus appropriately applicable to a facsimile device, or a hybrid device provided with a copy function, facsimile function and printer function, or similar devices, which can conduct a remote diagnosis by using the communication line. 
     Recently, with an advance of information processing technology and an improvement of information network, a case of use of a communication device provided with a plurality of communication modes, is increasing. In such types of communication devices, such a control is conducted that initially, in a certain communication mode, a communication line is connected, and then, when there is no response from a remote station for a predetermined period of time, the communication is switched to another communication mode. Further, in another communication mode, such a control is conducted that initially, the communication line is connected, and when a signal of a remote station, which shows a specific communication mode, is detected, the communication is switched to that communication mode. 
     Incidentally, in a facsimile device, or a hybrid device provided with a copy function, facsimile function and printer function, or similar devices, a case of use of a communication apparatus provided with a remote diagnosis mode and remote setting mode, is increased. In this type of communication apparatus, by a command from a control apparatus (hereinafter, called the center terminal) for office machines installed on a remote side, information inside the apparatus is read from the facsimile device, hybrid machine, or the like, provided on the user side, and by using a communication line, the information inside the apparatus is sent to the remote center terminal (remote diagnosis), or various kinds of data are set from the center terminal into the inside of the apparatus on the user side (remote setting). 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a structure of this type communication apparatus  10 . The communication apparatus shown in FIG. 5 has a communication terminal  2  connected a communication line  1 . A CML relay  8  and a control section  3  are connected to the communication terminal  2 , and when a ring signal showing the calling from the remote station is detected, the communication line  1  and the communication apparatus  10  are closed with each other by the CML relay  8  by a connection signal S 0  from the control section  3 , and the calling from the remote station is received. 
     A means  4  to switch a communication mode (hereinafter, called the mode switching means), for example, by software, is connected to the control section  3 , and the mode switching means is controlled to select a facsimile mode  6  or a remote diagnosis mode  7  by a register rewriting signal S 1  from the control section  3 . The mode switching means  4  is provided with, for example, a command register  14 , and normally, a control command to select a facsimile mode  6  (home position) is written therein by a register rewriting signal S 1 . A ROM  28  is connected to the mode switching means  4 , and the algorithm to conduct the facsimile mode  6  or remote diagnosis mode  7  is stored therein. 
     Further, an in formation processing means  9  is connected to the CML relay  8 , and information processing is conducted based on the algorithm to conduct the facsimile mode or remote diagnosis mode  7 , which is read from ROM  28  by the control section  3  and the mode switching means  4 . A timer circuit  5  is connected to the control section  3 , and when a calling signal is received, the timer starts. For example, when 35 sec has passed from the start of the facsimile mode, a timer signal S 2  showing “passage of 35 sec” is outputted to the control section  3 , and the control command in a command register  14  provided in the mode switching means  4  is rewritten by the control section  3  based on the timer signal S 2 . According to this rewriting, the mode is switched from the facsimile mode  6  to the remote diagnosis mode  7  by the mode switching means  4 . 
     Next, operations of the conventional type communication apparatus  10  will be described. FIGS. 6A and 6B are time charts showing an example of switching operations of the facsimile mode  6 /remote diagnosis mode  7 , and FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the example of that switching. In this communication apparatus  10 , in the case where no facsimile signal is detected from the remote station when 35 sec has passed from the starting time of the facsimile mode shown in FIG. 6B, then, the mode automatically shifts to the remote diagnosis mode  7 . On this presupposition, after the ring is detected in step A 1  of the flow chart in FIG. 7, the calling from the remote station is received in step A 2 . At this time, the facsimile mode  6  is selected by the mode switching means  4 , and the facsimile mode  6  is started. 
