Abstract:
A plural-communication-line-containing apparatus capable of containing plural communication lines comprises: a communication-line-type discriminator for discriminating a type of communication line; a communication-line-number counter for counting the number of communication lines for each type of communication line; a communication-line-name determiner for determining a communication line name on the basis of the discriminated type of communication line and the counted number of communication lines; and a communication-line-name display for displaying the determined communication line name. Thus, in the plural-communication-line-containing apparatus capable of being connected with the plural communication lines, the names of the communication lines can be appropriately displayed and an operator can easily discriminate the communication lines.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus or the like containing plural (i.e., plural) communication lines (called a plural-communication-line-containing apparatus), an image forming apparatus, a communication line selection apparatus, and a communication line selection program.  
           [0003]    2. Related Background Art  
           [0004]    Conventionally, in a facsimile apparatus with which plural communication lines can be connected, respective communication line numbers are displayed at a time of operation or on a communication administration report so that an operator can discriminate each communication line.  
           [0005]    Moreover, in a conventional facsimile apparatus, a name of a communication line is displayed like “extension” or “outside line” in accordance with a type of communication line.  
           [0006]    Moreover, there is an apparatus that an operator can select one of plural connected communication lines by appropriately depressing one of line selection keys provided in correspondence with the number of communication lines.  
           [0007]    Moreover, in a facsimile apparatus containing a telephone line for facsimile communication and a communication line for an electronic mail or a facsimile apparatus connectable with both a telephone line for facsimile communication and a communication line for an electronic mail, a key for selecting whether the facsimile communication or the electronic mail is provided and an operator can select either the facsimile communication or the electronic mail by depressing the key.  
           [0008]    However, in the above conventional apparatuses, there is a problem that, only by displaying the communication line number, it is difficult to discriminate what type of communication line the line in question is.  
           [0009]    Moreover, even if “extension” or “outside line” is displayed, a user does not necessarily use the same line as that displayed, that is, the display might be unsuitable for an actual operation. This causes confusion when the operator discriminates the communication line.  
           [0010]    That is, in the above conventional cases, there is a problem that the communication line name can not be appropriately displayed in a plural-communication-line-containing apparatus capable of being connected with the plural communication lines, and thus the operator can not easily discriminate the communication line.  
           [0011]    Moreover, even where the communication line is selected, the key for selecting either the facsimile communication or the electronic mail, the keys corresponding to the respective communication lines and also the key for selecting the telephone line are unnecessary for a user who does not use an electronic mail. Thus, the plural unnecessary keys exist on an operation panel, and this causes confusion in the operation. Moreover, for a user who uses only one line, the keys for the other lines are unnecessary.  
           [0012]    On one hand, when a user who uses the plural facsimile communication lines and the electronic mail line performs the communication, this user is troubled because it is necessary to change the key between the facsimile communication and the electronic mail even though the operation method is almost common in either communication.  
           [0013]    Moreover, when the line can be selected even in the case where each line is not connected or can not be used, it causes a trouble that the communication can not be actually performed.  
           [0014]    The above problems are the problems which occur in the plural-communication-line-containing apparatus other than the facsimile apparatus.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0015]    An object of the present invention is to provide a plural-communication-line-containing apparatus capable of being connected with plural communication lines, on which names of the communication lines can be appropriately displayed and an operator can easily discriminate the communication lines.  
           [0016]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a communication line selection apparatus on which an operator can select a usable communication line without confusion in a communication line selection operation.  
           [0017]    In the embodiment of the present invention, it is characterized by providing a plural-communication-line-containing apparatus capable of containing plural communication lines, comprising: a communication-line-type discriminating means for discriminating a type of each communication line connected; a communication-line-number counting means for counting the number of communication lines for each type of communication line; a communication-line-name determining means for determining a communication line name on the basis of the type of communication line discriminated by the communication-line-type discriminating means and the number of communication lines counted by the communication-line-number counting means; and a communication-line-name displaying means for displaying the communication line name determined by the communication-line-name determining means.  
           [0018]    Moreover, in the embodiment of the present invention, it is characterized by providing a communication line selecting apparatus capable of connecting with plural communication lines, comprising: a communication line selecting key for selecting the communication line; and a communication line selecting means for selecting one communication line from among the plural communication lines, according to that an operator depresses the communication line selecting key in a communication operation, wherein the communication line selecting means selects another communication line from among the plural communication lines according to that the operator further depresses the communication line selecting key.  
