Communication system and data communication method

A data communication method for a communication system comprising telephone terminals and a facsimile communication unit, comprising the steps of:

• receiving image data and telephone selection information into a memory;
• sending a signal representing the image data received in said receiving step to predetermined telephone terminals in accordance with the telephone selection information;
• and
• visibly outputting the image data in the memory in accordance with whether or not the predetermined data corresponding to the telephone selection information is manually inputted.

A communication system which comprises telephone terminals having display means, facsimile communication means for storing received image data and telephone selection information into a memory, and telephone line switching means for connecting a telephone line with one of said telephone terminals or said facsimile communication means selectively, comprising:

• display control means for controlling display means of said telephone terminals in accordance with the telephone selection information received by said facsimile communication means;
• and
• output means for outputting said image data stored in said memory in accordance with whether or not predetermined data corresponding to the telephone selection information is manually inputted, and
• wherein said display control means resets said display means in accordance with the output of the image data.

A data communication method for a communication system comprising telephone terminals and facsimile function means, comprising the steps of:

• receiving image data and telephone selection information into a memory;
• controlling display units of the telephone terminals which correspond to the telephone selection information to indicate the reception of the image data
• visibly outputting the data in the memory in accordance with whether or not predetermined data corresponding to the telephone selection information is manually inputted;
• and
• resetting said display units in accordance with the visible output of the image data.

A communication apparatus comprising:

• a facsimile communication unit which stores received image data and telephone selection information into a memory;
• a sending unit which sends a signal representing the received image data to predetermined telephone terminals in accordance with the telephone selection information;
• and
• an output unit which visibly outputs the image data in the memory in accordance with whether or not predetermined data corresponding to the telephone selection information is manually inputted.

A communication apparatus comprising:

• a facsimile communication unit which receives image data and telephone selection information and has a memory for storing the received image data;
• a line switching unit which connects a telephone line with one of telephone terminals or said facsimile communication unit selectively;
• and
• a controller which controls display means of said telephone terminals in accordance with the telephone selection information,
• wherein said facsimile communication unit has an output unit for outputting the image data stored in the memory in accordance with whether or not predetermined data corresponding to the telephone selection information is manually inputted, and when said output unit outputs the image data received by said facsimile communication unit, said controller resets said display means of said telephone terminals.