Data communication apparatus

A data communication apparatus comprises: a memory to store data which is sent from a station for requesting the repeating multiple-address transmission; a transmitter to transmit the data stored in the memory to a repeating multiple-address reception station; a discriminating circuit to discriminate whether the transmission from the request station has been performed via a first route or via a second route; and a deciding circuit to decide whether the repeating multiple-address transmission is performed to the repeating multiple-address reception station or not on the basis of the discrimination by the discriminating circuit. The first route is the route via the telephone network for use in communication of voice and data. The second route is the route via the data communication network only for use in data communication. By previously storing the data of the repeating multiple-address reception station corresponding to the station for requesting the repeating multiple-address transmission, the repeating multiple-address transmission can be performed without instructing the repeating multiple-address reception station from the request station.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a data communication apparatus. 
2. Related Background Art 
Hitherto, in such apparatus, e.g., in a facsimile apparatus, as shown in 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,289, a partner for requesting a repeating 
multiple-address transmission is preliminarily registered in a repeater 
station, and the repeating multiple-address transmission is performed for 
only the registered partner. Similarly, according to the apparatus 
disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 813,514, data is transferred 
to the registered partner. 
However, in those apparatuses, it must be discriminated whether the partner 
has been registered or not for all of the incoming calls and the repeating 
multiple-address reception station must be selected from the station for 
requesting the repeating multiple-address transmission to the repeater 
station, so that there is a drawback such that the procedure is 
troublesome and takes a long time. 
In addition, there is a drawback such that after the repeating 
multiple-address transmission is performed, the result cannot be known at 
the station for requesting the repeating multiple-address transmission or 
at the control station. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the foregoing 
drawbacks. 
Another object of the invention is to improve a data communication 
apparatus. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a data communication 
apparatus for deciding whether or not the repeating multiple-address 
transmission is performed on the basis of such a point that from which 
network the transmission from the station for requesting the repeating 
multiple-address transmission was performed. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a data communication 
apparatus in which, by previously storing the data at the repeating 
multiple-address reception station corresponding to the station for 
requesting the repeating multiple-address transmission, the repeating 
multiple-address transmission can be performed without instructing the 
repeating multiple-address reception station from the station for 
requesting the repeating multiple-address transmission. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a data communication 
apparatus which returns the result of the repeating multiple-address 
transmission to the station for requesting the repeating multiple-address 
transmission. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a data communication 
apparatus which returns the result of the repeating multiple-address 
transmission to the repeating result return destination registered in 
correspondence to the station for requesting the repeating 
multiple-address transmission. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a data communication 
apparatus for controlling in accordance with a route through which data 
from a partner apparatus was transmitted. 
The above and other objects and features of the present invention will 
become apparent from the following detailed description and the appended 
claims with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
An embodiment using the present invention will be described hereinbelow. 
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the repeating multiple-address 
transmission in the first embodiment. In the diagram, reference numeral 1 
denotes a facsimile apparatus as a repeater station for performing the 
repeating multiple-address transmission; 2 is a facsimile apparatus for 
requesting the repeating multiple-address transmission; 3 a facsimile 
apparatus for receiving the repeating data from the facsimile apparatus 1; 
4 a data communication network which is used for only the data 
communication or for the communication of digital data; and 5 a telephone 
network which is used for the communication of voice and data. 
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the invention. 
Reference numeral 6 denotes a CPU to control the whole apparatus; 7 is an 
operation unit to input a telephone number and the like; 8 a read unit to 
read an original document; 9 a record unit; 10 an image memory to store 
image data upon transmission and reception; 11 a selection signal 
transmission unit to the network and a transmission/reception unit of a 
procedure signal and an image signal; 12 a detection circuit of a 
facsimile call signal (for example, 1300 Hz in the case of the facsimile 
network of NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)) which is 
incoming from the data communication network; 13 a detection circuit of a 
call signal (16 Hz) which is incoming from the telephone network; 14 a 
hook detection circuit to detect the state (ON or OFF) of the receiver of 
a telephone set which is connected to the facsimile apparatus; 15 a CML 
relay to switch between the transmission/reception unit 11 and a main 
telephone set 16 or among the detection circuits 12 to 14; 16 the main 
telephone set; 17 a circuit; 18 an ROM in which a control program is 
stored; 19 an RAM in which various kinds of telephone numbers of a partner 
for permitting the repeating multiple-address transmission, repeating 
multiple-address reception station, and the like are stored; and 20 a 
battery to back up the content of the RAM 19. 