     After that, the facsimile signal from the remote station is detected in step A 3 . When the apparatus of the remote station is recognized to be a facsimile, the sequence advances to step A 4 , and the facsimile mode  6  shown in FIG. 6A is continued. On the other hand, when the facsimile signal from the remote station is not detected and the apparatus of the remote station is not recognized to be a facsimile, in step A 3 , the sequence advances to step A 5 , and it is judged whether 35 sec has passed from the starting time of the facsimile mode. When 35 sec has not passed from the starting time of the facsimile mode, the sequence returns to step A 3 , and it is judged again whether the existence of the facsimile signal is detected. 
     Accordingly, when 35 sec has passed while the facsimile signal from the remote station is not detected after the facsimile mode is started in the time chart shown in FIG. 6B, the sequence advances to step  6 , and after the facsimile mode is stopped, the sequence advances to step  7  and the remote diagnosis mode  7  is started. In this case, the control command in the command register  14  in the mode switching means  4  is rewritten by a register rewriting signal S 1  by the control section  3  into which the timer signal S 2  is inputted. Accordingly, by this rewriting of the control command in the register  14 , in the mode switching means  4 , the reading-out control of the ROM  28  is conducted such that the mode is switched by the software from the algorithm according to the facsimile mode  6  to the algorithm of the remote diagnosis mode  7 . 
     However, according to the conventional type communication apparatus  10 , when calling is received, initially the communication is started in the facsimile mode, however, when the facsimile signal of the remote station can not be detected for 35 sec from the start of the facsimile mode because the apparatus of the remote station is set to the remote diagnosis terminal, the content of the command register  14  can not be rewritten when “35 sec” has not passed, therefore, the mode can not be switched from the facsimile mode  6  to the remote diagnosis mode  7 . 
     Accordingly, when the remote diagnosis mode  7  (hereinafter, called also the specific information processing mode) is conducted between the user of the communication apparatus  10  and the remote diagnosis central apparatus (hereinafter, called also the specific remote station), the connecting time of the communication line  1  to recognize the communication mode of the remote station increases to a long period of time, or when the public network such as NTT, or the like, is used, useless communication fee of the users is paid, which are problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention solves the abovedescribed problems, and the object of the present invention is to provide a communication apparatus by which the connection time to the communication line to recognize a communication mode of the remote station when a specific information processing mode is conducted to a specific remote station, can be reduced, and the communication fee for that communication can be reduced. 
     The object of the present invention can be attained by any one of the following structures. 
     (Structure 1) An image forming apparatus having multiple functions for forming an image on a recording sheet by a copying mode or a facsimile mode, the image forming apparatus comprising: 
     (a) recording means; 
     (b) image reading means for reading an image of an original document so as to form the image in the copying mode; 
     (c) a modem device for decoding data sent from a public network; 
     (d) a first memory for registering telephone identification information for a remote station; 
     (e) detecting means for detecting a telephone identification provided with a caller identification service of a communication enterprise; and 
     (f) a controller for controlling said modem device, the controller realizing a first communication mode for receiving facsimile data so as to form the image in the facsimile mode, or a second communication mode for diagnosis of the apparatus and for setting control information of the apparatus from the remote station through said modem device, 
     wherein said controller realizes the first communication mode in the case the telephone identification detected by the detecting means does not coincide with a registered telephone identification of the remote station, and realizes the second communication mode in the case the telephone identification detected by the detecting means coincides with the registered telephone identification of the remote station. 
     (Structure 2) The apparatus of structure 1, wherein the communication of the first communication mode and the second communication mode are carried out through a common public network and a common modem device. 
     (Structure 3) The apparatus of structure 1 further comprising a setting means for setting whether or not said second communication mode is carried out, 
     wherein when the setting means sets that the second communication mode is not carried out, it is prohibited that the first communication mode is switched over to the second communication mode, when the telephone identification detected by the detecting means coincides with a registered telephone identification of the remote station. 
     (Structure 4) The apparatus of structure 1 further comprising a codec section for compressing and decompressing data passed through said modem device. 
