Facsimile apparatus with automatic answering telephone function, and communication method in said apparatus

A communication method in a facsimile apparatus capable of being connected to a communication terminal which is able to perform predetermined communication in response to an incoming call on a communication line without an operation of the communication terminal being controlled by a control means that controls the facsimile apparatus, which includes a switch for selectively connecting the communication line to either a facsimile modem or the communication terminal which performs predetermined communication, said method comprising the steps of:

• detecting whether or not a calling party is a facsimile apparatus and whether or not a control signal for controlling the communication terminal is contained in a received signal, in a condition where the communication terminal is connected to the communication line;
• performing facsimile communication in a condition where the communication terminal is disconnected from the communication line, in a case where the calling party is a facsimile apparatus;
• and
• inhibiting execution of said performing step when the control signal is detected.

A communication apparatus capable of being connected to a communication terminal which is able to perform predetermined communication without an operation of the communication terminal being controlled by a control means of said communication apparatus in accordance with an incoming call and a control signal on a communication line, said communication apparatus comprising:

• data communication means for data communication;
• line connecting means for connecting and disconnecting the communication terminal to/from the communication line via said communication apparatus;
• detecting means for detecting a data communication request and the control signal while the communication terminal is connected to the communication line by said line connecting means;
• and
• said control means for causing said line connecting means to disconnect the communication terminal from the communication line and for causing said data communication means to perform data communication in accordance with the detection of the data communication request, or for holding said line connecting means in accordance with the detection of the control signal so as to connect the communication terminal to the communication line.

A data communication apparatus capable of being connected to a communication terminal which is able to perform predetermined communication without an operation of the communication terminal being controlled by a control means of said data communication apparatus in accordance with an incoming call and a control signal on a communication line, said data communication apparatus comprising:

• data communication means for data communication;
• line connecting means for connecting and disconnecting the communication terminal to/from the communication line via said communication apparatus;
• first detecting means for detecting a silent state of an incoming signal in a condition where the communication terminal is connected to the communication line by said line connecting means;
• second detecting means for detecting the control signal to the communication terminal in a condition where the communication terminal is connected to the communication line by said line connecting means;
• and
• said control means for causing said line connecting means to disconnect the communication terminal from the communication line and for causing said data communication means to perform data communication in accordance with the detection of the silent state by said first detecting means, or for holding said line connecting means in accordance with the detection of the control signal, in a condition where the communication terminal is connected to the communication line by said line connecting means, so as to connect the communication terminal to the communication line.

A switching method for a switch to connect a communication line to a data communication unit or a communication terminal which is able to perform predetermined communication without an operation of the communication terminal being controlled by a control means that controls the data communication unit in accordance with an incoming call and a control signal on the communication line, said method comprising the steps of:

• detecting a data communication request and the control signal on the communication line when the switch connects the communication line to the communication terminal;
• changing over the switch so as to connect the communication line to the data communication unit in accordance with a detection of the data communication request before the control signal, when an incoming call is detected on the communication line;
• and
• holding the switch so as not to connect the communication line to the data communication unit in a case where the control signal is detected before the data communication request, when the incoming call is detected on the communication line.

A switching method for switching to connect selectively a communication line to either a data communication unit or a communication terminal which is able to perform predetermined communication without an operation of the communication terminal being controlled by a control means that controls the data communication unit in accordance with an incoming call and a control signal on the communication line, said method comprising the steps of:

• detecting a silent state and the control signal on the communication line, in a condition where a switch connects the communication line to the communication terminal, when an incoming call is detected on the communication line;
• changing over the switch so as to connect the communication line to the data communication unit in a case where the silent state is detected before the control signal, when the incoming call is detected;
• and
• holding the switch so as not to connect the communication line to the data communication unit in a case where the control signal is detected before the silent state, when the incoming call is detected on the communication line.