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the facsimile apparatus 1 
(repeater station) shown in FIG. 1. 
In the constitutions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the telephone number of the 
partner facsimile apparatus 2 (the station for requesting the repeating 
multiple-address transmission) which receives a repeating instruction from 
the operation unit 7 and the telephone number of the facsimile apparatus 3 
at the repeating multiple-address reception side are previously 
correspondingly registered in the facsimile apparatus 1. For the calls 
incoming from the station for requesting the repeating multiple-address 
transmission, if the network through which a signal is transmitted is the 
data communication network (facsimile network of the NTT), it is 
determined that the repeating has been requested. On the other hand, if 
this network is the telephone network, it is determined that the 
communication to the station itself has been made. The foregoing data is 
stored in the RAM 19. If an incoming call was made to the facsimile 
apparatus 1, the facsimile apparatus 1 operates in a manner as shown in 
FIG. 3. The operation will now be described hereinafter. 
(S21) A check is made by the detection circuits 12 and 13 of the call 
signals to see if the incoming call has been made through the data 
communication network or the telephone network. 
(S22) If the incoming call has been performed through the telephone 
network, it is determined that the communication to the station itself has 
been performed. The ordinary reception is executed and the processes are 
finished. 
(S23) If the incoming call has been performed through the data 
communication network, it is checked whether the telephone number of the 
partner has been sent from the facsimile apparatus 2 for permitting the 
repeating multiple-address transmission or not by referring to the 
telephone number of the facsimile apparatus 2 for permitting the repeating 
multiple-address transmission which is stored in the RAM 19 by use of a 
transmission subscriber identification (TSI) signal in the procedure 
signals which are sent from the network. 
(S24) If the incoming telephone number does not coincide with the telephone 
number of the facsimile apparatus 2 stored in the RAM 19, this incoming 
call is also regarded as an incoming call to the station itself and the 
ordinary reception is performed (the same as step S22). 
(S25) If the incoming call has been performed from the facsimile apparatus 
2 for permitting the repeating multiple-address transmission, this 
incoming call is regarded as an incoming call for requesting the repeating 
to the facsimile apparatus 3 which has been stored in the RAM 19 in 
correspondence to the TSI. 
(S26) The repeating image data is received and stored into the image memory 
10. 
(S27) After completion of the reception, an originating call is 
automatically performed to the facsimile apparatus 3 as the repeating 
multiple-address reception station. 
(S28) The repeating image data stored in the image memory 10 and 
transmitted from the facsimile apparatus 2 as the station for requesting 
the repeating multiple-address transmission is sent to the facsimile 
apparatus 3 as the repeating multiple-address reception station. 
(S29) After completion of the transmission, an originating call is 
automatically performed to the facsimile apparatus 2 as the station for 
requesting the repeating multiple-address transmission. 
(S30) The result of the repeating multiple-address transmission to the 
facsimile apparatus 3 is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus 2. 
(S31) All of the processes are finished at the end of the transmission of 
the repeating result. 
In the foregoing embodiment, an explanation has been made with respect to 
the case where a single repeating multiple-address reception station and a 
single partner for permitting the repeating multiple-address transmission 
are provided for simplicity of explanation. However, a plurality of 
partners which are permitted and a plurality of repeating multiple-address 
reception stations corresponding thereto may be also stored in the RAM 19. 
On the other hand, while the repeating image data is being stored into the 
image memory 10, an originating call is performed to the facsimile 
apparatus 3 as the repeating multiple-address reception station and the 
repeating data may be also transmitted. 