     (Structure 5) The apparatus of structure 1 further having a printing function for forming an image on a recording sheet on the basis of image data sent from a computer by a printing mode. 
     (Structure 6) The apparatus of structure 1 further comprising: 
     a second memory for storing a control algorithm for conducting the first communication mode and a control algorithm for conducting the second communication mode, and 
     an input means for inputting the telephone identification information to the first memory, 
     wherein the controller selects one of the control algorithms in the second memory on the basis of the result of detection of the detecting means and the telephone identification information stored in the first memory. 
     According to the present invention, because the type of the terminal equipment of the specific remote station can be early recognized by the comparison means, the time period necessary to recognize the communication mode of the remote station can be more reduced than that of the conventional method. Accordingly, in the case where the remote diagnosis mode or the like is conducted with the remote diagnosis central apparatus, because the connection time to that communication line can be reduced, thereby, the communication fee of the user can be reduced. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a structure of a communication apparatus  100  as an embodiment of the present invention and a communication system. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a structure of a hybrid machine  200  to which the communication apparatus  100  is applied. 
     FIG. 3 is a flow chart for mode setting at the time of switching the FAX/remote diagnosis mode, showing an example of operations of the hybrid machine  200 . 
     FIG.  4 (A) is a time chart at the time of the remote diagnosis mode of the hybrid machine  200 , and FIG.  4 (B) is a time chart at the time of the facsimile mode thereof. 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a structure of the conventional communication apparatus  10 . 
     FIG.  6 (A) is a time chart at the time of the facsimile mode of the communication apparatus  10 , and FIG.  6 (B) is a time chart at the time of the remote diagnosis mode thereof. 
     FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an example of switching of the FAX/remote diagnosis mode of the communication apparatus  10 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings, an embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a structure of a communication apparatus  100  as an embodiment of the present invention and a communication system thereof. 
     In the present embodiment, in the case where a remote diagnosis mode in which the control information of the inside of the apparatus which is read from a facsimile device or a hybrid machine by using a communication line, is sent to a remote diagnosis central control apparatus (the control apparatus for office machines: hereinafter called the center terminal), and a remote setting mode in which the control information (data) sent from the center terminal is set inside the user apparatus, are conducted, the connection time to the communication line can be reduced, and the communication fee for the connection can be reduced. 
     In the present embodiment, for example, in a facsimile device, when a claim that a transmission error easily occurs, is made from the user side against the center side, the remote diagnosis mode is conducted (used) to direct the facsimile device to “send the communication control information” by using the communication line from the center terminal. In the facsimile device which receives the direction, the communication control information recorded inside the device is read out, and sent to the center terminal. 
     On the center terminal side, the communication control information read from the facsimile on the user side is analyzed by the operator of the center, and as the result, for example, it is found that the transmission error easily occurs when a document image is transmitted abroad, and when it is required as a remedy that the communication speed is lowered at the time of overseas transmission, in the remote setting mode, the center terminal rewrites the communication speed at the time of overseas transmission in the facsimile device to, for example, the communication speed which is  2 -step lower than the present set value. 
     Accordingly, in the facsimile device which receives the direction in the remote setting mode, data can be automatically rewritten to the communication speed sent from the center terminal without any setting change operation by the user himself, with respect to the communication speed at the time of overseas transmission which is previously set inside the device itself. 
     The communication apparatus  100  according to the present invention conducts information processing with an arbitrary remote station or a specific remote station by using the caller ID service of the communication enterprise. According to this caller ID service, the telephone number of the caller station is notified to the called station when calling is received, and the telephone number of the caller station can be confirmed on the called station. 
     This communication apparatus  100  has a communication terminal  2  connected with the communication line  1  shown in FIG. 1. A ring detector  15  and the CML relay  8  are connected to the communication terminal  2 , and a receiving terminal start signal such as a ringer or caller ID, is detected from the public network  102 . A control section  30  is connected to the ring detector  15 , and when the receiving terminal start signal is detected, the CML relay  8  is closed, and the communication apparatus  100  and the public network  102  are connected to each other (calling is received). An information processing means  9  is connected to the CML relay  8 . 
