Network communication apparatus and method for performing a T.38 communication function using a voice capability of a gateway apparatus

A network communication apparatus that includes a function for performing communications via an IP network and that includes an ITU-T standard T.38 communication function but does not include a voice communication function, the network communication apparatus comprising:

• a unit configured to generate a setup call connection signal including a T.38 communication capability and a dummy voice capability to start a call connection operation;
• a unit configured to send the setup call connection signal to a gateway network communication apparatus located between the network communication apparatus and a destination communication apparatus;
• a unit configured to receive a call connection signal from the gateway network communication apparatus, to determine whether or not the gateway network communication apparatus includes the dummy voice capability and the T.38 communication function based on the received call connection signal, to send a dummy CNG packet to the gateway network communication apparatus when it is determined that the gateway network communication apparatus has the dummy voice capability but does not have the T.38 communication function, and to perform T.38 communication operation after sending the dummy CNG packet;
• and
• a unit configured to disconnect the call connection operation without sending the dummy CNG packet when detecting that the gateway network communication apparatus does not include any one of the T.38 communication function and the dummy voice capability based on the received call connection signal.

A network communication apparatus that includes a function for performing communications via an IP network and that includes an ITU-T standard T.38 communication function but does not include a voice communication function, the network communication apparatus comprising:

• a unit configured to generate a setup call connection signal including a T.38 communication capability and a dummy voice capability to start a call connection operation and to send the setup call connection signal to a gateway network communication apparatus located between the network communication apparatus and a destination communication apparatus;
• a unit configured to receive a call connection signal from the gateway network communication apparatus, to determine whether or not the gateway network communication apparatus includes the dummy voice capability and the T.38 communication function based on the received call connection signal, to send a dummy CNG packet to the gateway network communication apparatus when it is determined that the gateway network communication apparatus has the dummy voice capability but does not have the T.38 communication function based on the received call connection signal, to perform, when bandwidth limitation is not set in the network communication apparatus, T.38 communication operation after sending the dummy CNG packet, and to disconnect the call connection operation without sending the dummy CNG packet when detecting that the gateway network communication apparatus does not include any one of the T.38 communication function and the dummy voice capability;
• and
• a unit configured to perform T.38 communication operation without sending the dummy CNG packet when the bandwidth limitation is set.

A network communication method performed by a network communication apparatus that includes a function for performing communications via an IP network and that includes an ITU-T standard T.38 communication function but does not include a voice communication function, the network communication method comprising the steps of:

• generating, at the network communication apparatus, a setup call connection signal including a T.38 communication capability and a dummy voice capability to start a call connection operation;
• sending, at the network communication apparatus, the setup call connection signal to a gateway network communication apparatus located between the network communication apparatus and a destination communication apparatus;
• receiving, at the network communication apparatus, a call connection signal from the gateway network communication apparatus,
• determining, at the network communication apparatus, whether or not the gateway network communication apparatus includes the dummy voice capability and the T.38 communication function based on the received call connection signal;
• sending, at the network communication apparatus, a dummy CNG packet to the gateway network communication apparatus when it is determined that the gateway network communication apparatus has the dummy voice capability but does not have the T.38 communication function based on the received call connection signal;
• performing, at the network communication apparatus, T.38 communication operation after sending the dummy CNG packet.

A network communication method performed by a network communication apparatus that includes a function for performing communications via an IP network and that includes an ITU-T standard T.38 communication function but does not include a voice communication function, the network communication method comprising the steps of:

• generating, at the network communication apparatus, a setup call connection signal including a T.38 communication capability and a dummy voice capability to start a call connection operation;
• sending, at the network communication apparatus, the setup call connection signal to a gateway network communication apparatus located between the network communication apparatus and a destination communication apparatus;
• receiving, at the network communication apparatus, a call connection signal from the gateway network communication apparatus,
• determining, at the network communication apparatus, whether or not the gateway network communication apparatus includes the dummy voice capability and the T.38 communication function based on the received call connection signal;
• sending, at the network communication apparatus, a dummy CNG packet to the gateway network communication apparatus when it is determined that the gateway network communication apparatus has the dummy voice capability but does not have the T.38 communication function based on the received call connection signal;
• performing, at the network communication apparatus, T.38 communication operation after sending the dummy CNG packet;
• and
• disconnecting, at the network communication apparatus, the call connection operation without sending the dummy CNG packet when detecting that the gateway network communication apparatus does not include any one of the T.38 communication function and the dummy voice capability based on the received call connection signal.

A network communication method performed by a network communication apparatus that includes a function for performing communications via an IP network and that includes an ITU-T standard T.38 communication function but does not include a voice communication function, the network communication method comprising the steps of:

• generating, at the network communication apparatus, a setup call connection signal including a T.38 communication capability and a dummy voice capability to start call connection operation;
• sending, at the network communication apparatus, the setup call connection signal to a gateway network communication apparatus located between the network communication apparatus and a destination communication apparatus;
• receiving, at the network communication apparatus, a call connection signal from the gateway network communication apparatus,
• determining, at the network communication apparatus, whether or not the gateway network communication apparatus includes the dummy voice capability and the T.38 communication function based on the received call connection signal;
• sending, at the network communication apparatus, a dummy CNG packet to the gateway network communication apparatus when it is determined that the gateway network communication apparatus has the dummy voice capability but does not have the T.38 communication function based on the received call connection signal;
• performing, at the network communication apparatus, when bandwidth limitation is not set in the network communication apparatus, T.38 communication operation after sending the dummy CNG packet, and disconnecting the call connection operation without sending the dummy CNG packet when detecting that the gateway network communication apparatus does not include any one of the T.38 communication function and the dummy voice capability;
• and
• performing, at the network communication apparatus, T.38 communication operation without sending the dummy CNG packet when the bandwidth limitation is set.

A gateway apparatus which relays communications between an IP network and a switched telephone network, the gateway apparatus comprising:

• a unit configured to receive a call connection request from a first communication apparatus connected to the IP network which indicates a T.38 communication capability and a dummy voice capability to start call connection operation, and to transmit the call connection request to a second communication apparatus connected to the switched telephone network;
• a unit configured to transmit information indicating whether the gateway apparatus has a the dummy voice capability and the T.38 communication function to the first communication apparatus;
• a unit configured to receive a dummy CNG packet corresponding to a voice capability of the gateway apparatus from the first communication apparatus when the gateway apparatus indicates to the first communication apparatus that the gateway apparatus includes the dummy voice capability but not the T.38 communication function, and to transmit a CNG signal to the second communication apparatus based on the dummy CNG packet;
• and
• a unit configured to perform facsimile communications with the second communication apparatus based on a T.38 communication request from the first communication apparatus.

A method implemented on a gateway apparatus which relays communications between an IP network and a switched telephone network, comprising:

• receiving, at the gateway apparatus, a call connection request from a first communication apparatus connected to the IP network which indicates a T.38 communication capability and a dummy voice capability to start call connection operation, and transmitting the call connection request to a second communication apparatus connected to the switched telephone network;
• transmitting, a the gateway apparatus, information indicating whether the gateway apparatus has a the dummy voice capability and the T.38 communication function to the first communication apparatus;
• receiving, at the gateway apparatus, a dummy CNG packet corresponding to a voice capability of the gateway apparatus from the first communication apparatus when the gateway apparatus indicates to the first communication apparatus that the gateway apparatus includes the dummy voice capability but not the T.38 communication function, and transmitting a CNG signal to the second communication apparatus based on the dummy CNG packet;
• and
• performing, at the gateway apparatus, facsimile communications with the second communication apparatus based on a T.38 communication request from the first communication apparatus.