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a constitution using the present 
invention. This diagram shows an example in which repeating data is 
multiple-address transmitted to a plurality of partners for permitting the 
repeating multiple-address transmission and to a plurality of repeating 
multiple-address reception stations in correspondence thereto. 
As an example of the data communication network, the charge of the 
facsimile communication network of the NTT is relatively cheaper at a 
long-distance district and is relatively expensive in the same district or 
neighboring district as compared with the charge of the telephone network. 
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, when a long distance exists between the 
station for requesting the repeating multiple-address transmission and the 
repeater station, the facsimile communication network is used. When short 
distance exists between the repeater station and the repeating 
multiple-address reception station, the telephone network is used. By 
using this constitution, the communication cost can be remarkably reduced 
as compared with the conventional apparatus. 
As described in the foregoing embodiment, the telephone number of the 
station for requesting the repeating multiple-address transmission and the 
telephone number of the repeating multiple-address reception station are 
previously registered in a facsimile apparatus having the function for the 
repeating multiple-address transmission. An originating call is 
automatically performed to this facsimile. Therefore, there is no need to 
indicate the telephone number of the repeating multiple-address reception 
station from the station for requesting the repeating multiple-address 
transmission. 
In addition, even in the case of performing a data communication using the 
data communication network, the communication of the repeating 
multiple-address transmission can be also performed. 
In the foregoing embodiment, when an incoming call was performed through 
the data communication network from the station for requesting the 
repeating multiple-address transmission, this incoming call is regarded as 
a request for the repeating. When an incoming call was performed through 
the telephone network, the incoming call is regarded as a communication to 
the station itself. However, this constitution can be also reversed. This 
case is effective when the distance between the station for requesting the 
repeating multiple-address transmission and the repeater station is short. 
On the other hand, even when an incoming call was performed through the 
telephone network, if the repeating is requested from the station for 
requesting the repeating multiple-address transmission, the communication 
of the repeating multiple-address transmission can be performed by 
providing selecting means (S32) for the facsimile apparatus as the 
repeater station. FIG. 5 shows a flowchart for this embodiment. In FIG. 5, 
when an incoming call was performed through the telephone network, if the 
repeating is requested and the partner transmission station is the 
registered transmission station, the repeating communication is performed 
to the repeating reception station which has previously been registered. 
On the other hand, in the foregoing embodiment, the repeater station 
receives the image data for repeating which is sent from the station for 
requesting the repeating multiple-address transmission and stores this 
image data into only the image memory 10 and this repeater station 
performs the repeating multiple-address transmission to the repeating 
multiple-address reception station. Therefore, although no data is output 
from the record unit in the repeater station, by also presetting this 
image data, it can be also simultaneously output in the station itself. 
The data communication using the facsimile apparatus has been described in 
the foregoing embodiment. However, the invention can be also similarly 
applied to another data communication apparatus, e.g., a telex to 
communicate character code data. 
As described above, according to the foregoing first embodiment, whether 
the repeating multiple-address transmission is performed or not is decided 
on the basis of through which route the transmission from the station for 
requesting the repeating multiple-address transmission has been performed. 
Due to this, for all of the incoming calls, there is no need to 
discriminate whether the partner has been registered or not. 
In addition, there is no need to indicate the telephone number of the 
repeating multiple-address reception station from the station for 
requesting the repeating multiple-address transmission. The communication 
of the repeating multiple-address transmission can be performed at a high 
speed. 
The second embodiment will now be described in detail hereinbelow with 
reference to the drawings. 
FIG. 6 is a block constitutional diagram of a facsimile apparatus of the 
second embodiment. FIG. 7 is an external view of an operation panel in 
FIG. 6. FIGS. 8 and 10 are flowcharts showing the operation of the second 
embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the repeating 
multiple-address transmission. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an 
internal region of a RAM in FIG. 6. 