     In this example, components are respectively controlled as follows: when initially, the caller ID receiving terminal start signal is detected, next, the control section  30  starts a communication modem  23  for the caller ID in the information processing means  9 , and reads the telephone number of the remote station notified from the public network  102 , and after that, opens the CML relay  8  once (primary response), and next, waits the detection of the ringer from the public network  102 . A comparison means  11  is provided in the control section  30 , and when the telephone number of the remote station detected by the communication modem  23  is inputted, the previously registered telephone number of the specific remote station and the telephone number notified by the communication enterprise are compared with each other. In this comparison means  11 , by the result of comparison of telephone numbers of the two, when the telephone number of the specific remote station agrees with the telephone number notified by the communication enterprise, a register rewriting signal S 1  is generated. The register rewriting signal S 1  may be an active or inactive signal such as a high level or low level signal, or command data such as a coincidence flag. 
     To the control section  30 , a means  4  for switching the mode, for example, by the software (hereinafter, called the mode switching means) is connected, and further, the ROM  28  is connected to the mode switching means  4 , and the algorithm to conduct the facsimile mode  6  or the remote diagnosis mode  7  is stored therein. For example, a command register  14  is provided in the mode switching means  4 , and the control command in the register  14  is rewritten by the register rewriting signal Si from the control section  30 . 
     In this example, the register rewriting signal S 1  is outputted from the comparison means  11  to the command register  14 , and normally a control command to select the facsimile mode  6  (normal position) is written. When the content of the command register  14  is rewritten, the mode switching means  4  can switch the mode from the facsimile mode  6  to the remote diagnosis mode  7  by the software. Accordingly, in the information processing means  9  connected to the CML relay  8 , the information processing is carried out based on the algorithm to conduct the facsimile mode  6  or remote diagnosis mode  7 , which is read from the ROM  28  by the control section  30  and the mode switching means  4 . 
     In this example, the specific remote station is the center terminal or the like, which diagnoses the facsimile device, hybrid machine, or the similar devices by using the communication line  1 , and the telephone number (03-1234-5678), etc., of the communication enterprise is recorded in the registration means (memory means)  12  for the telephone number of the specific remote station. As the registration means  12 , a nonvolatile memory such as an E 2 PROM (an electrically erasable programmable ROM; a read only memory in which information is electrically erasable, and can be written), or a DRAM, for which memory holding operation is necessary,(a dynamic random access memory; a memory from which information can be read at any time and in which information can be written at any time), is used. Of course, the center terminal  101  is also connected to the communication line  1 , and further connected to the public network  102  such as the NTT network. 
     Arbitrary partners are many and unspecified users having facsimile devices or hybrid machines except the center terminal  101 . These partner&#39;s terminal equipment  103 ,  104 , are connected to the communication line  1 , and further connected to the public network  102 . When the original image is transmitted by using these partner&#39;s terminal equipment  103 ,  104 , etc., the communication is conducted in the normal facsimile mode. 
     In this example, by the result of the comparison means  11 , when the telephone number of the center terminal  101  (03-1234-5678) agrees with the telephone number notified from the communication enterprise (03-1234-5678), the mode is switched from the facsimile mode  6  to the remote diagnosis mode  7  by the software by the mode switching means  4 , therefore, the center terminal  101  is connected to the communication line  1 , and the remote diagnosis mode or the remote setting mode can be conducted. Thereby, the center terminal  101  is connected to the communication line  1 , and the control information of the facsimile devices or hybrid machines can be sent and received. 