           [0019]    Other objects and the features of the present invention will be become apparent from the following specification. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a facsimile apparatus FS 1  according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an operation to determine names of communication lines connected with the facsimile apparatus FS 1 ;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an operation to automatically determine a name of a LAN communication line connected with the facsimile apparatus FS 1 ;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an operation to automatically determine a name of a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) communication line connected with the facsimile apparatus FS 1 ;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an operation to automatically determine a name of an ISDN communication line connected with the facsimile apparatus FS 1 ;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an operation to discriminate each communication line connected with the facsimile apparatus FS 1 ;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the structure of a facsimile apparatus FS 2  according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an operation to be performed after a communication line selection key on the facsimile apparatus FS 2  is depressed. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a facsimile apparatus FS 1  according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0029]    In the facsimile apparatus FS 1 , a CPU  101  is a system controlling unit which controls the overall apparatus, a ROM  102  stores control programs for the CPU  101 , and a RAM  103  which is composed by an SRAM (static RAM) and the like stores program control variables and the like. Also, various setting values such as a transmission destination telephone number, a communication line name, a communication line naming method and the like registered by an operator, administration data and the like of the apparatus, and various working buffers are stored in the RAM  103 .  
         [0030]    A memory (image memory)  104  which is composed of a DRAM (dynamic RAM) and the like stores and accumulates image data, and an external display unit  105  which is composed of an LCD, an LED or the like displays notification to a user. A speaker  106  gives notification and warning to the user by sound, and monitors a signal sound transmitted and received through a PSTN communication line  109  or an ISDN communication line  111 .  
         [0031]    A modem  107  modulates and demodulates transmission and reception signals of the facsimile apparatus FS 1 , and an NCU (Network Controlling Unit)  108  has the function to send a selection signal (dial pulse or tone dialer) to the PSTN communication line (analog public communication line network)  109 . The NCU  108  also performs an automatic reception operation by detecting a calling signal.  
         [0032]    A CCU (Communication Controlling Unit)  110  performs communication line control to connect with the ISDN communication line (integrated digital communication network)  111 , an image processing unit  112  performs a correction process to the read image data and outputs high-definition image data, and a scanner  113  which is composed of a CS image sensor, a sheet feeding mechanism and the like optically reads an original and then converts the read original into electrical image data.  
         [0033]    An operation unit  114  which is composed of a keyboard, a touch panel or the like is used when the operator performs various input operations, and a printer formatter  115  analyzes a printer description language and converts the analyzed language into image data when file data sent from an external apparatus such as a PC, a work station or the like is printed. A printer  116  is the apparatus which records the received image and the file data on a recording sheet.  
         [0034]    A LAN I/F  118  is the interface which connects the facsimile apparatus FS 1  with a LAN communication line  119  through which an electronic mail and the like can be exchanged, and which is controlled by a LAN controlling unit  117 .  
         [0035]    It should be noted that the modem  107 , the NCU  108 , the CCU  110 , the LAN controlling unit  117  and the LAN I/F  118  are detachably mounted on the facsimile apparatus FS 1 . That is, if the LAN controlling unit  117  and the LAN I/F  118  are removed from the facsimile apparatus FS 1 , it works as the facsimile apparatus FS 1  which includes only two communication lines of the PSTN communication line and the ISDN communication line. Then, if the CCU  110  is further removed, it works as the facsimile apparatus FS 1  which includes only one communication line of the PSTN communication line.  
         [0036]    In the present embodiment, it is assumed that one PSTN communication line, one ISDN communication line and one LAN communication line are provided. However, with the facsimile apparatus FS 1 , can be connected plural PSTN communication lines, plural ISDN communication lines and plural LAN communication lines. That is, the plural modems  107 , the plural NCU&#39;s  108 , the plural CCU&#39;s  110 , the plural LAN controlling units  117  and the plural LAN I/F&#39;s  118  can be connected with the facsimile apparatus FS 1 , respectively. For example, it is possible to constitute an apparatus of three PSTN communication lines (i.e., there is no ISDN communication line and LAN communication line), or an apparatus of two PSTN communication lines, two ISDN communication lines and two LAN communication lines.  
         [0037]    Next, an operation of the facsimile apparatus FS 1  will be explained.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation to determine names of the communication lines connected with the facsimile apparatus FS 1 .  
         [0039]    The three types of communication lines, i.e., the PSTN communication line, the ISDN communication line and the LAN communication line, can be connected with the facsimile apparatus FS 1 . Here, the PSTN communication line and the ISDN communication line are the communication lines used for the facsimile communication, and the LAN communication line is used for transmission and reception of the electronic mail using a protocol of TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) or the like and the communication using a protocol of FTP (File Transfer Protocol), HTTP (HyperText Transport Protocol) or the like.  
