Method for automatically receiving image data in facsimile system regardless of whether such facsimile system is operating in private line mode or public line mode

A method for automatically receiving image data in a facsimile system including a telephone operable in one of a private line mode and a public line mode, said method comprising the steps of:

• generating a ring tone upon reception of a ring signal from a telephone line connected directly to one of a public switch telephone network and another data transmission device in response to an incoming call;
• detecting whether said facsimile system has been set in an automatic reception mode regardless of whether said facsimile system is operating in one of said private line mode and said public line mode, upon generation of said ring tone;
• forming a voice speech upon detection of a hook-off state of said telephone when said facsimile system has not been set in said automatic reception mode, and alternatively, when said ring signal has not been received from the telephone line;
• determining whether a function key has been entered by an operator when the telephone remains on-hooked;
• performing a function corresponding to said function key entered by the operator;
• and
• automatically receiving said image data upon detection of a calling tone.

A facsimile system operable in one of a private line mode and a public line mode, comprising:

• means for automatically receiving image data from a telephone line regardless of whether said facsimile system is operating in one of said private line mode and said public line mode, upon reception of a ring signal responding to an incoming call when said facsimile system has been set in an automatic reception mode, said private line mode indicating that said facsimile system is directly connected to another data transmission system, and said public line mode indicating that said facsimile system is connected to another data transmission system through a public switch telephone network;
• means for forming a voice speech upon detection of a hook-off state of said telephone after said ring signal is received from the telephone line, when said facsimile system has not been set in said automatic reception mode;
• and
• means for enabling automatic reception of said image data when said ring signal is not received but a calling tone signal is detected from the telephone line.