A communication system comprising a called receiver and a communication apparatus

Abstract: The communication system comprises a portable radio called re­ ceiver (21, Fig. 2) and a communication apparatus (1) for calling the receiver. The receiver comprises a display (27) and a tone generating circuit (25). The communication apparatus (1) comprises a determina­ tion circuit (4), a control circuit (5), a voice signal recording de­ vice (in 6), a facsimile device (8), a memory (9), and a data proces­ sing circuit (10). The determination circuit (4) makes the determi­ nation as to whether the signal entered through the telephone line (2) is a facsimile signal or a voice signal. The memory (9) stores the display data indicating the reception of an image signal, the display data indicating the reception of a voice signal, and telephone number data of the portable radio called recei­ ver. The control circuit (5) is responsive to the output of the deter­ mination circuit to select one out of the plurality of display data stored in the memory (9). The data processing circuit (10) modulates the calling number of the receiver and the display data from the con­ trol circuit (5) and transmits the same on the telephone line (2). With such a structure, the display of the receiver can display whether the received signal of the communication apparatus is an image signal or a voice signal.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication system comprising a portable receiver including a display and a tone generating circuit and a communication apparatus sending display data for informing the presence of a message as well as to a method of automatically transmitting signal identification data from a communication system to a portable receiver via a wireless transmitter. Description of the Background Art Recently, portable receivers comprising a display and a tone generating circuit have been developed and put into practical use. Such receivers are often referred to as "a pocket bell" and a display thereof is often implemented with a liquid crystal display panel. In this specification, such a portable receiver is also referred to as "a pocket bell" for simplicity. An automatic answering telephone equipment has also been developed for sending display data informing the presence of a message to a pocket bell. Furthermore, a communication apparatus has been developed in which an automatic answering telephone equipment and a facsimile device are integrated. Such a communication apparatus comprises a memory storing the calling number of the pocket bell and the display data to be displayed in the pocket bell. The function of the automatic answering telephone equipment is set after the calling number of the pocket bell and one kind of display data are stored in the memory. This allows for the automatic reception of the communication from the caller. When the communication from the caller is a voice signal, the voice of the caller is recorded, whereas image data is recorded if a facsimile signal is received. The function of the automatic answering telephone equipment will be explained in further detail. When the caller hangs up the line to end the communication, the communication apparatus will read out the telephone number of the pocket bell registered previously in the memory to carry out the calling operation, followed by the transmission of the display data. The pocket bell is responsive to the call from the communication apparatus to generate a predetermined tone. This generated tone notifies the carrier of the pocket bell that the pocket bell has been called. The pocket bell displays the display message on the display. Thus, the carrier of the pocket bell will be informed that the communication apparatus has received a communication from a caller. The carrier of the pocket bell may telephone the communication apparatus from a nearby telephone and enter an identification number to request the transfer of the message signal, for example. The communication apparatus is responsive to the entry of the identification number to send the recorded message of the caller. Thus, the carrier of the pocket bell can acquire the message of the caller. The above mentioned communication apparatus transmits one kind of display data registered in advance upon receiving a communication from a caller, irrespective of whether it is a voice signal or a facsimile signal. There was an inconvenience that the carrier of the pocket bell could not identify whether the communication is a voice communication or a facsimile communication. Furthermore, in the case where the caller records a message in the communication apparatus requesting the carrier of the pocket bell to call by telephone, the carrier of the pocket bell had to perform the following operations. That is to say, the carrier of the pocket bell must first telephone the communication apparatus to listen to the message of the caller and hang up the telephone. Then, he/she must telephone the caller. This means that there is scme period of time since the calling of the communication apparatus till the carrier of the pocket bell actually calls the caller. This is time consuming and laborious. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION EP-A-2 213 681 discloses a combined facsimile and telephone answering machine. In this known machine, a facsimile apparatus is connected to a telephone line and has an automatic telephone answering and recording device which is able to be responsive to various inputs such as a calling tone or similar signal sent from a calling party's apparatus or a specified signal sent by a calling party by pushing a DCMF tone button. If a user picks up a hand-set of a telephone set connected to the telephone line during the operation of the automatic telephone answering device, the facsimile apparatus is not energized and returns to its stand-by mode in response to the off-hook operation of the telephone set, so that the user can talk directly with the calling party. During the telephone conversation between calling and called parties, the facsimile apparatus can be energized in response to manual operation by either of the parties. This known combined facsimile and telephone answering machine does not provide a communication between the machine and a portable receiver, thus its features are not related to the features and problems of the present communication system. DE-U-8 903 233 describes a portable receiver for use in communication system. This known receiver comprises reception means connected to a transmission line for receiving a calling signal and display data applied through said transmission line and display means responsive to said received display data for displaying the type of signal received by a communication apparatus. This known portable receiver includes a decoding unit for generating decoding signals to be effected as a code transmitter, functional keys respectively adapted thereto and an acoustic coupling means associated to said decoding unit for a being connected to a telephone network. Thereby the known portable receiver combines the function of a normal pocket bell and the functions of a special code transmitter. In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication system that can notify whether the communication signal from the caller is a facsimile signal or a voice signal, thereby being able to reduce the time period starting from the calling operation by the caller until the start of the talking between the caller and the pocket bell carrier and, to reduce the number of times the pocket bell carrier has to telephone. A further object is to provide a communication method in such a communication system. The above objects are respectively solved by the features of the independent claims 1 and 15. Depending claims 2 to 14 are specifying advantageous developments of the communication system according to claim 1. Depending claim 16 is specifying an advantageous development of the communication method according to claim 15. In summary, the proposed communication system comprises a portable receiver (in the following called a pocket bell) including a display and a tone generating circuit, and a communication apparatus transmitting the calling signal and the display data to the pocket bell via a transmission line. The communication apparatus comprises a determination circuit, a memory, a control circuit, a facsimile device, an automatic answering telephone equipment, and a data processing circuit. A manual operation circuit is provided for storing the display data for notifying the reception of facsimile signals or voice signals, and the calling number of the pocket bell in the memory. The determination circuit is connected to the transmission line, making the determination whether the transmitted signal is a facsimile signal or a voice signal in response to the calling tone signal applied from the transmission line. The control circuit is responsive to the determination signal of the determination circuit to enable the facsimile device or the automatic answering telephone equipment, whereby the display data corresponding to the type of the received signal is read out in response to the communication end signal. The data processing circuit modulates the read out display data and provides the same on the transmission line. In operation the communication apparatus transmits the calling signal of the pocket bell and the display data indicating the type of the received signal. The reception circuit of the pocket bell receives the calling signal and the display data. The tone generating circuit generates a tone in response to the reception of the calling signal to inform the carrier of the pocket bell that there is a message. The display displays the type of the received signal according to the display data. The pocket bell carrier therefore does not have to telephone when facsimile signals are received. According to an advantageous development of the present invention, a detection circuit is added, with the manual operation circuit and the control circuit improved as explained hereinafter. The manual operation circuit is effected to store in the memory the calling number of the pocket bell, the display data, and further an identification number determined by a certain caller. The detection circuit detects the identification number. The control circuit is responsive to the detection signal to allow the writing into the memory, followed by the writing in of the message data entered after the identification number is entered in the memory. In operation, the communication apparatus transmits the calling number of the pocket bell and the message data for display from a certain caller. The reception circuit of the pocket bell receives the calling signal and the message data for display. The tone generating circuit generates a tone in response to the reception of the calling signal to inform the pocket bell carrier that there is a message. The display displays the message data. The carrier of the pocket bell will be informed of the message contents by the displayed message data, eliminating the need to telephone the communication apparatus. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a communication apparatus 1 of the communication system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the pocket bell 21. Fig. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operational procedures of registering the display data in communication apparatus 1. Fig. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operational procedures in registering an identification number in the communication apparatus 1. Fig. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the communication apparatus 1. Fig. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the registration procedures of the data in step a7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a flow chart for explaining data processing in step a9 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a diagram of display examples of the display section 27 of the pocket bell 21. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of communication apparatus 1 of the communication system in accordance with the present invention. Communication apparatus 1 comprises a network control unit 3, a determination circuit 4, a detection circuit 19, a control circuit 5, an automatic answering telephone equipment 6, a modem 7 for modulating/demodulating facsimile signals, a facsimile device 8, a memory 9, a data processing circuit 10, a manual operation circuit 11, and a display 18. Network control unit 3 is connected to a telephone line 2. This network control unit 3 includes a relay 3a and an input/output transformer (not shown). Relay 3a controls the connection between telephone line 2 and determination circuit 4, modem 7, automatic answering telephone equipment 6, and data processing circuit 10. Determination circuit 4 is responsive to the calling tone signal transmitted from the calling station to identify a facsimile signal or a voice signal. The calling tone signal is a signal that is first transmitted when a facsimile signal is transmitted. Detection circuit 19 detects the entry of a predetermined identification number of a certain caller. The determination result of determination circuit 4 and the detected result of detection circuit 19 are provided to control circuit 5. Control circuit 5 operates automatic answering telephone equipment 6 when the determination result is a voice signal, and operates the facsimile device when the determination result is a facsimile signal. The automatic answering telephone equipment 6 comprises a relay 6a, a voice signal/communication signal processing circuit 6b, an out-going message signal generating circuit 6c, a recording circuit 6e for recording the voice signals onto a magnetic tape 6d, and a reproduction circuit 6f. Relay 6a is turned on by control circuit 5 to connect telephone line 2 to voice signal/communication signal processing circuit 6b. Voice signal/communication signal processing circuit 6b converts the voice signals into voice. The voice signal/communication signal processing circuit 6b is responsive to the disconnection of telephone line 2 to detect termination of the communication. Out-going message signal generating circuit 6c provides to voice signal/communication signal processing circuit 6b a message signal for informing that the person who is requested to talk is not available. Modem 7 demodulates the facsimile signal and provides the same to facsimile device 8. Modem 7 is responsive to the disconnection of telephone line 2 to detect termination of the communication. Memory 9 comprises a registration region, a standby region, a telephone number region, and a work area. The registration region stores the display data to be transmitted to pocket bell 21. The standby region is a region where the display data registered in the registration region is on standby, when an identification number is entered. The telephone number region stores the telephone number of pocket bell 21 and identification numbers. The work area stores the program to be executed by control circuit 5. The data processing circuit 10 is responsive to the output of control circuit 5 to read out the display data from the registration region of memory 9. The read out display data is modulated into dual tone multi-frequency signals to be transmitted to telephone line 2. The company offering the pocket bell service emits from a radio facility the modulated radiowave according to the modulated display data and telephone number of the pocket bell. The manual operation circuit comprises dial keys 12, a registration key 13, a transfer key 14, a telephone key 15, a pocket bell number key 16, and an identification number key 17. These keys are operated in registering the identification number and in registering the display data to be transmitted to pocket bell 21. The display 18 comprises a liquid crystal display device, for example, in which the operational contents of manual operation circuit 11 are displayed. For example, at the time of registering the above mentioned identification number or display data, the entered identification number or display data is displayed. This allows the confirmation of the registered contents. Fig. 2 is a block diagram of pocket bell 21. Pocket bell 21 comprises an antenna 22, a reception circuit 23, a control circuit 24, a tone generating circuit 25, a character generator 26, and a display 27. Data received by antenna 22 is detected and demodulated in reception circuit 23. The demodulated received data is applied to control circuit 24. Control circuit 24 is responsive to the output of reception circuit 23 to operate tone generating circuit 25 for generating a predetermined tone. Thus, the carrier of the pocket bell is informed that pocket bell 21 is called. Control circuit 24 is responsive to the received display data to display in display 27 whether the signal received by communication apparatus 1 is a facsimile signal or a voice signal. Character generator 26 has character data and the like stored therein. Control circuit 24 carries out the display in accordance with the character data. The display 27 is implemented with a liquid crystal display device, for example, in which the number of characters that can be displayed is set in advance. In the present embodiment, the number of characters to be displayed is set to 9 characters. Fig. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operational procedures for registering display data to be transmitted to pocket bell 21. At step d1, registration key 13 is operated. Transfer key 14 is operated at step d2. At step d3, pocket bell number key 16 is operated. At step d4, display data is entered. At step d5, registration key 13 is operated again. By the above mentioned operation procedures, the display data entered at step d4 is stored in the registration region of memory 9. In the present embodiment, the display data is "0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8". (refer to Fig. 8 (1)). Fig. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operational procedures in specifying an identification number. At step e1, registration key 13 is operated. At step e2, transfer key 14 is operated. At step e3, identification number key 17 is operated. At step e4, the identification numbers are entered. At step e5, registration key 13 is again operated. By the above mentioned operational procedures, the identification number is registered which is necessary in registering the display data by the caller. In the present embodiment, the identification number is "1 2 3". Fig. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of communication apparatus 1. At step a1, the calling signal from the caller is received. At step a2, determination is made according to the calling tone signal whether the communication from the caller is a talk request or not. When there is no calling tone signal at step a2, that is to say, when talk is requested, determination is made at step a3 whether the hand-set is taken up or not. When the hand-set is taken up, hook switch 20 is turned on to connect the hand-set and the telephone line. The caller talks with the operator. When the hand-set is not taken up at step a3, determination is made at step a4 whether a predetermined time period has elapsed or not. When a predetermined time period has elapsed at step a4, OGM (Out-Going Message) is transmitted at step a5. OGM is a message previously recorded in the OGM generating circuit 6c of automatic answering telephone equipment 6. For example, the message such as "I am not available now. ··· Please leave your message after the bleep." may be recorded. At this time, communication apparatus 1 is at a waiting state for the entry of voice signals or an identification number from the caller. At step a6, determination is made whether the identification number is entered or not according to the output of detection circuit 19. The caller enters the identification number of "1 2 3" by operating the "#" key, the "1" key, the "2" key, the "3" key, and the "#" key in sequence. When the identification number is entered, data from the caller is registered in the registration region of memory 9 at step a7, and operation proceeds to step a8. The caller operates the dial keys in the order of "0 6 4 7 2 9 9 9 9", for example, and finally enters the "#" key. Thus, the message data for display is entered. The process of registering message data from the caller into memory 9 will be explained later. If an identification number is not entered at step a6, that is to say, if voice signal is entered, the voice signal from the caller is received in automatic answering telephone equipment 6 at step a12. At step a13, the voice signal from the caller, a message for example, is recorded, and operation proceeds to step a8. If talk is not requested at step a2, that is to say, if a facsimile signal is received, facsimile device 8 is enabled at step a14. After facsimile device 8 receives the facsimile signal at step a15, operation proceeds to step a8. At step a8, the hang-up of the line by the caller is detected by modem 7 or voice signal/communication signal processing circuit 6b, whereby the display data to be transmitted to the pocket bell 21 is processed at step a9. Data processing of the display data will be explained afterwards. After the processing of the display data to be transmitted to pocket bell 21 is ended in step a9, pocket bell 21 is called at step a10. At step a11, the display data is transmitted. Fig. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the registration process of the data from the caller at step a7 of Fig. 5. At step b1, data in the registration region is transferred to the standby region. At step b2, data from the caller is stored in the registration region. Because the data from the caller is stored in the registration region after the data in the registration region is transferred to the standby region, the display data registered previously in the registration region by the carrier of pocket bell 21 will not be erased. Fig. 7 is a flow chart for explaining the data processing of step a9 of Fig. 5. At step c1, data is read out from the registration region. At step c2, determination is made whether a facsimile signal is received or not. If a facsimile signal is received, a distinguishing data for distinguishing a facsimile signal from a voice signal is added to the head of the data read out from the registration region at step c3. The display 27 of the pocket bell displays the display data according to the data having a distinguishing data added to the beginning. In this embodiment, the data in the registration region is "0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8" and the distinguishing data for a facsimile is "-". Since the data (DTMF signal) corresponding to "-" in Model RC-101 Display Pocket Bell (a product of Nippon Telegraph AND Telephone Corporation), for example, is "* 2", the transmitted data is "* 2 0 1 2 3-4 5 6 7 8". A display data indicating a facsimile signal reception or a voice signal reception may be stored in memory 9 in advance to be selected. If a facsimile signal is not received at step C2, that is to say, if a voice signal is received, operation directly proceeds to step c4. Determination is made whether there is or is not data in the standby region at step c4. If there is a data, data is transferred to the registration region at step c5. If there is no data in the standby region at step c4, the process is ended. Thus, when there is communication from a caller who does not know the identification number, after a previous caller registers the display data, the display data previously specified in the registration region of memory 9 by the carrier is transmitted to pocket bell 21. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing examples of display section 27 of pocket bell 21. When a voice signal from the caller is received, the display data of Fig. 8 (1) previously registered in the registration region is displayed in display section 27. When a facsimile signal from the caller is received, the data previously registered in the registration region is displayed in display section 27 having a prefix of "-", as shown in Fig. 8 (2). At this time, the last data "8" is not displayed because the number of characters that can be displayed in display section 27 is 9. When a display data is registered by a caller, this display data registered by the caller such as the telephone number of the caller is displayed as in Fig. 8 (3). It is understood from the aforementioned embodiment that the data to be displayed on display section 27 in pocket bell 21 can be changed at the time of a facsimile signal reception from a voice signal reception. The carrier of pocket bell 21 will telephone communication apparatus 1 to listen to the message of the caller recorded in automatic answering telephone equipment 6, only when a voice signal is received. This will eliminate wasteful actions of the pocket bell carrier and is more convenient in comparison with conventional communication systems. Because the caller can register the display data to be transmitted to pocket bell 21 in communication apparatus 1, the carrier of pocket bell 21 can be informed of the contents requested by the caller by regarding display section 27 of pocket bell 21. If the registered display data is a telephone number, the pocket bell carrier will understand that the caller is requesting a telephone call. It is therefore possible to omit the trouble of the carrier to telephone communication apparatus 1 to listen to the message from the caller. The trouble to find out the telephone number of the caller can also be omitted because it is displayed on display section 27 of pocket bell 21. Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Claims: A communication system including a communication apparatus (1) and a portable receiver (21), the communication apparatus (1) receiving voice and image data and comprising: relay means (3a), coupled to a transmission line (2), for receiving and sending voice and image data along the transmission line (2) and for sending system data to the portable receiver (21), the system data being at least indicative of whether the communication apparatus has received voice or image data; determination means (4), coupled to said relay means (3a), for determining whether received data comprises voice data or image data and for generating a determination signal indicative thereof; image transceiving means (8), coupled through modem means (7) to said relay means (3a), for receiving and transmitting image data along the transmission line (2) through said relay means (3a); automatic answering telephone means (6), coupled to said relay means (3a), for receiving and recording voice data, received along the transmission line (2) in absence of manual operation of the communication apparatus by a system user; control means (5), coupled to said determination means (4), for enabling either said image transceiving means (8) or said automatic answering telephone means (6) and for directing said relay means (3a) to couple received data from the transmission line (2) to either said image transceiving means (8) or said automatic answering telephone means (6), in accordance with said determination signal; and data processing means (10), coupled to memory means (9) and said control means, for selecting and modulating the system data, which is stored in said memory means (9), and for transmitting the modulated system data along the transmission line (2) through said relay means (3a) upon termination of reception of voice or image data, under direction of said control means (5) in accordance with said determination signal, the modulated system data being transmitted to the portable receiver for display. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus (1) transmits the modulated system data along the transmission line (2) to a radio transmitter for wirelessly transmitting said data to the portable receiver (21). The communication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the communication apparatus (1) further comprises manual operation means (11), coupled to said control means (5), for entering user data at least designating the calling number in accordance with calling information input by the system user, the calling number thereafter being stored in said memory means (9) under direction of said control means (5). The communication system according to one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein said portable receiver (21) comprises a receiving antenna (22), demodulating means (23) connected to said transmission line (2) for demodulating the calling signal and the display data from said communication apparatus (1), tone generating means (25), display means (27) responsive to said received system data for displaying the type of signal received by said communication apparatus (1) and control means (24) responsive to said demodulated calling signal for enabling said tone generating means and for displaying the display data on said display means (27). The communication system according to claim 4, wherein said display means comprises a liquid crystal display. The communication system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said user data to be entered via said manual operation means comprises display data to be displayed by the portable receiver (21), and caller identification codes, and the system data comprises: the calling number, the display data and an image indication data when said determination means determines that the received data is image data, the calling number, the display data and a voice indication data when voice data is received and recorded by said automatic answering means, and the calling number, the voice indication data and message data, which is received along the transmission line from a system caller after entry of an identification code number which matches one of the caller identification codes. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said image transceiving means comprises a facsimile device (8). The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said automatic answering telephone means (6) comprises message signal generating means (6c) for generating message signal to listen to the message of the caller, voice signal recording means (6e, 6d) for recording the voice signal of the caller, and means responsive to the request signal from the carrier of said portable receiver (21) for transmitting the recorded voice signal to said transmission line (2). The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said memory means (9) comprises a read only memory and a random access memory, said random access memory storing the calling number of said receiver and the display data, and said read only memory storing the program for operating the communication apparatus. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein said manual operation means comprises push-button telephone keys (12), a plurality of functional keys (13-17) for storing said display data and said calling number of said receiver, and display means (18) for confirming the registered data. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said data processing means (10) comprises dual tone multi-frequency modulating means for modulating the read out data into dual tone multi-frequency signals. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said image transceiving means further comprises image signal recording means, and said communication apparatus further comprises means responsive to the determination signal of said determination means (4) for enabling either said image signal recording means or said automatic answering telephone means (6), identification code number detection means for detecting an identification code from the caller, writing means responsive to said identification code detection signal of said detection means to allow the writing into said memory means (9) for writing in next entered message data for display into said memory means (9), read out means responsive to the communication end signal for reading out the calling number of the portable receiver (21) from said memory means (9) and the display data corresponding to the transmitted signal or the message data from the caller for display, and modulating means for modulating said read out calling number and the display data or the message data for display. The communication system according to claim 9, wherein said random access memory comprises a telephone number region for storing the calling number of said portable receiver (21) and the identification code number, a registration region for registering the display data, and a standby region where the display data is on standby. The communication system according to claim 12, wherein said writing means is responsive to the entry of said identification code number to transfer the display data registered in the registration region into the standby region for writing the next entered message data for display into the registration region. A communication method in a communication system comprising a portable receiver (21) to be called, a communication apparatus (1) for calling said portable receiver (21), and a transmission line (2) connected between said portable receiver (21) and said communication apparatus (1) via a wireless transmitter; said portable receiver (21) comprising reception means (23) connected to said transmission line (2) for receiving the calling signal and display data applied through said transmission path, and display means (27) responsive to said received display data for displaying the type of signal received by the communication apparatus (1); said communication apparatus (1) comprising signal determination means, image signal recording means connected to said transmission line (2), automatic answering telephone means (6) connected to said transmission line (2), and memory means (9); the method comprising the steps of: storing into said memory means (9) a calling number of said portable receiver (21) and the display data to be displayed at said display means (27) of said portable receiver (21) entered by a system user into the communication system, determining whether a received signal is an image signal or a voice signal and generating a determination signal indicative thereof, enabling either said image signal recording means or said automatic answering telephone means (6) in response to said determination signal, reading out from said memory means (9) the calling number of the portable receiver (21) and the display data corresponding to the type of the signal transmitted, when the received signal terminates modulating said read out calling number and display data, and transmitting said modulated calling number and display data to said portable receiver via said transmission line, when the received signal terminates signal identification data which comprises the calling number of the portable receiver, the display data and voice indication data when the received signal is a voice signal or image indication data when the received signal is an image signal. The communication method according to claim 15, said step of storing further comprising storing in the memory means (9) caller identification codes, indicative of authorized callers of the communication system, entered by the system user said step of determining further comprising determining whether the received signal includes an identification code which matches one of the stored caller identification codes, and said step of transmitting further comprising transmitting: the calling number, the display data and the voice indication data when a voice signal is received and recorded by the automatic answering telephone means, the calling number, the voice indication data and message data, received from an authorized caller after entry of an identification code which matches one of the caller identification codes, and the calling number, the display data, and the image indication data when an image signal is received and recorded by the image signal recording means.

Inventors: MAKITA HIROSHI, MAKITA, HIROSHI
Applicants: SHARP KK, SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1990
Main classification: H04N1
IPC codes: H04Q7, H04M11, H04M1, H04N1, G08B3