         [0040]    In the facsimile apparatus FS 1 , the operator can previously select the method to determine the name of the communication line from between “auto” and “fixed”. If the operator selects the “fixed” method, an arbitrary character string representing the communication line name can be registered for each communication line. For example, if the two communication lines are connected as the PSTN communication line and the ISDN communication line, respectively, it is possible to register a character string “extension” to the PSTN communication line and a character string “outside line” to the ISDN communication line, and store the setting contents in the RAM  103 .  
         [0041]    In the facsimile apparatus FS 1 , the state on communication, the transmission setting, the various settings for the respective communication lines and the like are displayed on the external display unit  105 . At this time, the communication line name is displayed so that the operator can discriminate each communication line. Besides, when the information such as the communication result and the like is printed on the recording sheet and then output by the printer  116 , the communication line name is displayed so that the operator can discriminate each communication line.  
         [0042]    Here, it is necessary to determine the name of each communication line before the communication line name is displayed on the external display unit or the recording sheet, and this line naming operation will be explained hereinafter.  
         [0043]    First, it is discriminated whether the communication line naming method is set to the “auto” method or the “fixed” method (step S 201 ). If discriminated that the naming method is set to the “fixed” method, the character string registered by the operator is set as the communication line name for each communication line (step S 202 ). On the other hand, if discriminated in the step S 201  that the naming method is set to the “auto” method, the communication line naming is automatically executed (step S 203 ).  
         [0044]    Next, in the embodiment, an operation to discriminate a type of each communication line in case of executing the communication line naming automatically will be explained.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation to discriminate the type of each communication line connected with the facsimile apparatus FS 1 .  
         [0046]    First, N=1 is set (step S 601 ), and the type of N-th communication line is discriminated (step S 602 ). If the discriminated type is the LAN communication line, the N-th communication line is registered as the LAN communication line (step S 603 ). Likewise, if the discriminated type is the PSTN communication line, the N-th communication line is registered as the PSTN communication line (step S 604 ). Moreover, likewise, if the discriminated type is the ISDN communication line, the N-th communication line is registered as the ISDN communication line (step S 605 ). Then, it is further discriminated whether or not other communication line exists (step S 606 ). If other communication line exists, the communication line in question is set as the (N+1)-th communication line, and also the type thereof is discriminated (step S 607 ). After then, the discrimination is executed in the step S 602  until any other communication line does not exist, whereby the types of all communication lines connected with the facsimile apparatus FS 1  are discriminated.  
         [0047]    In the present embodiment, when it is discriminated whether or not the PSTN communication line is usable, this discrimination is performed according to whether or not the modem  107  exists. When it is discriminated whether or not the ISDN communication line is usable, this discrimination is performed according to whether or not the CCU  110  exists. When it is discriminated whether or not the LAN communication line is usable, this discrimination is performed according to whether or not the LAN controlling unit  117  exists.  
         [0048]    However, it is possible to cause the operator to previously set use or disuse for each communication line and then discriminate the usable state based on the set contents. Moreover, it is possible to discriminate the usable state according to whether or not the communication line in question is currently busy.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an operation to automatically determine a name of the LAN communication line connected with the facsimile apparatus FS 1 .  
         [0050]    In order to determine the name of one of the LAN communication lines connected with the facsimile apparatus FS 1 , it is first discriminated based on the type information of each communication line registered according to the flow chart shown in FIG. 6 whether or not the plural LAN communication lines exist (step S 301 ).  
         [0051]    Here, if discriminated that the two ore more LAN communication lines exist, then it is further discriminated whether the communication line in question is the communication line of what number. Here, it should be noted that “what number” represents the communication line number to be given as a matter of convenience to discriminate each of the plural LAN communication lines. For example, the line numbers may be given as 1, 2, 3, . . . , in the order closer to the CPU, in the order of higher communication speed, or in the order of the communication line connected with the physically higher position.  
         [0052]    To determine the LAN communication line of what number,  1  is first set as a variable n (step S 302 ), and then it is discriminated whether or not the LAN communication line in question is the n-th (i.e., first) communication line (step S 303 ). If the LAN communication line in question is not the n-th communication line, the variable n is increased by one (step S 304 ), and then it is discriminated whether or not the LAN communication line in question is the n-th communication line. This operation is repeated in the step S 303  until it is discriminated that the LAN communication line in question is the n-th communication line. If it is discriminated in the step S 303  that the LAN communication line in question is the n-th communication line, the flow advances to a next step S 305 . At this time, the communication line number is stored as the variable n.  
