Facsimile machine having computer-linked mode

A communication system, comprising:

• a computer,
• a facsimile machine, the facsimile machine including means for scanning an image on a document, means for storing image data associated with the scanned image, and means for printing the stored image data,
• a telephone line for connecting the facsimile machine to a remote facsimile machine,
• an exclusive line for connecting the facsimile machine to the computer and through which digital signals are directly deliverable to the facsimile machine from the computer,
• means for transmitting image data between the facsimile machine and the remote facsimile machine based on a standard facsimile transmission procedure, the image data comprising at least one of image data received from the computer and stored in a memory and image data scanned by a scanner and stored in a memory,
• means for receiving an instruction command from the computer,
• means for transmitting image data between the facsimile machine and the computer based on an instruction command received from the computer,
• means for sending a response signal from the facsimile machine to the computer when the facsimile machine receives an instruction command from the computer, whereby operation of the facsimile machine is supervisable by the computer,
• a memory for storing data,
• means for calling the remote facsimile machine upon an instruction command from the computer,
• means for receiving image data from the remote facsimile machine,
• means for storing the image data received from the remote facsimile machine in the memory,
• means for transferring the stored image data to the computer in accordance with the instruction command received from the computer, the stored image data comprising at least one of image data received from the remote facsimile machine and stored in a memory and image data scanned by a scanner and stored in a memory, and means for transferring data between the computer and the remote facsimile machine in response to a command received from the computer.