Communication apparatus providing improved information on the states of data channels

A communication apparatus used in a communication system in which a plurality of communication terminals use at least a communication line in common, comprising:

• detecting means for detecting a state of the communication line;
• generation means for generating a communication request;
• and
• informing means responsive to the communication request for informing an operator of said communication apparatus, in accordance with a detection result by said detecting means, that the communication line is available,
• wherein in a case where the communication line is busy when the communication request is generated, said informing means monitors the state of the communication line and, when the communication line becomes available, informs that the communication line is available.

A communication apparatus used in a communication system which has a line control unit for connecting, to a communication line having a control channel and a plurality of data channels, a bus line to which a plurality of communication terminals are connected, and in which the plurality of communication terminals use the communication line in common, comprising:

• monitoring means for monitoring signals of the bus line;
• discriminating means for discriminating states of the plurality of data channels in accordance with the signals of the bus line;
• and
• display means for displaying the states of the plurality of data channels in accordance with a discrimination result by said discriminating means.

A communication apparatus used in a communication system which has a line control unit for connecting, to a communication line having a control channel and a plurality of data channels, a bus line to which a plurality of communication terminals are connected, and in which the plurality of communication terminals use the communication line in common, comprising:

• monitoring means for monitoring signals of the bus line;
• discriminating means for discriminating states of the plurality of data channels in accordance with the signals of the bus line;
• and
• informing means for informing an operator of the states of the plurality of data channels in accordance with a discrimination result by said discriminating means.

A method of operating a communication apparatus communicating via a digital communication line which has a control channel and a plurality of data channels, comprising the steps of:

• converting digital voice data from the data channels of the digital communication line to analog voice signals;
• outputting the analog voice signals as audible tones,
• discriminating states of the plurality of data channels on the basis of signals of the control channel, and
• generating analog voice signals indicating the states of the plurality of data channels in accordance with a discrimination result by said discriminating step, and for causing said output step to output the analog voice signals indicating the states of the plurality of data channels as audible tones.

A method of operating a communication apparatus used in a communication system in which a plurality of communication terminals use at least a communication line in common, comprising the steps of:

• detecting a state of the communication line;
• generating a communication request;
• and
• responsive to the communication request, informing an operator of the communication apparatus, in accordance with a detection result by said detecting step, that the communication line is available,
• wherein in a case where the communication line is busy when the communication request is generated, said informing step monitors the state of the communication line and, when the communication line becomes available, informs that the communication line is available.

A method of operating a communication apparatus used in a communication system which has a line control unit for connecting, to a communication line having a control channel and a plurality of data channels, a bus line to which a plurality of communication terminals are connected, and in which the plurality of communication terminals use the communication line in common, comprising the steps of:

• monitoring signals of the bus line;
• discriminating states of the plurality of data channels in accordance with the signals of the bus line;
• and
• displaying the states of the plurality of data channels in accordance with a discrimination result by said discriminating step.

A method used in a communication system which has a line control unit for connecting, to a communication line having a control channel and a plurality of data channels, a bus line to which a plurality of communication terminals are connected, and in which the plurality of communication terminals use the communication line in common, comprising the steps of:

• monitoring signals of the bus line;
• discriminating states of the plurality of data channels in accordance with the signals of the bus line;
• and
• informing an operator of the states of the plurality of data channels in accordance with a discrimination result by said discriminating step.