         [0053]    In the step S 305 , it is discriminated whether or not any communication line other than the LAN communication line exists. Then, if discriminated that any communication line other than the LAN communication line does not exist, this means that only the plural LAN communication lines exist in this apparatus, whereby the communication line name is determined as “communication line: n” (step S 307 ). On the other hand, if discriminated in the step S 305  that the communication line other than the LAN communication line exists, the communication line name is determined as “LAN: n” (step S 306 ). Here, n is the value of the communication line number discriminated in the steps S 302 , S 303  and S 304 .  
         [0054]    Incidentally, if discriminated in the step S 301  that only one LAN communication line exists, like the step S 305 , it is further discriminated whether or not any communication line other than the LAN communication line exists (step S 308 ).  
         [0055]    If discriminated that any communication line other than the LAN communication line does not exist, this means that only one LAN communication line exists in this apparatus and any PSTN communication line and ISDN communication line do not exist.  
         [0056]    Therefore, in this case, it is unnecessary to give the communication line name to discriminate the communication line, whereby no naming is executed (step S 310 ). On the other hand, if discriminated in the step S 308  that the communication line other than the LAN communication line, the communication line name is determined as “LAN” (step S 309 ).  
         [0057]    Next, an operation to determine a name of one of the PSTN communication lines will be explained.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation to determine the name of one communication line of the PSTN communication lines, in the embodiment.  
         [0059]    First, in a step S 401 , it is first discriminated based on the type information of each communication line registered according to the flow chart shown in FIG. 6 whether or not the plural PSTN communication lines exist.  
         [0060]    Here, if discriminated that the two ore more PSTN communication lines exist, then it is further discriminated in steps S 402 , S 403  and S 404  whether the PSTN communication line in question is the communication line of what number. Here, it should be noted that, in the steps S 402 , S 403  and S 404 , the processes same as those in the steps S 302 , S 303  and S 304  are performed respectively. However, it is discriminated in the step S 303  that the LAN communication line is the n-th communication line, while it is discriminated in the step S 403  that the PSTN communication line is the n-th communication line.  
         [0061]    Like the case of LAN communication line, when the flow advances to a next step S 405 , the communication line number is stored as the variable n.  
         [0062]    Then, it is discriminated in the step S 405  whether or not the ISDN communication line exists. If discriminated that the ISDN communication line exists, this means that the PSTN communication line and the ISDN communication line exist as the communication lines for the facsimile communication in the facsimile apparatus FS 1 , whereby the communication line name is determined as “PSTN: n” (n is the value of the communication line number) (step S 407 ).  
         [0063]    On the other hand, if discriminated in the step S 405  that the ISDN communication line does not exist, it is further discriminated whether or not the LAN communication line exists (step S 406 ). If discriminated that the LAN communication line exists, this means that the plural PSTN communication lines as the communication lines for the facsimile communication and the LAN communication line as the electronic mail or the like exist in the facsimile apparatus FS 1 , whereby the communication line name is determined as “LAN: n” (step S 408 ).  
         [0064]    On the other hand, if discriminated in the step S 406  that the LAN communication line does not exist, this means that only the plural PSTN communication lines exist but the ISDN communication line and the LAN communication line do not exist, whereby the communication line name is determined as “communication line: n” (step S 409 ).  
         [0065]    If discriminated in the step S 401  that only one PSTN communication line exists, like the steps S 405  and S 406 , discrimination operations are performed in steps S 410  and S 411  respectively.  
         [0066]    That is, if it is discriminated in the step S 410  that the ISDN communication line exists, this means that the ISDN communication line and the PSTN communication line exist in the facsimile apparatus FS 1 , that is, only one PSTN communication line exists, whereby the communication line name is determined as “PSTN” (step S 412 ).  
         [0067]    On the other hand, if discriminated in the step S 410  that the ISDN communication line does not exist, it is further discriminated whether or not the LAN communication line exists (step S 411 ). Here, if discriminated that the LAN communication line exists, this means that, in the facsimile apparatus FS 1 , one PSTN communication line exists as the communication line for the facsimile communication and also the LAN communication line exists, whereby the communication line name is determined as “FAX” (step S 413 ).  
         [0068]    If discriminated in the step S 411  that the LAN communication line does not exist, this means that only one PSTN communication line exists in the facsimile apparatus FS 1 , and thus it is unnecessary to discriminate and display the communication line, whereby no naming is executed (step S 414 ).  
