Communication systems having a function that allows communication between mobile and non-mobile facsimile terminals using different communication protocols

A communication controller having a function that allows the same communication protocol to be used for communications between a plurality of portable facsimile terminals and terminals other than portable facsimile terminals, said communication controller comprising:

• means for changing from a dedicated communication protocol dedicated for communicating with said portable facsimile terminals to a general communication protocol for communicating with said terminals other than said portable facsimile terminals;
• means for receiving information from a portable facsimile terminal and for transferring said information to a terminal other than a portable facsimile terminal, connected to a specified public telephone circuit using a general communication protocol;
• and
• means for transmitting information received from said terminal other than a portable facsimile terminal, connected to said public telephone circuit after the communication protocol has been changed from said general communication protocol to said dedicated communication protocol,
• wherein said communication controller relays communication discrimination information from a receiving terminal other than a portable facsimile terminal to a transmitting portable facsimile terminal,
• wherein said communication discrimination information is sent by the receiving terminal other than a portable facsimile terminal at the start of a communication in response to a request for communication discrimination information from the transmitting portable facsimile terminal, and
• wherein said communication discrimination information indicates the number of times the communication has been restarted to complete a current facsimile transmission and indicates the amount of data of the current facsimile transmission that has been transmitted.

A portable or mobile facsimile terminal comprising:

• means for effecting radio communications with a communication controller using a dedicated communication protocol which allows for communication with portable or mobile facsimile terminals;
• means for storing information;
• and
• means for transmitting said information to said communication controller a number of times determined by the status of communication with said communication controller;
• wherein said communication controller comprises:
• means for transmitting/receiving information using not only said dedicated communication protocol, but also general communication protocols which allow for communication with facsimile terminals other than said portable or mobile facsimile terminals, and
• means for changing between said dedicated and general communication protocols depending on the communication to be conducted,
• wherein said communication controller relays communication discrimination information from a receiving facsimile terminal to a transmitting facsimile terminal,
• wherein said communication discrimination information is sent by the receiving facsimile terminal at the start of a communication in response to a request for communication discrimination information from the transmitting facsimile terminal, and
• wherein said communication discrimination information indicates the number of times the communication has been restarted to complete a current facsimile transmission and indicates the amount of data of the current facsimile transmission that has been transmitted.

A communication system comprising:

• a base station;
• a plurality of radio telephones for communicating with said base station;
• a facsimile terminal connected to one of said radio telephones and operated with a dedicated communication protocol which allows for communication with said facsimile terminal connected to said one radio telephone;
• a plurality of facsimile terminals connected to said base station via a public telephone line and a telephone exchange and
• a communication controller connected to said public telephone line and having means for changing between said dedicated communication protocol and general communication protocols which allow for communication with said facsimile terminals connected to said base station via said public telephone line and said telephone exchange,
• wherein said communication controller relays communication discrimination information from a receiving facsimile terminal to a transmitting facsimile terminal,
• wherein said communication discrimination information is sent by the receiving facsimile terminal at the start of a communication in response to a request for communication discrimination information from the transmitting facsimile terminal, and
• wherein said communication discrimination information indicates the number of times the communication has been restarted to complete a current facsimile transmission and indicates the amount of data of the current facsimile transmission that has been transmitted.

A communication system for transmitting and receiving information between a portable or a mobile facsimile terminal and a general facsimile terminal, said communication system comprising:

• a communication controller, including a function of changing protocols, which sends calls on communication lines to transmit information to a terminal, and receives calls from terminals on said communication lines to receive information from said terminals,
• wherein said communication controller comprises:
• means for changing communication protocols for received information between a specified communication protocol dedicated for communicating with the portable or mobile facsimile terminal and a general facsimile communication protocol for communicating with the general facsimile terminal which is connected to communication lines,
• wherein said communication controller comprises:
• means for exchanging communication discrimination information with terminals each time a new communication for transferring information is started, and means for restarting a communication by exchanging said communication discrimination information and interruption point information after said communication has been interrupted and before it is restarted,
• wherein said communication controller relays communication discrimination information from a receiving facsimile terminal to a transmitting facsimile terminal,
• wherein said communication discrimination information is sent by the receiving facsimile terminal at the start of a communication in response to a request for communication discrimination information from the transmitting facsimile terminals, and
• wherein said communication discrimination information indicates the number of times the communication has been restarted to complete a current facsimile transmission and indicates the amount of data of the current facsimile transmission that has been transmitted.