In FIG. 6, reference numeral 101 denotes a modem to perform the 
communication; 102 an NCU to connect a circuit with the telephone set side 
or modem; 103 a modem control unit to control the modem 101 and NCU 102; 
104 a record unit to record a received image onto a recording paper; 105 a 
read unit to read an original document by a CCD or the like; 106 sensors 
to detect the presence or absence of recording papers, original document, 
and the like; 107 a sound generation unit to inform the occurrence of an 
error or the like to the operator by a sound; 108 a display to display the 
state of facsimile apparatus or the like to the operator; 109 a KEY 
consisting of numeral keys and the like; 110 an operation panel including 
the display 108 and KEY 109; 111 an ROM to determine the specification of 
the facsimile apparatus; 112 an image memory to store the readout image 
data and the like of the original document; 113 an RAM including the image 
memory 112; and 114 a central processing unit (CPU) to control the 
components 101 to 113, respectively. The CPU 114 is constituted by a 
microcomputer and peripheral apparatuses thereof. 
In FIG. 7, numeral 115 denotes a display; 116 indicates keys; and 117 an 
operation panel including the display 115 and keys 116. 
In the foregoing constitution, when the station for requesting the 
repeating multiple-address transmission desires the repeating 
multiple-address transmission and requests the repeater station to perform 
the repeating multiple-address transmission, the repeater station checks 
the following items whether: 
(A) The apparatus itself has a usable memory. 
(B) The telephone number of the station for requesting the repeating has 
been transmitted by the TSI signal. 
(C) The-NSS repeating request bit from the station for requesting the 
repeating is set to ON or "the repeating request station TEL number" 
registered in the apparatus itself coincides with the TEL number in the 
item (B). 
(D) "The repeating permission TEL number" registered in the apparatus 
itself coincides with the TEL number in the item (B). 
(E) The repeating refusal bit in the user's software SW is set to "the 
repeating is performed". 
If these conditions are satisfied, the repeater station performs the memory 
reception (hereinafter, referred to as a repeating reception) in order to 
perform the repeating multiple-address transmission. FIG. 8 shows a 
flowchart for explaining those operations. 
As shown in FIG. 11, the regions for storing a request station TEL number 
163 consisting of a repeating request TEL number 161 and a repeating 
permission TEL number 162, a repeating refusal SW 164, a TEL network 
acceptance SW 165, and a reception station TEL number 166 are provided in 
the RAM 113 of the facsimile apparatus in the embodiment. The TEL numbers 
161 and 162, which are generally referred to as a reference numeral 163, 
correspond to the regions to store the TEL number of the partner station 
for requesting the repeating. Between them, the region 161 is provided for 
the facsimile apparatus which performs the communication in the original 
(unique) mode and the region 162 is provided for the facsimile apparatus 
according to the other CCITT, T30. The region 164 is provided to decide 
whether or not a request for performing the repeating is refused when the 
repeater station received this request. The region 165 is provided to 
decide whether the repeating multiple-address transmission is performed or 
not for the incoming call from the telephone network. The region 166 is 
provided to store the TEL number of the repeating multiple-address 
reception station which performs the communication of the repeating 
multiple-address transmission when a request for the repeating was 
accepted. 
The operation will now be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 
8, showing the control operation of the CPU 114 to decide whether the 
repeating reception is performed or not. The control program to execute 
this flowchart is stored in the ROM 111. 
First, in step 101, the repeater station compares the TEL number of the 
partner transmitter declared in the TSI signal with the lower few digits 
(e.g., lower four digits are assumed) of the repeating request TEL number 
registered in the self apparatus. When they coincide, step 106 follows. 
When they differ, step 102 follows. In step 102, the repeating indicated 
bit on the non-standard apparatus setting signal (NSS signal) is checked 
to see if it has been set to "1" (ON) or not. If it has been set to "0" 
(OFF), namely, when the partner transmission station did not request for 
the repeating, the ordinary reception is directly executed. If it has been 
set to "1", namely, when the partner transmission station requested for 
the repeating, step 103 follows. In step 103, a check is made to see if 
the repeating refusal SW has been set to ON or OFF. If it has been set to 
ON, this means that a repeating error occurred and the repeater sends a 
DCN to the partner. If it has been set to OFF, step 104 follows. In step 
104, a check is made to see if the repeating multiple-address partner 
reception station has been registered in the apparatus itself or not. If 
NO, this means that a repeating error occurred. If YES, step 105 follows. 