     Further, when the telephone number of the center terminal  101  does not agree with the telephone number notified by the communication enterprise, the facsimile mode  6  is conducted, by connecting the communication line  1  with the terminal equipment  103 , or the like, of the remote station of the telephone number notified from the communication enterprise. By this facsimile mode, for example, according to the received image data sent from the terminal equipment  103  of the remote station, the document image is printed out on the user side of the communication apparatus  100 . 
     Accordingly, in the present embodiment, because the type of the communication mode can be early recognized by the comparison means  11 , by comparing whether the telephone number by the caller ID service of the communication enterprise belongs to the center terminal  101  or whether it belongs to the terminal equipment  103 ,  104 , . . . of many and unspecified remote stations, thereby, the time period necessary to recognize the communication mode can be more reduced than that of the conventional method. According to this method, in the case where the remote diagnosis mode  7  is conducted between the apparatus  100  and the center terminal  101 , the communication mode appropriate for the remote communication enterprise can be selected before the start of the communication, and when the public network  102  such as the NTT network is used, the connection time with the communication line  1  can be reduced, thereby, the communication fee of the user can be reduced. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of a hybrid machine  200  to which the communication apparatus  100  as the present embodiment is applied. The hybrid machine  200  is provided with a copy function, facsimile function and printer function, and is structured such that the remote diagnosis mode can be conducted by using the caller ID service. 
     The hybrid machine  200  shown in FIG. 2 has an internal bus  21 . A network control unit  22  (hereinafter, called NCU) is connected to the internal bus  21 , and connection control such as call from the hybrid machine  200 , receiving of calling, recovery, and disconnect processing from the center terminal  101  or many and unspecified remote stations, is conducted between the machine  200  and the public network  102  as shown in FIG.  1 . For example, the ring detection is carried out by the NCU  22 , and call of the remote station is received. 
     A communication modem  23  is connected to the NCU through the internal bus  21 , and when calling is received, the modem  23  demodulates the modulated signal transmitted through the public network  102  and converts it into digital receiving image data, and when transmitting, the modem  23  modulates the document image data so as to match the frequency band of the public network  102  and converts it into a modulation signal. A caller ID signal detection section  24  as a demodulation means is connected to the communication modem  23  through the internal bus  21 , and the caller ID signal from the communication enterprise is detected and demodulated. This caller ID signal is the signal showing the telephone number of the center terminal  101  or the telephone number of the remote station, and is modulated by a predetermined format of the communication enterprise. By demodulating the caller ID signal, the telephone number of the center terminal  101  or the telephone number of the remote station can be recognized. 
     A DRAM  25  is connected to the internal bus  21  and at least the telephone number of the center terminal  101  is previously recorded and held therein. The number of registration of the center terminals  101  (the number of telephone numbers of the terminals  101  of the remote diagnosis center) at that time is not limited to one, but any number of registration may be allowable. This DRAM  25  is also used as several types of work memories. For example, received image data sent when the facsimile mode  6  is conducted, or document image data obtained when the copy function is carried out, is temporarily stored. Further, control data such as history information of the copy function, facsimile function and printer function, is stored. 
     A CODEC section  26  is connected to the DRAM  25  through the internal bus  21 , and an image compression and expansion circuit, or the like, is used therein. In the CODEC section  26 , for example, document image data is compressed at the time of the facsimile transmission, and received image data is expanded at the time of the facsimile receiving. In the copy mode, at the time of document reading, the image data is compressed once in the CODEC section  26 , and then stored in the DRAM  25 . At the time of the document recording, after the image data read from the DRAM  25  is expanded, it is sent to, for example, a recording section  34 . 
     To the CODEC section  26 , a CPU  27  serving at least as the comparison means  11  is connected through the internal bus  21 , and thereby, the telephone number of the center terminal  101  which is previously registered in the DRAM  25 , or the like, is compared to the telephone number notified from the communication enterprise. The register rewriting signal S 1  is generated according to the comparison result of the CPU  27 . The mode switching means  4  is connected to the CPU  27  through the internal bus  21 . The ROM  28  is connected to the mode switching means  4 , and a control program  6 ′ to conduct the facsimile mode  6 , and a control program  7 ′ to conduct the remote diagnosis mode  7  are stored therein. Of course, other than these control programs  6 ′ and  7 ′, a control program to conduct the printer function, algorithm for the control sequence of the mode switching means  4 , or algorithm to control the overall system of the hybrid machine  200 , is stored in the ROM  28 . 