         [0069]    Next, an operation to determine a name of one of the ISDN communication lines will be explained.  
         [0070]    [0070]FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation to determine the name of one communication line of the ISDN communication lines, in the embodiment.  
         [0071]    It should be noted that the method to determine the name of the ISDN communication line is basically the same as the method to determine the name of the PSTN communication line.  
         [0072]    First, it is first discriminated based on the type information of each communication line registered according to the flow chart shown in FIG. 6 whether or not the plural ISDN communication lines exist (step S 501 ). If discriminated that the two ore more ISDN communication lines exist, then it is further discriminated in steps S 502 , S 503  and S 504  whether the ISDN communication line in question is the communication line of what number. Here, it should be noted that, in the steps S 502 , S 503  and S 504 , the processes same as those in the steps S 302 , S 303  and S 304  or in the steps S 402 , S 403  and S 404  are performed, respectively.  
         [0073]    Next, it is discriminated in a step S 505  whether or not the PSTN communication line exists, and it is discriminated in a step S 506  whether or not the LAN communication line exists. If discriminated that the PSTN communication line exists, the communication line name is determined as “ISDN: n” (step S 507 ). If discriminated that the PSTN communication line does not exist but the LAN communication line exists, the communication line name is determined as “FAX: n” (step S 508 ). Besides, if discriminated that both the PSTN communication line and the LAN communication line do not exist, the communication line name is determined as “communication line: n” (step S 509 ) Here, it should be noted that, in any case, n is the value of the communication line number.  
         [0074]    If discriminated in the step S 501  that only one ISDN communication line exists, it is discriminated in a step S 510  whether or not the PSTN communication line exists, and it is discriminated in a step S 511  whether or not the LAN communication line exists. Then, the communication line name is determined as “ISDN” if the PSTN communication line exists (step S 512 ), and the communication line name is determined as “FAX” if the PSTN communication line does not exist but the LAN communication line exists (step S 513 ). Besides, if both the PSTN communication line and the LAN communication line do not exist, this means that only one ISDN communication line exists in the facsimile apparatus FS 1 , whereby no naming is executed (step S 514 ).  
         [0075]    By the above operation, when the communication line name is automatically determined, the name of each communication line is uniquely determined based on the information representing whether the plural communication lines exist for each type of communication line connected with the facsimile apparatus FS 1 , and, if the plural communication lines exist, based on the information representing what number the communication line is.  
         [0076]    For example, when the three communication lines respectively functioning as the PSTN communication line, the ISDN communication line and the LAN communication line are connected with the facsimile apparatus FS 1 , the communication line names are determined, respectively, as “PSTN”, “ISDN” and “LAN”. Besides, when the two communication lines functioning as the PSTN communication lines and the one communication line functioning as the ISDN communication line are connected, the communication line names are determined respectively as “PSTN: 1”, “PSTN: 2” and “ISDN”. Moreover, when the two communication lines respectively functioning as the one PSTN communication line and the one LAN communication line are connected, the communication line names are determined respectively as “FAX” and “LAN”.  
         [0077]    The above operation is performed by the CPU  101  on the basis of the program stored in the ROM  102  or the RAM  103 . But, such a program as above may be stored in various storage media such as a floppy disk™, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magnetooptical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a memory card and the like, and is read out and loaded into an information processing apparatus such as a computer or the like or the facsimile apparatus FS 1  by using a dedicated reading apparatus to execute the fetched program by the CPU  101 .  
         [0078]    Moreover, it is possible to apply the above embodiment to a facsimile apparatus in which a copying function, an electronic filing function, a printer function, a data processing function and the like are mixed with the communication function, a communication apparatus separated from a telephone set, a reading circuit and a recording circuit, or data communication control in the information processing apparatus such as the computer or the like.  
         [0079]    Moreover, it is possible to apply the above embodiment to how to set and display each communication line name in the apparatus containing the plural communication lines or the like. In this case, by such a method, it is merely required to discriminate the type of communication line, the number of communication lines and the like, and determine the communication line name in the main apparatus, and display the determined name on the display of the handset held in the main apparatus.  
         [0080]    Incidentally, conventionally, in the facsimile apparatus having the plural telephone communication lines or the facsimile apparatus capable of being connected with the plural telephone communication lines, it is possible, by providing a key dedicated for selecting the communication line and depressing this key by the operator, to select one telephone communication line from among the plural telephone communication lines.  