In step 105, the characters other than the numerals of 0 to 9 of the 
repeating permission TEL number registered in the apparatus itself are 
deleted and the remaining lower four digits of numerals are compared with 
the TEL number of the partner transmitter declared in the TSI signal. If 
they coincide, the repeating reception is performed. If they differ, this 
means that a repeating error occurred. The case where the processing 
routine advances to step 106 will now be described. In step 106, a check 
is first made to see if the telephone circuit has been connected to the 
data communication network, e.g., facsimile network (F network) of the NTT 
(Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation) or not. If YES, step 108 
follows. If NO, step 107 follows. In step 107, a check is made to see if 
the TEL number network acceptance SW registered in the self apparatus has 
been set to ON or OFF. If it has been set to ON, step 108 follows. If it 
has been set to OFF, the ordinary reception is executed. In step 108, a 
check is made to see if the repeating refusal SW has been set to ON or 
OFF. If it has been set to ON, this means that a repeating error occurred. 
The repeater sends a cut command (DCN) to the partner. If it has been set 
to OFF, step 109 follows. In step 109, a check is made to see if the 
repeating multiple-address partner reception station has been registered 
in the self apparatus or not. If NO, this means that a repeating error 
occurred. If YES, the repeating reception is executed. 
The operation of the repeating multiple-address transmission will now be 
described with reference to an operation flowchart for the CPU 114 in FIG. 
10. First, the repeater station performs the memory reception (repeating 
reception) in order to perform the repeating multiple-address transmission 
(S 110). After completion of the repeating reception, the repeater station 
performs .the multiple-address transmission to the multiple-address 
partner reception station which has previously been registered in the 
apparatus itself (S 111). After completion of this transmission (S 112), 
the repeating result is returned to the repeating request station TEL 
number registered in the repeater station (S 113). 
FIG. 9 shows the foregoing signal flow. The repeating multiple-address 
transmission is performed in accordance with a flow of a repeating request 
141, a repeating multiple-address transmission 142, and a repeating result 
return 143. 
In FIG. 11, the request station TEL number, repeating refusal SW, telephone 
network acceptance SW, and reception station TEL number which are stored 
in the RAM can be input, set, and erased by operating the keys shown at 
116 in FIG. 7. 
Another embodiment in the case where a part of the operation of the 
repeating multiple-address transmission in the foregoing embodiment was 
changed will now be described. This embodiment differs from the foregoing 
embodiment with respect to the control operation of the CPU 114. FIG. 12 
shows an operation flowchart for the repeating multiple-address 
transmission of the CPU 114 in another embodiment. The control program for 
this flow is also stored in the ROM 111. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram 
of the operation of the repeating multiple-address transmission. FIG. 14 
is an explanatory diagram of an internal region of the RAM 113. 
In the foregoing constitution, when the repeater station starts the 
operation of the repeating multiple-address transmission, it first 
performs the memory reception (S 114). The repeater station then checks 
whether the repeating image print SW in the RAM which is set in the 
apparatus itself has been set to ON or OFF (S 115). If it has been set to 
ON, the repeating image is printed (S 116). If it has been set to OFF, the 
repeating image is not printed but the next operation is executed. The 
repeater station selects the partner multiple-address reception station 
which has previously registered in the repeater station in accordance with 
the request station TEL number and performs the repeating multiple-address 
transmission (S 117). After completion of the transmission, the processing 
routine advances to the operation to return the repeating result (S 118). 