     In the above mode switching means  4 , the facsimile mode  6  or the remote diagnosis mode  7  is selected according to the register rewriting signal S 1  from the CPU  27  and the switching sequence by the ROM  28 . Normally, the facsimile mode  6  is selected (normal position) by the control command written in the command register  14  in the mode switching means  4 . The register rewriting signal S 1  may be supplied from the CPU  27  to the command register  14  by providing an exclusive use control line, or may be supplied through the internal bus  21  in the data transmission format in which the register rewriting signal S 1  itself is made to be a control command such as a coincidence flag. 
     Incidentally, in the present example, in order to realize the copy function, facsimile function and printer function, an operation section  31 , display section  32 , document reading section  33  and recording section  34  are connected to the internal bus  21 . In the present example, the operation section is structured as an input means, which has numeral keys such as numeric keys of “0-9”, and “*”, “#”, so that, at least, the telephone number of the center terminal  101  can be inputted. In the example, when the telephone number (03-1234-5678) is inputted by using the numeral keys in the operation section, the telephone number of the center terminal  101  is registered in E 2 PROM, or DRAM  25  for which memory holding operation is necessary and which is nonvolatile. Further, by the operation section  31 , it can be set whether the switching to the remote diagnosis mode  7  is conducted or not. 
     In this operation section  31 , when “Execution” of the remote diagnosis mode  7  is set, in the case where the telephone number of the center terminal  101  agrees with the telephone number notified from the communication enterprise, the remote diagnosis mode  7  is conducted. When “Non-execution” of the remote diagnosis mode  7  is set, even when the telephone number of the center terminal  101  agrees with the telephone number notified from the communication enterprise, the register rewriting signal S 1  is not outputted from the CPU  27  to the mode switching means  4 , the switching control program in the ROM  28  is not conducted, therefore, the mode is not switched from the facsimile mode  6  to the remote diagnosis mode  7 . Accordingly, the remote diagnosis mode  7  is not conducted. 
     When a user does not want to have the contents set by the user changed, the function stated above makes the contents to remain unchanged even when the center tries to control the contents set in the machine. 
     In this operation section  31 , other than the above described inputs, setting of the size of the recording sheets, setting of the size of the document sheets, and setting of printing out of the control data generated when the copy function, facsimile function or printer function is conducted, can also be carried out. 
     Further, in the display section  32 , a liquid crystal display (LCD) is used, and on the display section  32 , a copy image plane, facsimile image plane, printer image plane, etc., are displayed, and therefore, the selection of the copy function, facsimile function or printer function can be simply conducted. In order to increase the input operability of the user, a touch panel or the like, as an input means, is provided on the LCD surface. Of course, the display information of the copy image plane, facsimile image plane and printer image plane, is stored in the ROM  28 , and the display information is read from the ROM  28  to the display section  32  through the CPU  27 . 
     Further, in the document reading section  33 , an automatic document reading apparatus (scanner) is used, and the document in the case where the copy mode is conducted, or the facsimile mode is conducted, is automatically read out. In the recording section  34 , an image forming apparatus (printer) is used, and a monochromatic or color document image is formed on a predetermined recording sheet at the time of copying, facsimile recording, or printing. 
     In the present example, the hybrid machine  200  and other personal computers (hereinafter, simply called PC) can conduct image-communication with each other. For example, the image data of a CG image made by the PC is received by using a communication protocol such as RS-232C, and the CG image can be printed out according to the image data. 
