Patent ID: 6968207

Claim:
A communication system having a first communication apparatus capable of a first speech communication via a first communication line and a second communication apparatus capable of a second speech communication via the first communication line or a second communication line, comprising: a first speech device provided for the first communication apparatus for performing the first speech communication; a handset speech device provided for the second communication apparatus for performing the second speech communication; a hands-free speech device provided for the second communication apparatus for performing the second speech communication; a first detecting device for detecting a connection between the first communication apparatus and the second communication apparatus; a second detecting device for detecting a connection status of the first communication line; and a switching device for switching a speech communication from the first speech communication via the first communication line by said first speech device to the second speech communication via the first communication line by said hands-free speech device, in accordance with detecting by said first detecting device and said second detecting device, wherein the speech communication over the first communication line is maintained even if there is a switch between the first speech communication by said first speech device and the second speech communication by said hands-free speech device.