Communication apparatus which can connect a plurality of communication lines

Abstract: A communicating apparatus having a plurality of ports to connect a plurality of communication lines comprises a memory to store information indicating whether the plurality of communication lines are extensions of a private branch network or not, a designating circuit to designate whether the communication is executed through said extensions or not; and a selector to select one of the plurality of ports in accordance with the result of the designation of the designating circuit and the content in the memory. The memory stores the information indicating whether the communication lines are ISDN lines or PSTN lines. The selector includes a call generating circuit for generating a call in the G4 facsimile mode when the selected communication line is the ISDN line and for generating a call in the G3 facsimile mode when it is decided that the partner is not the G4 facsimile apparatus after completion of the call generation.

Description: The present invention relates to a communication apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for select communication lines according to the preamble of claim 2. Hitherto, a multi-port facsimile apparatus having a plurality of communication ports has been used. Generally, in such a multi-port facsimile apparatus, some of the plurality of communication ports are connected to a public network such as ISDN network (Integrated Service Digital Network), PSTN network (Public Switched Telephone Network), or the like and the other remaining communication ports are connected to extensions of the private network and are used. In this case, a peculiar denomination such as "port 1", "port 2", or the like is added to each communication port. When the operator performs a call generating operation, a desired communication port is designated by a selecting key in accordance with a transmission destination side. In many cases, however, the operator of the facsimile apparatus isn't aware which communication should be used and is merely aware only that a facsimile apparatus on the transmission destination side is connected to which one of the extension and the external line. Therefore, the above conventional designating method of the communication port has a problem such that the operator who has no knowledge about the facsimile communication cannot easily understand the operation and the operation is troublesome. A generic communication apparatus and á generic method for selecting communication lines is known from US-A-4 486 626. According thereto, the communication apparatus has a plurality of ports which are connected to a plurality of communication lines of at least one private network. The information about the plurality of communication lines is stored in a memory means of the apparatus. Furthermore, it is designated whether a communication is executed through an extension of the private network. For this purpose, one of the plurality of ports is selected in accordance with the designation of the designating means and the information stored in the memory means. However, the communication apparatus is not able to store information about whether or not a communication line is an extension of a private network or not. Therefore, the designating means cannot select whether an outgoing communication is executed via a direct communication line or via an extension of the private network. It is an object of the present invention to further develop a communication apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for selecting communication lines of a communication apparatus according to the preamble of claim 2 such that an operating efficiency in selecting the communication lines is improved. This object is achieved with respect to the communication apparatus by the features of claim 1 and with respect to the method for selecting communication lines by the features of claim 2. Advantageous further developments are set out in the dependent claims. According to the invention an operating efficiency of a communicating apparatus having a plurality of communication ports is improved when it is connected to extensions of a private network and other lines. According to the invention, the communicating apparatus comprises a memory to store information indicating whether a plurality of communication lines are extensions of a private network or not or whether they are digital lines or analog lines; and an operation unit to designate whether the communication is executed through the extension or not, wherein in the case where the digital line and the analog line are included in the extension designated by the operation unit or in another line, a communication port to which the digital line is connected is selected. The present invention also provides a selecting method of the communication port for such a communicating apparatus. According to a further development of the invention, the communicating apparatus comprises a display for displaying the line classification in the case where the extensions and the other lines are included in the plurality of communication lines. The above object and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic construction of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a front view showing a construction of an operation unit; Fig. 3 is a diagram showing set registration items for a line registration table; Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of line connection in a facsimile apparatus of the 2-port type; Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the contents of set registration in the line registration table corresponding to the line connection example of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a diagram showing transmitting process in the facsimile apparatus of the 2-port type; Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a line connection example in a facsimile apparatus of the 4-port type; Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the contents of set registration in a line registration table corresponding to the line connection example of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a diagram showing the transmitting process in the facsimile apparatus of the 4-port type; and Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation upon transmission of the embodiment. Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described hereinbelow with reference to Figs. 1 to 10. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic construction of a facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. A scanner 1 to read an image of an original is connected to a multi-port memory 3 through a compression unit 2 for encoding and compressing the read image data into the compressed data by a method based on the MH, MR, MMR, or the like. The multi-port memory 3 is connected to an expansion unit 4 for expanding the encoded and compressed image data and reconstructing the original image data. A printer 5 to print the original image is connected to the expansion unit 4. On the other hand, a central control unit 6 to control the whole apparatus is connected to the multi-port memory 3 through a bus B. An operation unit 7 to operate the apparatus, an ROM 8 in which a control program for the apparatus has been stored, and an RAM 9 in which control information and a line registration table T have been stored are connected to the bus B. A communication control unit 10 to interface a G3 communication control and a G4 communication control and the line under control of the central control unit 6 is connected to the multi-port memory 3. The communication control unit 10 is provided with a communication port 11 having an ISDN i/f (interface) and a communication port 12 having a PSTN i/f. Further, a communication control unit 13 with the same construction as that of the communication control unit 10 can be optionally connected to the multi-port memory 3. As shown in Fig. 2, a liquid crystal display surface 70 to display a state of the facsimile communication is provided for the operation unit 7. Various kinds of control buttons including a call selection button 71 is arranged in the lower portion of the liquid crystal display surface 70. Various kinds of operation buttons are arranged in the side portion of the liquid crystal display surface 70. The above various kinds of control buttons are constructed by a liquid crystal touch panel. Each time the call selection button 71 is touched, the display content of "EXTENSION" or "EXTERNAL LINE" is cyclically switched on the basis of the control of the central control unit 6. In addition to the above buttons, a ten-key to perform the dial inputting operation and a one-touch key are also included in the operation unit 7. By the touching operation of various kinds of control buttons and the operation of various kinds of operation buttons in the operation unit 7, the central control unit 6 controls the facsimile communicating operations of the communication control units 10 and 13 through the multi-port memory 3. The transmission image data from the compression unit 2 is transferred to the communication control units 10 and 13 through the multi-port memory 3. The reception image from the line is received through the communication control units 10 and 13 and is temporarily stored into the multi-port memory 3. After that, the reception image is transferred to the expansion unit 4 and is recorded by the printer 5. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing set registration items to be set and registered into the line registration table T in the RAM 9 when the facsimile apparatus is installed. The set registration items are mainly classified into the board classification and the port classification. The board classification is provided to distinguish the boards on which the communication control units 10 and 13 are mounted. Specifically speaking, either one of the items of (1) "NONE" (no board is installed yet), (2) ISDNi/fx1, PSTNi/fx1, and (3) Xi/fx1, PSTNi/fx1 is set and registered. "ISDNi/f" shows that the apparatus has an I/F (interface) such as ISDN network as a public network, high speed digital Ii/f, exclusive-use line, or the like. "Xi/f" shows that the apparatus has an interface based on the X21 or X21bis provision of the X series recommendation of the CCITT. The set registration items of the port classification is classified into three classifications such as extension/external line classification, usage classification, and line classification. As set registration items of the extension/external line classification, there are (1) "NO CONNECTION", (2) "EXTERNAL LINE", (3) "EXTENSION" and (4) "EXCLUSIVE-USE LINE". As set registration items of the usage classification, there are (1) "ORDINARY", (2) "RECEPTION ONLY", and (3) "TRANSMISSION ONLY". The communication port which was set for reception only doesn't execute the transmitting operation. Further, as set registration items of the line classification, there are (1) ISDN, (2) PSTN, (3) Xi/f, (4) PBX (analog PBX: Private Branch Exchange), and (5) Ii/f EXCLUSIVE-USE LINE. Explanation will now be made with respect to how to set and register the board classification and port classification on the basis of the actual line connection example and how to execute the facsimile communicating process by the apparatus in such a set registration state. The case of the 2-port type will be first described. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, it is now assumed that an I 1 port is connected to the ISDN network of the external line and that a P 1 port is connected to the analog PBX of the extension. In the above connection example, the item contents as shown in Fig. 5 are set and registered into the line registration table T. Namely, with respect to the board on which the communication control unit 10 is installed, (1) "ISDNi/fx1, PSTNi/fx1" is set and registered as a board classification. With respect to the board on which the communication control unit 13 is mounted, (2) "NONE" is set and registered. With regard to the port classification, "EXTERNAL LINE" is set and registered as an extension/external line classification with respect to the I 1 port, while "EXTENSION" is set and registered with respect to the P 1 port. As a usage classification, "ORDINARY" is set and registered with respect to both of the I 1 port and the P 1 port. As a line classification, "ISDN" is set and registered with respect to the I 1 port, while "PBX" is set and registered with respect to the P 1 port. In a state in which the classifications have been set and registered as mentioned above, when the operator selects either one of the extension and the external line by the touching operation of the call selection button 71 in Fig. 2 and dials the partner's facsimile number by the operation unit 7, the central control unit 6 refers to the registration contents in the line registration table T and automatically selects the communication port and the G3 or G4 communication mode as shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 6 shows the selecting processes of the communication port and the G3 or G4 communication mode corresponding to all of the line connection formats in case of the 2-port type. A portion surrounded by double lines corresponds to the connection format of Fig. 4. That is, in the connection format of Fig. 4, when the operator selects the external line, the central control unit 6 performs a call generation in the G4 mode [I 1 (G4)] through the I 1 port. As a result of the communication in the G4 mode [I 1 (G4)], when it is determined that the partner side is the G3 facsimile by a response from the ISDN, the central control unit 6 falls back to the G3 mode and again generates a call [→I 1 (G3)] through the I 1 port. When the operator selects the extension, the central control unit 6 generates a call in the G3 mode [P 1 (G3)] through the P 1 port. As shown in Fig. 6, in the case where the connection format is set to "I 1 EXTERNAL, P 1 EXTERNAL" and both of the ports are connected to the external line, or in the case where the connection format is set to "I 1 EXTENSION, P 1 EXTENSION" and both of the ports are connected to the extension, the central control unit 6 displays none of the external line and the extension for the call selection button 71 on the touch panel, and a call is automatically generated to the external line or extension even when the call selection button 71 is not touched. In the case where, on the other hand, the exclusive-use line is connected such that the connection format is set to, for example, "I 1 EXCLUSIVE, P 1 EXTERNAL", the facsimile number of the partner apparatus connected to the exclusive-use line is preliminarily registered, thereby simplifying the operation upon transmission by connecting the line by the one-touch dial. The central control unit 6 automatically selects the above port and mode on the basis of the following rules. (a) The operator executes only the selection between the extension/external line and the exclusive-use line without executing the selection designation of the port and mode. The exclusive-use line is selected by inputting the number to designate the exclusive-use line. In case of the one-touch dial, when the number to designate the exclusive-use line is registered, the central control unit 6 selects the exclusive-use line. (b) In the case where the ISDNi/f is included in the extension/external line port which was selected and designated, the port having the ISDNi/f is preferentially selected and first executes the communication in the G4 mode. (c) As a result of the communication in the G4 mode, when it is decided that the partner apparatus is the G3 facsimile apparatus, the apparatus falls back to the G3 mode by the ISDNi/f port and again performs the communication. In this case, the reason why the PSTNi/f port is not used is because an amount of loss in the subscriber's line is larger than that in case of the ISDNi/f and the line quality deteriorates. (d) The call generation from the communication port which was registered as a reception only port is inhibited. The program describing the transmitting process as shown in Fig. 6 which is based on such rules is previously stored in the ROM 8. The item contents according to the line connection format as shown in Fig. 5 are set and registered into the line registration table T when the apparatus is installed. Due to this, the central control unit 6 executes the facsimile communication based on the above rules with reference to the line registration table T. The case of the 4-port type will now be described with reference to Figs. 7 to 9. For example, as shown in Fig. 7, in the facsimile apparatus having four ports of I 1 , P 1 , I 2 , and P 2 , it is now assumed that the I 1 port is connected to the ISDN network of the external line, the P 1 port is connected to the analog PBX of the extension, the I 2 port is connected to the Ii/f high speed digital exclusive-use line of the external line which uses the I 2 port only for reception, and the P 2 port is connected to the PSTN network of the external line. In the connection format, item contents as shown in Fig. 8 are set and registered into the line registration table T. That is, as a board classification, with respect to the board on which the communication control unit 10 is mounted, (1) "ISDNi/fx1, PSTNi/fx1" is set and registered. With respect to the board on which the communication control unit 13 is mounted, (2) "ISDNi/fx1, PSTNi/fx1" is set and registered. On the other hand, as for the port classification as an extension/external line classification, "EXTERNAL" is set and registered with respect to the I 1 port, "EXTENSION" is set and registered with regard to the P 1 port, "EXCLUSIVE" is set and registered with respect to the I 2 port, and "EXTERNAL" is set and registered with regard to the P 2 port. As a usage classification, "ORDINARY" is set and registered with respect to all of the I 1 , P 1 , and I 2 ports, while "RECEPTION ONLY" is set and registered with regard to the P 2 port. As a line classification, "ISDN" is set and registered with respect to the I 1 port, "analog PBX" is set and registered with regard to the P 1 port, "Ii/f high speed digital exclusive-use line" is set and registered with regard to the I 2 port, and "PSTN" is set and registered with respect to the P 2 port, respectively. The transmitting process (selection of the communication port and communication mode) in the facsimile apparatus of the 4-port type is executed as shown in Fig. 9. The communicating process in Fig. 9 corresponds to all of the line connection formats in case of the 4-port type. The portion surrounded by double lines corresponds to the connection format in Fig. 7. That is, in the state in which the apparatus is installed in the line connection format of Fig. 7 and the contents as shown in Fig. 8 have been set and registered in the line registration table T, when the operator selects the external line by the touching operation of the call selection button 71 in Fig. 2, the central control unit 6 generates a call in the G4 mode [I 1 (G4)] through the I 1 port as shown by double lines in Fig. 9. As a result of the communication in the G4 mode [I 1 (G4)], when it is determined that the partner side apparatus is the G3 facsimile apparatus due to a response from the ISDN, the apparatus falls back to the G3 mode and again generates a call through the I 1 port [→I 1 (G3)]. On the other hand, when the operator selects the extension, the central control unit 6 generates a call through the P 1 port in the G3 mode [P 1 (G3)]. As mentioned above, the rules to automatically select the communication port and the communication mode in case of the 4-port type are the same as those in case of the 2-port type and are generally the same as those in case of the N-port type. However, in the case where a plurality of ports connected to the external line exist as shown in the column of remarks and it is determined that the partner side is the G3 facsimile apparatus as a result of the first communication in the G4 mode, so long as the port which generated the first call in the G4 mode at the time point of the regeneration of the call is in use state, the apparatus again generates a call in the G3 mode through another port connected to the external line. The transmitting operation in the embodiment will now be described with reference to Fig. 10. When the call selection button 71 is depressed (step S1), the central control unit 6 switches the display to the external line so long as the extension is displayed in the call selection button 71 and also switches the display to the extension so long as the external line is displayed in the call selection button 71 (S2). When a transmission destination side is designated by the ten-key of the operation unit 7 and the start key is depressed or the one-touch key is depressed (S3), the central control unit 6 judges whether the number to designate the exclusive-use line is included in the number of the transmission destination side or not. When the number to designate the exclusive-use line is included, the communication port to which the exclusive-use line is connected is selected with reference to the line registration table T. When the number to designate the exclusive-use line is not included, the central control unit 6 selects the communication port connected to the extension or external line in accordance with the state of the call selection button 71 (S4) and generates a call in the G4 facsimile mode to the transmission destination side designated in step S3 (S5). In step S4, the central control unit selects the ISDN line to perform the communication of a high quality in the case where it is determined on the basis of the line registration table T that the ISDN line and PSTN line exist in the extension or external line corresponding to the designation of the call selection button 71. When the apparatus can communicate with the transmission destination side (S6), the communication is executed. When the apparatus cannot communicate with the transmission destination side in step S6, the communication port is again selected (S8) and the call is again generated (S5). In the case where the ISDN line is selected in step S4 and the call is generated in the G4 facsimile mode in step S5, when it is determined that the transmission destination side is the G3 facsimile apparatus from the ISDN in step S6, the central control unit 6 again selects the ISDN line in step S8 and generates a call in the G3 facsimile mode in step S5. When the ISDN line is in use state when the call is again generated, the central control unit 6 selects the PSTN line in step S8 and generates a call in the G3 facsimile mode in step S5. Although the present invention has been described above on the basis of the preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited to the constructions of the above embodiments but many variations and modifications such as a key telephone system and the like are possible within the scope of the Claims of the invention. A communicating apparatus having a plurality of ports to connect a plurality of communication lines comprises a memory to store information indicating whether the plurality of communication lines are extensions of a private branch network or not, a designating circuit to designate whether the communication is executed through said extensions or not; and a selector to select one of the plurality of ports in accordance with the result of the designation of the designating circuit and the content in the memory. The memory stores the information indicating whether the communication lines are ISDN lines or PSTN lines. The selector includes a call generating circuit for generating a call in the G4 facsimile mode when the selected communication line is the ISDN line and for generating a call in the G3 facsimile mode when it is decided that the partner is not the G4 facsimile apparatus after completion of the call generation.