     Next, referring to FIG.  3  and FIG. 4, a hybrid machine  200  to which the communication apparatus  100  of the present embodiment is applied, will be described. In the present example, it is supposed that the remote diagnosis mode  7  is conducted in which the hybrid machine  200  is diagnosed by the center terminal  101  by using the caller ID service of the communication enterprise, and that call is generated from the center terminal  101 . Of course, the hybrid machine  200  is set in such a manner that the remote diagnosis mode is conducted. 
     In this example, in step B 1 -step B 6  of the flow chart shown in FIG. 3, the caller ID receiving/signal receiving sequence is conducted. This sequence is mainly conducted by the NCU  22 , communication modem  23  and caller ID signal detecting section  24 . 
     That is, according to the call of the remote station, in step B 1 , an ID receiving terminal starting signal to the hybrid machine  200  is detected by the NCU  22 . Then, in step B 2 , the primary response is conducted toward a switching system of the public network  102  by the NCU  22 . In the primary response, the public network  102  shown in FIG.  1  and the hybrid machine  200  are closed with each other through the communication line  1 . 
     After that, in step B 3 , the caller ID signal of the remote station sent from the communication enterprise (the telephone number of the center terminal) is received by the NCU  22 . This caller ID signal is demodulated by the caller ID signal detecting section  24  and recognized. The telephone number of the center terminal  101  recognized herein is temporarily held in the DRAM  25 . 
     After that, in step B 4 , the communication line  1  is opened by the NCU  22  so that Ringer from the public network  102  due to calling signal from the center terminal  101  can be detected. Then, in step B 5 , the ring from the public network  102  due to call from the center terminal  101  is detected by the NCU  22 . After that, in step B 6 , the secondary response is conducted toward the switching system of the public network  102  through the NCU  22 . In the secondary response, the call from the center terminal  101  is received. The remote diagnosis mode  7  is conducted by the calling signal. 
     In this example, at the reception timing of the secondary response shown in FIG. 4A, in step B 7 , it is judged by the CPU  27  whether the setting of the facsimile mode  6  is continued as it is, or whether the setting is switched to that of the remote diagnosis mode  7 . In this example, because “execution” of the remote diagnosis mode  7  is previously set by the operation section  31 , when the telephone number (03-1234-5678) of the center terminal  101  agrees with the telephone number (03-1234-5678) notified from the communication enterprise, the CPU  27  judges that the remote diagnosis mode  7  is executed. 
     Accordingly, in step B 7 , it is judged that “the setting is switched to that of the remote diagnosis mode  7 ”, therefore, the sequence advances to step B 8 , and it is judged by the CPU  27  whether the telephone number notified from the communication enterprise agrees with the telephone number of the center terminal  101 , which is previously registered in E 2 PROM or DRAM  25  for which memory holding operation is necessary. Then, when the telephone number notified from the communication enterprise agrees with the telephone number of the center terminal  101 , which is registered in DRAM  25  or the like, the sequence advances to step B 9 , and the remote diagnosis mode is started at once. In this example, the register rewriting signal S 1  is generated corresponding to the result of comparison by the CPU 27 , and the control command in the command register  14  in the mode switching means  4  is rewritten according to the register rewriting signal S 1  and the switching control program in the ROM  28 , and the mode is switched from the facsimile mode  6  to the remote diagnosis mode  7 . 
     Corresponding to the start of the remote diagnosis mode, the control program  7 ′ is read from the ROM  28 , and the remote diagnosis mode  7  is executed. For example, in the case where the remote diagnosis mode of the hybrid machine  200  is structured such that the data modem is not used, and the control information (diagnosis data) is sent by using the fax modem in the fax sequence, by the execution of this mode, for example, the control data such as the history information of the facsimile function, copy function and printer function, which is stored in the DRAM  25 , is read out in the CODEC section  26 . 