         [0081]    Moreover, conventionally, in the facsimile apparatus having both the telephone communication line for the facsimile communication and the communication line for the electronic mail or the facsimile apparatus capable of being connected with both the telephone communication line for the facsimile communication and the communication line for the electronic mail, it is possible, by providing a key for selecting whether the facsimile communication or the electronic mail and depressing this key by the operator, to select the facsimile communication or the electronic mail.  
         [0082]    [0082]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the structure of a facsimile apparatus FS 2  according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0083]    In the facsimile apparatus FS 2 , a CPU  201  is a system controlling unit which controls the overall apparatus, a ROM  202  stores control programs for the CPU  201 , and a RAM  203  which is composed by an SRAM and the like stores program control variables and the like. Also, a transmission destination telephone number, an electronic mail address, various setting values, administration data of the apparatus, and various working buffers are stored in the RAM  203 .  
         [0084]    A memory (image memory)  204  which is composed of a DRAM and the like stores and accumulates image data, and an external display unit  205  which is composed of an LCD, an LED or the like displays notification and warning to a user, and monitors a signal sound transmitted and received through a PSTN communication line  209  or an ISDN communication line  211 .  
         [0085]    A modem  207  modulates and demodulates transmission and reception signals of the facsimile apparatus FS 2 , and an NCU  208  has the function to send a selection signal (dial pulse or tone dialer) to the PSTN communication line (analog public communication line network)  209 . The NCU  208  also performs an automatic reception operation by detecting a calling signal. A CCU  210  performs communication line control to connect with the ISDN communication line (integrated digital communication network)  211 .  
         [0086]    An image processing unit  212  performs a correction process to the read image data and outputs high-definition image data, and a scanner  213  which is composed of a CS image sensor, a sheet feeding mechanism and the like optically reads an original and then converts the read original into electrical image data. An operation unit  214  which is composed of a keyboard, a touch panel or the like is used when the operator performs various input operations.  
         [0087]    A printer formatter  215  analyzes a printer description language and converts the analyzed language into image data when file data sent from an external apparatus such as a PC, a work station or the like is printed. A printer  216  is the apparatus which records the received image and the file data on a recording sheet.  
         [0088]    A LAN I/F  218  is the interface which connects the facsimile apparatus FS 2  with a LAN communication line  219  through which an electronic mail and the like can be exchanged, and which is controlled by a LAN controlling unit  217 .  
         [0089]    It should be noted that the modem  207 , the NCU  208 , the CCU  210 , the LAN controlling unit  217  and the LAN I/F  218  are detachably mounted on the facsimile apparatus FS 2 . That is, if the LAN controlling unit  217  and the LAN I/F  218  are removed from the facsimile apparatus FS 2 , it works as the facsimile apparatus FS 2  which includes only two communication lines of the PSTN communication line and the ISDN communication line. Then, if the CCU  210  is further removed, it works as the facsimile apparatus FS 2  which includes only one communication line of the PSTN communication line.  
         [0090]    Here, the case where it is discriminated based on such flow charts as shown in FIGS.  2  to  6  that the three communication lines respectively functioning as the PSTN communication line, the ISDN communication line and the LAN communication line are connected with the facsimile apparatus FS 2 , and the communication line names of these lines are registered respectively as “PSTN”, “ISDN” and “LAN” will be explained.  
         [0091]    The facsimile apparatus FS 2  includes the three communication lines of the PSTN communication line  209 , the ISDN communication line  211  and the LAN communication line  219 . In these lines, the PSTN communication line  209  and the ISDN communication line  211  are the communication lines used for the facsimile communication, and the LAN communication line  219  is the communication line used for the electronic mail. Incidentally, there are two methods of designating a communication partner, that is, one is to previously register the partner&#39;s telephone number and mail address to a one-touch dial or an abbreviated dial, and then depressing the corresponding one-touch dial or inputting the corresponding abbreviated number. The other is to directly input the partner&#39;s telephone number and mail address by using numerical keys.  
         [0092]    Moreover, the operation unit  214  includes a communication line selection key for selecting the communication line. If the operator depresses the communication line selection key in the communication operation, the communication line can be selected. In the facsimile apparatus FS 2 , since any one of the PSTN communication line, the ISDN communication line and the LAN communication line is automatically selected as default when the facsimile apparatus FS 2  starts operating, the communication can be performed by using any one of the communication lines even if the communication line selection key is not depressed.  
         [0093]    Next, an operation to be performed after the communication line selection key on the facsimile apparatus FS 2  is depressed will be explained.  
