Image communication apparatus capable of performing facsimile communication via IP network, method of controlling the same, and storage medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10051137-B2
Application number	US-201615375521-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2016
Priority date	Nov 13, 2012
Publication date	Aug 14, 2018
Grant date	Aug 14, 2018

Abstract

The present invention provides a technique that enables an image communication apparatus capable of performing voice communication and T.30 in-band FAX communication over the IP network to positively detect a CNG signal and achieve switching to FAX reception in the answerphone connection mode and the FAX/TEL-switching mode. The communication apparatus includes a MODEM that controls facsimile communication and a SLIC that controls a telephone. A selector includes switches for connecting the IP network and the MODEM, and switches for connecting the IP network and the SLIC. A CPU controls the switches of the selector such that signals from the IP network are supplied to both of the MODEM and the SLIC.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A communication apparatus that is capable of executing facsimile communication via an IP network, the communication apparatus comprising:
a facsimile controller including a tone detector configured to detect a facsimile identification signal, and configured to control facsimile communication by deeming an analog signal as voice;
a telephone controller configured to control a telephone;
a selector configured to control whether to supply input signals from the IP network to both the facsimile controller and the telephone controller, or to either the facsimile controller or the telephone controller; and
at least one processor that executes instructions to set a reception mode of the communication apparatus from among a plurality of reception modes including a FAX/TEL-switching mode that, when a call is received, automatically determines whether to execute a facsimile reception or execute voice communication using the telephone,
wherein the selector provides control so that the input signals from the IP network are supplied to the facsimile controller and are prevented from being supplied to the telephone controller according to a call for voice communication being received when the FAX/TEL-switching mode has been set, and
wherein the facsimile controller executes the facsimile communication via the IP network according to the tone detector detecting the facsimile identification signal.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the telephone controller causes the telephone to ring according to the call for voice communication being received while the FAX/TEL-switching mode has been set,
the selector provides control so that the input signals from the IP network are supplied to the telephone controller and are prevented from being supplied to the facsimile controller according to an off-hook state of the telephone being detected, and
after the selector provides control so that the input signals from the IP network are supplied to the telephone controller and are prevented from being supplied to the facsimile controller, the telephone controller executes voice communication using the telephone via the IP network.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the facsimile controller includes a modem.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the telephone controller is an SLIC (subscriber line interface circuit).

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the call for voice communication is an INVITE signal where a media attribute in a SIP protocol is audio.

6. A communication apparatus that is capable of executing facsimile communication via an IP network, the communication apparatus comprising:
a facsimile controller including a tone detector configured to detect a facsimile identification signal, and configured to control facsimile communication;
a telephone controller configured to control a telephone;
a selector configured to control whether to supply input signals from the IP network to both the facsimile controller and the telephone controller, or to either the facsimile controller or the telephone controller; and
at least one processor that executes instructions to set a reception mode of the communication apparatus from among a plurality of reception modes including a remote reception mode where a facsimile reception is started according to an instruction from a user issued during voice communication using the telephone,
wherein the selector provides control so that the input signals from the IP network are supplied to the telephone controller and are prevented from being supplied to the facsimile controller according to a call for voice communication being received when the remote reception mode has been set.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein:
the telephone controller causes the telephone to ring according to a call for voice communication being received while in the remote reception mode,
the selector provides control so that the input signals from the IP network are supplied to the telephone controller and are prevented from being supplied to the facsimile controller according to an off-hook state of the telephone being detected, and
after the selector provides control so that the input signals from the IP network are supplied to the telephone controller and are prevented from being supplied to the facsimile controller, the telephone controller executes voice communication using the telephone via the IP network.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein:
the telephone controller waits for reception of a DTMF signal from the telephone during voice communication using the telephone via the IP network,
the selector provides control so that the input signals from the IP network are supplied to the facsimile controller and are prevented from being supplied to the telephone controller according to the telephone controller receiving the DTMF signal from the telephone, and
after the selector provides control so that the input signals from the IP network are supplied to the facsimile controller and are prevented from being supplied to the telephone controller, the facsimile controller executes the facsimile communication via the IP network.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the facsimile controller executes facsimile communication by deeming an analog signal as voice.

10. The communication apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the facsimile controller includes a modem.

11. The communication apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the telephone controller is an SLIC (subscriber line interface circuit).

12. The communication apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the call for voice communication is an INVITE signal where a media attribute in a SIP protocol is audio.

13. A communication apparatus that is capable of executing voice communication and facsimile communication via an IP network, the communication apparatus comprising:
a connector that connects a telephone;
at least one memory that stores a set of instructions; and
at least one processor that executes the instructions to:
set a reception mode of the communication apparatus from among a plurality of reception modes including an answerphone connection mode where a facsimile reception starts according to a detection of a facsimile identification signal;
cause the telephone to ring according to a call for voice communication being received while the answerphone connection mode has been set;
detect off-hooking of the telephone and send an automatic reply message using an answerphone function of the telephone via the IP network; and
execute the facsimile communication via the IP network according to the detection of the facsimile identification signal.

14. The communication apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor executes the instructions to:
detect the off-hooking of the telephone and stop causing the telephone to ring and send a reply signal to the call for voice communication for a call connection via the IP network; and
send an automatic reply message using the answerphone function of the telephone via the IP network according to the call connection being completed.

15. A method of controlling a communication apparatus that is capable of executing facsimile communication via an IP network, the communication apparatus comprising a facsimile controller including a tone detector configured to detect a facsimile identification signal, and configured to control facsimile communication by deeming an analog signal as voice, a

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Inoue Yutaka

Classifications

• H04M2242/24

  Detection or indication of type terminal or call, (e.g. fax, broadband) · CPC title

• H04N1/32728

  an off-hook condition · CPC title

• H04N1/32708

  Telephone · CPC title

• H04N1/32756

  Inhibiting connection of another apparatus when a first one is connected · CPC title

• H04N1/32726

  signals other than facsimile protocol signals, e.g. DTMF signals · CPC title