     In this CODEC section  26 , the control data is coded and compressed, and the control data is modulated through the communication modem  23 . The modulated signal after modulation, is transmitted to the center terminal  101  through the NCU  22  and via communication line  1  and the public network  102 . In the center terminal  101 , the optimum processing can be carried out according to the control data. 
     Incidentally, in the remote diagnosis mode of the hybrid machine  200 , the system may be structured such that the data modem is used and the procedure in the data communication is required. In this case, the communication modem  23  is a FAX modem, and although not shown, other than this, the communication modem  23 ′ is provided as the data modem, and the control information can also be transmitted between the center terminal  101  and the hybrid machine  200 . 
     In the case not only of the facsimile mode but also of the remote diagnosis mode, the use of a modem makes it possible to send and receive data showing control information of a hybrid device other than image data through a common telephone line, and to conduct easily processing such as compression. 
     Further, in step B 7 , when the setting to execute the remote diagnosis mode is not carried out, or in step B 8 , when the telephone number notified from the communication enterprise does not agree with the telephone number of the center terminal  101 , which is registered in the DRAM  25  or the like, the sequence advances to step B 10  at the timing of call incoming shown in FIG.  4 B and starts the facsimile mode. In this case, the mode switching means  4  remains in the state that the facsimile mode  6  is selected, by the CPU  27 . Accordingly, the control program  6 ′ is read from ROM  28 , and the facsimile mode  6 ′ is executed. 
     By execution of this facsimile mode  6 , the receiving image data sent from the remote station is received through the communication modem  23 , decoded by the CODEC section  26 , and the received image data is expanded. The received image data after expansion is temporarily stored in a memory such as the DRAM  25 , or transferred to the recording section  34  as it is, and printed out on the recording sheet. Accordingly, the user can obtain the document image transmitted from an arbitrary remote station. 
     As described above, according to the hybrid machine  200  to which the communication apparatus  100  as the present embodiment is applied, the type of communication modes can be early recognized by the CPU  27 , as follows. It can be early recognized by the CPU  27  whether the telephone number of the center terminal  101  by the caller ID service of the communication enterprise agrees with the telephone number of the center terminal  101 , or that of terminal equipment  103 ,  104 , . . . of many and unspecified partners, and thereby, the time period required to recognize the communication mode of the remote station can be more reduced than that of the conventional method. 
     According to that, the time period of 35 sec is not necessary for waiting after calling is received, as in the conventional method, and the mode can advance to the remote diagnosis mode  7  at once, therefore, the remote diagnosis mode  7  can be carried out at once between the hybrid machine  200  and the center terminal  101 . Accordingly, at the start of communication, an appropriate communication mode for the remote enterprise can be selected, and when the public network  102  such as NTT is used, the connection time of the communication line  1  to the network can be reduced, thereby, the present embodiment largely contributes to the reduction of the communication fee of the user. 
     In the present embodiment, the case of the remote diagnosis mode  7  is described as the specific information processing mode, however, the present embodiment is not limited to that case. For example, this communication apparatus  100  can also be applied to a remote monitoring system of gas consumption or electrical energy consumption. 
     As described above, according to the present invention, it is compared whether the telephone number of the previously registered specific remote station coincides with the telephone number notified by the communication enterprise, and when the telephone number of the specific remote station coincides with the telephone number notified by the communication enterprise, the communication line is connected to the terminal equipment of the specific remote station, and the information is transmitted and received between the two. 
     According to this structure, the type of terminal equipment of the specific remote station can be early recognized, and therefore, the time period necessary to recognize the communication mode of the remote station can be more reduced as compared to the conventional method. Accordingly, the connection time of the communication line to recognize the communication mode of the remote station can be reduced, and thereby, the present invention largely contributes to the reduction of the communication fee. 
     The present invention can be greatly appropriately applied to a facsimile device, a hybrid machine provided with the copy function, facsimile function and printer function, or similar apparatus, which can perform the remote diagnosis by using the communication line.