         [0094]    [0094]FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation to be performed after the communication line selection key on the facsimile apparatus FS 2  is depressed.  
         [0095]    First, it is discriminated by the CPU  201  whether or not the communication line selection key is depressed by the operator (step S 801 ). If the key is not depressed, the process ends.  
         [0096]    Next, if the communication line selection key is depressed by the operator, it is further discriminated based on the control program stored in the ROM  202  whether the plural available communication lines exist (step S 802 ).  
         [0097]    In the facsimile apparatus FS 2 , in case of discriminating whether or not the PSTN communication line is available, this discrimination is performed according to whether or not the modem  207  exists. In case of discriminating whether or not the ISDN communication line is available, this discrimination is performed according to whether or not the CCU  210  exists. Moreover, in case of discriminating whether or not the LAN communication line is available, this discrimination is performed according to whether or not the LAN controlling unit  217  exists.  
         [0098]    However, in case of discriminating whether or not each communication line is available, it is possible for the operator to previously set use or disuse of for each communication line and perform the discrimination according to the set contents. Moreover, it is possible to perform the discrimination according to whether or not the communication line in question is currently busy.  
         [0099]    If discriminated in the step S 802  that the plural available communication lines do not exist, the process ends without any operation. However, in this case, although not shown in the flow chart of FIG. 8, it is possible to display such a fact on the external display unit  205  or generate a warning sound from the speaker  206  to notify the operator that the communication line can not be selected.  
         [0100]    On the other hand, if discriminated in the step S 802  that the plural available communication lines exist, the communication line is selected according to the communication line just being selected.  
         [0101]    That is, it is first discriminated whether or not the communication line just being selected is the PSTN communication line (step S 803 ). If the communication line just being selected is the PSTN communication line, it is further discriminated whether or not the ISDN communication line is available (step S 804 ). If discriminated that the ISDN communication line is available, the state that the PSTN communication line is being selected is changed to the state that the ISDN communication line is selected, by the depression of the communication line selection key (step S 805 ). At this time, the communication line name “ISDN” determined according to such flow charts as shown in FIGS.  2  to  6  is displayed on the external display unit  205 , whereby the operator can easily discriminate which line is selected.  
         [0102]    Thus, since the ISDN communication line is selected, a calling operation is performed for the ISDN communication line (i.e., a setup message is transmitted to an exchanger), and then the communication starts according to a standard for the ISDN communication line (step S 812 ). For example, the image information read by the scanner  213  is communicated according to a G 4  facsimile standard.  
         [0103]    On the other hand, if discriminated in the step S 804  that the ISDN communication line is not available, then it is discriminated whether or not the LAN communication line is available (step S 807 ). If discriminated that the LAN communication line is available, the state that the PSTN communication line is being selected is changed to the state that the LAN communication line is selected, by the depression of the communication line selection key (step S 808 ). At this time, the communication line name “LAN” determined according to such flow charts as shown in FIGS.  2  to  6  is displayed on the external display unit  205 , whereby the operator can easily discriminate which line is selected.  
         [0104]    Since it has been already discriminated in the step S 802  that the plural available communication lines exist, when the communication line just being selected is the PSTN communication line, if discriminated in the step S 804  that the ISDN communication line is not available, there can be no case where it is discriminated in the step S 807  that the LAN communication line is not available.  
         [0105]    If discriminated in the step S 803  that the communication line just being selected is not the PSTN communication line, it is further discriminated whether or not the communication line just being selected is the ISDN communication line (step S 806 ). If discriminated that the communication line just being selected is the ISDN communication line, then it is further discriminated whether or not the LAN communication line is available (step S 807 ).  
         [0106]    Here, if discriminated that the LAN communication line is available, the LAN communication line is selected (step S 808 ). At this time, the communication line name “LAN” determined according to such flow charts as shown in FIGS.  2  to  6  is displayed on the external display unit  205 , whereby the communication starts according to a protocol for the LAN communication line (TCP/IP or the like) (step S 812 ). For example, the image information read by the scanner  213  is communicated according to an electronic mail standard.  
         [0107]    If discriminated in the step S 807  that the LAN communication line is not available, it is then discriminated whether or not the PSTN communication line is available (step S 810 ). If discriminated that the PSTN communication line is available, the PSTN communication line is selected (step S 811 ). At this time, the communication line name “PSTN” determined according to such flow charts as shown in FIGS.  2  to  6  is displayed on the external display unit  205 . Thus, since the PSTN communication line is selected, a calling operation is performed for the PSTN communication line, and then the communication starts according to a standard for the PSTN communication line (step S 812 ). For example, the image information read by the scanner  213  is communicated according to a G3 facsimile standard.  