Claims: A communication apparatus having a plurality of ports (I1, P1, I2, P2) connected to a plurality of communication lines of at least one private network (ISDN, PSTN, EXCLUSIVE-USE-LINE), comprising memory means (3) for storing information about said plurality of communication lines, designation means (71) for designating whether a communication is executed through an extension (PBX) of said at least one private network (ISDN, PSTN, EXCLUSIVE-USE-LINE); and selecting means (10; 13) for selecting one of said plurality of ports (I1, P1; I2, P2) in accordance with said designating means (71) and said memory means (3), characterized in that said memory means (3) is capable of storing information whether said plurality of communication lines being connected with said ports (I1, P1; I2, P2) are extensions (PBX) of said at least one private network (ISDN, PSTN, EXCLUSIVE-USE-LINE) or not, wherein said designation means (71) is adapted to select whether a communication outgoing from said communication apparatus is executed through a port (I1; I2, P2) connected to a direct communication line of said at least one private network (ISDN, PSTN, EXCLUSIVE-USE-LINE) or through a port (P1) connected to said extension (PBX) of said at least one private network (ISDN, PSTN, EXCLUSIVE-USE-LINE). A method for selecting communication lines of a communication apparatus having a plurality of ports (I1, P1, I2, P2) connected to a plurality of communication lines of at least one private network (ISDN, PSTN, EXCLUSIVE-USE-LINE), comprising the steps of storing information about said plurality of communication lines in memory means (3), designating by designation means (71) whether a communication is executed through an extension (PBX) of said at least one private network (ISDN, PSTN, EXCLUSIVE-USE-LINE); and selecting by selecting means (10; 13) one of said plurality of ports (I1, P1; I2, P2) in accordance with said designation step and said storing step, characterized in that in said storing step information is stored in said memory means (3) whether said plurality of communication lines being connected with said ports (I1, P1; I2, P2) are extensions (PBX) of said at least one private network (ISDN, PSTN, EXCLUSIVE-USE-LINE) or not, wherein in said designating step by said designation means (71) it is selected whether a communication outgoing from said communication apparatus is executed through a port (I1; I2, P2) connected to a direct communication line of said at least one private network (ISDN, PSTN, EXCLUSIVE-USE-LINE) or through a port (P1) connected to said extension (PBX) of said at least one private network (ISDN, PSTN, EXCLUSIVE-USE-LINE). An apparatus according to claim 1 or a method according to claim 2, characterized in that said memory means (3) stores information regarding whether said plurality of communication lines are ISDN lines or PSTN lines. An apparatus or a method according to claim 3, characterized in that said selecting means (10; 13) includes a call generating means for generating a call in a G4 facsimile mode when the selected communication line is the ISDN line and for generating a call in a G3 facsimile mode when it is determined that the partner is not a G4 facsimile apparatus after completion of the call generation. An apparatus or a method according to claim 4, characterized in that when the ISDN line is included in the plurality of communication lines corresponding to the designation by said designation means (71), said selecting means (10; 13) selects the port (I1) to which said included ISDN line is connected. An apparatus according to claim 1 or a method according to claim 2, characterized in that said memory means (3) stores information to inhibit the call generation through said plurality of communication lines. An apparatus according to claim 1 or a method according to claim 2, characterized in that said memory means (3) stores information regarding whether said plurality of communication lines are exclusive-use lines or not, and said designation means (71) can designate whether the communication is executed through said exclusive-use line or not in accordance with the input of the number to designate the exclusive-use line. An apparatus or a method according to claim 7, characterized in that when the number to designate the exclusive-use line is stored in a one-touch dial, said selecting means (10; 13) selects the port to which the exclusive-use line is connected. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said designation means includes a touch panel for displaying according to said memory means (3) when said extensions and another line are included in said plurality of communication lines. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 3, 4 or 9, characterized in that said memory means (3) is capable of storing information indicating whether said plurality of communication lines are digital lines or analog lines; wherein said selecting means (10; 13) is capable of selecting a port to which the digital line is connected in the case where said digital line and the analog line correspond to the designation by said designation means (71). An apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that said digital lines include an ISDN line. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by display means (70) for displaying information indicative of the classification of the line in the case where said extensions and another line are included in said plurality of communication lines. An apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that said display means (70) includes said designation means (71) for selecting either one of said plurality of communication lines in the case where said extensions and another line are included in said plurality of communication lines. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that said designation step is made by a touch panel for displaying according to said memory means (3) when said extensions and another line are included in said plurality of communication lines. A method according to any one of claims 2, 3, 4 or 8, characterized in that said memory means (3) stores information indicating whether said plurality of communication lines are digital lines or analog lines; wherein said selecting means (10; 13) selects a port to which the digital line is connected in the case where said digital line and the analog line correspond to the designation by said designation means (71). A method according to claim 15, characterized in that said digital lines include an ISDN line. A method according to claim 2, characterized by the step of displaying by display means (70) of information indicative of the classification of the line in the case where said extensions and another line are included in said plurality of communication lines. A method according to claim 17, characterized in that said display means (70) displays information for said designation means (71) for selecting either one of said plurality of communication lines in the case where said extensions and another line are included in said plurality of communication lines.

Inventors: KAGAMI NAOTO, KAGAMI, NAOTO, KAGAMI, NAOTO, C/O CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Applicants: CANON KK, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1993
Main classification: H04Q11
IPC codes: H04Q11, H04M11, H04N1, H04L25