Communication apparatus and method with means to control recall and other communication operations

A communication apparatus comprising:

• operation means for inputting a first communication request;
• interface means connectable to an information processing terminal for receiving a second communication request therefrom;
• calling means for performing a calling operation to a receiving end;
• and
• control means for controlling said communication apparatus in a selected one of a plurality of communication operations in response to each of the first and second communication requests, the plurality of communication operations including a recalling operation wherein said control means causes said calling means to recall a receiving end that had been called in a prior communication operation that was not fully performed,
• wherein said control means selects a communication operation other than the recalling operation for controlling said communication apparatus in response to the second communication request, and
• wherein each of the first and second communication requests includes information identifying a respective receiving end and requests a calling operation to the respective receiving end, and wherein said control means is responsive to the second communication request to make a determination whether or not the requested calling operation is equivalent to a recalling operation that fails to satisfy a predetermined recalling condition, said control means refusing the second communication request when the requested calling operation corresponds to that recalling operation.

A method of controlling a communication apparatus having an interface connectable to an information processing terminal, said method comprising the steps of:

• inputting a first communication request;
• receiving a second communication request from the information processing terminal through the interface;
• performing a calling operation to a receiving end;
• and
• controlling the communication apparatus in a selected one of a plurality of communication operations in response to each of the first and second communication requests, the plurality of communication operations including a recalling operation wherein said control step causes said performing step to recall a receiving end that had been called in a prior communication operation that was not fully performed,
• wherein said control step selects a communication operation other than the recalling operation for controlling the communication apparatus in response to the second communication request.

A method of controlling a communication apparatus having an interface connectable to an information processing terminal, said method comprising the steps of:

• inputting a first communication request;
• receiving a second communication request from the information processing terminal through the interface;
• performing a calling operation to the receiving end;
• and
• controlling the communication apparatus in a selected one of a plurality of communication operations in response to each of the first and second communication requests, the plurality of communication operations including a recalling operation wherein said control step causes said performing step to recall a receiving end that has been called in a prior communication operation that was not fully performed,
• wherein said control step selects a communication operation other than the recalling operation for controlling the communication apparatus in response to the second communication request, and
• wherein each of the first and second communication requests includes information identifying a respective receiving end and requests a calling operation to the respective receiving end, and wherein said control step is responsive to the second communication request to make a determination whether or not the requested calling operation is equivalent to a recalling operation that fails to satisfy a predetermined recalling condition, said control step refusing the second communication request when the requested calling operation corresponds to that recalling operation.