         [0108]    On the other hand, if discriminated in the step S 806  that the communication line just being selected is not the ISDN communication line, it is further discriminated whether or not the communication line just being selected is the LAN communication line (step S 809 ). If discriminated that the communication line just being selected is the LAN communication line, then it is further discriminated whether or not the PSTN communication line is available (step S 810 ). If discriminated that the PSTN communication line is available, the PSTN communication line is selected (step S 811 ). At this time, the communication line name “PSTN” determined according to such flow charts as shown in FIGS.  2  to  6  is displayed on the external display unit  205 . On the other hand, if discriminated in the step S 810  that the PSTN communication line is not available, it is further discriminated whether or not the ISDN communication line is available (step S 804 ), and then the same operation as above is performed.  
         [0109]    Although it is usually impossible that the negative discrimination is performed in any of the steps S 803 , S 806  and S 809 , the process directly ends in consideration of the case where the state of the system changes during the operation. In this case, in order to notify the operator that an error occurs, it is possible to display such a fact on the external display unit  205  or generate a warning sound from the speaker  206 .  
         [0110]    By the above operation, the usable communication lines can be selected in sequence by depressing the communication line selection key. That is, for example, if the PSTN communication line, the ISDN communication line and the LAN communication line are all available, the communication lines can be selected in the order of PSTN communication line→ISDN communication line→LAN communication line→PSTN communication line→ . . . , by repeatedly depressing the communication line selection key. Moreover, since the name of the communication line just being selected is displayed, the user can easily know which line is being selected.  
         [0111]    In the present embodiment, the case of discriminating that the one PSTN communication line, the one ISDN communication line and the one LAN communication line are respectively connected and registering the discriminated communication lines respectively as “PSTN”, “ISDN” and “LAN” is explained, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, for example, if the two PSTN communication lines and the one ISDN communication line are connected, these lines are named, respectively, as “PSTN: 1”, “PSTN: 2” and “ISDN”. The present invention is applicable also to such a case, by replacing “PSTN”, “ISDN” and “LAN” in the steps of FIG. 8 with “PSTN: 1”, “PSTN: 2” and “ISDN”, respectively.  
         [0112]    Moreover, if the total two communication lines composed of the one PSTN communication line and the one LAN communication line are connected according to the flow charts as shown in FIGS.  2  to  6 , these lines are named respectively as “FAX” and “LAN”. Moreover, even in that case, if only the two communication lines of the PSTN communication line and the LAN communication line are available, similarly, the communication lines used in the communication can be selected in the order of PSTN communication line→LAN communication line→PSTN communication line→ . . . , and further the names of the lines just being selected are displayed, respectively, as “FAX” and “LAN”.  
         [0113]    As above, even if the combination of the type of lines and the number of lines changes, flexible measures can be achieved.  
         [0114]    In the present embodiment, the facsimile apparatus FS 2  includes the total three communication lines composed of the PSTN communication line, the ISDN communication line and the LAN communication line. However, the same operation as that in the facsimile apparatus FS 2  is applicable even to a system with which the plural PSTN communication lines can be connected or a system with which the plural LAN communication lines can be connected.  
         [0115]    The above operation is performed by the CPU  201  on the basis of the program stored in the ROM  202  or the RAM  203 . But, such a program as above may be stored in various storage media such as a floppy disk™, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magnetooptical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a memory card and the like, and is read out and loaded into an information processing apparatus such as a computer or the like or the facsimile apparatus FS 2  by using a dedicated reading apparatus, to execute the fetched program by the CPU  201 .  
         [0116]    Moreover, it is possible to apply the facsimile apparatus FS 2  to a facsimile apparatus in which a copying function, an electronic filing function, a printer function, a data processing function and the like are mixed with the communication function, a communication apparatus separated from a telephone set, a reading circuit and a recording circuit, or data communication control in the information processing apparatus such as the computer or the like.  
         [0117]    It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed therein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.  
         [0118]    While the present invention is described with reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth and this application is intended to cover such modification or changes as may come within the purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.  
         [0119]    According to the embodiments of the present invention, in the plural-communication-line-containing apparatus, it is possible to display the appropriate communication line name, cause the operator to easily discriminate the communication line, and control the operational confusion to the minimum.  
         [0120]    Moreover, according to the embodiments of the present invention, in the plural-communication-line-containing apparatus, it is possible to cause the operator to select the available communication line without any confusion.