Multi-capability facsimile system

Multiple channel facsimile apparatus that allows transmission, receipt and processing of facsimiles of document image information and speech information on two another and display of such information, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of N(.gtoreq.2) signal-carrying channels for transmission and receipt of a facsimile of document image and speech information;
• image server means having an input terminal and an output terminal, for processing and storage of document image and speech information in digital form from each of the signal-carrying channels, and for retrieval and processing of document image and speech information to be provided for transmission on one or more of the signal-carrying channels, the image server means further having a memory for receipt, storage and provision of document image and speech information and computer processing instructions therefor in digital form, with the same resolution with which such information is received from a signal-carrying channel, having a central processing unit to perform and control processing operations on document image and speech information received from a signal-carrying channel and from the image server means memory, and having an expansion-compression co-processor to convert information received from a signal-carrying channel in compressed form to a de-compressed form for use by the image server means, and to convert document image and speech information contained in the image server means memory to a compressed form for transmission by a signal-carrying channel;
• image display means connected to the image server means, for receiving document image information from the image server means and from a signal-carrying channel and for visually displaying this information with the same resolution in which such information is received;
• master processing means connected to each signal-carrying channel and to the image server means, for controlling the rate at which information is exchanged between each signal-carrying channel and the image server means, and for enabling and disabling operation of the expansion-compression co-processor, with the master processing means, the image server means and each signal-carrying channel being connected to each other by a bi-directional data line;
• a first data buffer connected to the master processing means, for temporarily holding a large number M1 of units of document image and speech information for exchange between the image server means and the master processing means;
• a second data buffer connected to the master processing means, for temporarily holding a small number M2 of units of document image and speech information for exchange between the master processing means and one orm ore of the signal-carrying channels.