The repeater station discriminates the data stored in the region of a 
repeating result return refusal SW 200 in the RAM 113 set in the self 
apparatus (S 119). If the repeating result return refusal SW 200 has been 
set to ON, the repeating result is printed (S 122) and the processing 
routine is finished. If it has been set to OFF, the operation to return 
the repeating result is performed and the repeating result is returned to 
the repeating result return destination which has previously been 
registered in the repeater station in accordance with the request station 
TEL number (S 120). Thereafter, the data of a repeating result print SW 
198 of the RAM 113 set in the self apparatus is discriminated (S 121). If 
the print SW 198 has been set to ON, the repeating result is printed. If 
it has been set to OFF, the repeating result is not printed but the 
operation is finished. 
As described above, the operation proceeds according to the flowchart of 
FIG. 12, for example, when the operating mode of the repeater station has 
been set in the following manner: 
(1) the reception stations are D and E for the request station A and the 
repeating result return destination is H; 
(2) the reception stations are E and G for the request station B and the 
repeating result return destination is H; 
(3) the reception stations are F and G for the request station C and the 
repeating result return destination is H; 
(4) the repeating result image print and the repeating result print are 
performed; or 
(5) the repeating result return is not refused; if repeating instructions 
and image signals are sent from the request stations A, B, and C, the 
image signals flow as shown in FIG. 13. All of the repeating results are 
sent to the control station H. The images repeated and the repeating 
results are printed in the repeater station. 
According to the embodiment as described above, the following effects are 
obtained. 
(1) Requests for the repeating other than the repeating of the request 
station which has previously been registered are not accepted in the 
repeater station. Thus, it is possible to avoid the repeating instruction 
which can exert adverse influences on the repeater station from an 
erroneous or wrong repeating instruction station, the other request 
stations constituting the repeating multiple-address transmission network 
together with such a repeater station, the reception station, and the 
like. The multiple-address reception station is preliminarily registered 
in the repeater station. Thus, the request in the repeating request 
station can be simplified. A fixed repeating multiple-address transmission 
network can be established. 
(2) After characters such as, e.g., "()", "-", and the like other than the 
numerals 0 to 9 were deleted, the request station TEL number registered in 
the repeater station is compared with the request station TEL number 
declared in the TSI signal on the request station side. Thus, it is 
possible to avoid from the erroneous comparison. 
(3) The request station TEL number registered in the repeater station is 
compared with the request station TEL number declared in the TSI signal on 
the request station side with respect to only the lower few digits. Thus, 
for example, it is possible to avoid from the erroneous comparison by the 
toll station number or the like. 
(4) The repeating result is returned to the request station TEL number 
registered in the repeater station. Thus, the repeating result can be 
certainly returned to the request station TEL number by distinguishing 
whether the partner is at the local station or at the toll station, or the 
like. 
(5) By adding the repeating refusal function to the repeater station, the 
repeater station can be protected from the one-sided repeating request 
from the repeating request station. 
(6) In the repeater station, the presence or absence of the repeating image 
print is decided by the operator of the repeater station, thereby enabling 
the necessary repeating result to be secured or enabling the unnecessary 
repeating result to be eliminated. 
(7) The repeating result can be also returned to the stations other than 
the request station. Thus, for example, it is possible to provide a 
control station or the like to control one or a plurality of repeating 
multiple-address transmission networks. 
(8) The return of the repeating result can be refused in the repeater 
station. Therefore, for example, for a repeating request from abroad or 
the like, an amount of use of the telephone circuit can be reduced and the 
costs which are required for the communication and the like can be 
reduced. 
(9) The multiple-address reception station destination which has previously 
been registered can be selected in accordance with the request station TEL 
number and the repeating multiple-address transmission is performed. Thus, 
for example, the repeater station can be located as the repeater station 
of a plurality of facsimile repeating multiple-address transmission 
networks and can perform the repeating multiple-address transmission. 
(10) In the repeater station, by deciding whether the repeating result is 
printed or not, only the necessary result can be printed on the basis of 
the decision of the repeater station. Resources can be saved. 
Although the facsimile apparatus has been described as an example in the 
foregoing embodiment, the invention is not limited to the facsimile 
apparatus but can be also applied to other data communication apparatuses 
such as telex and the like.