CA1317361C

CA1317361C - Communication terminal device

Info

Publication number: CA1317361C
Application number: CA000609772A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Fukushige Ogawa
Original assignee: Toshiba Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Corp
Priority date: 1988-08-31
Filing date: 1989-08-30
Publication date: 1993-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 2010-05-04
Also published as: US5042028A; DE68918907D1; DE68918907T2; EP0357427A3; EP0357427A2; EP0357427B1

Abstract

ABSTRACT
A communication terminal device connected to a communication network via a plurality of information channels used for transfer of information such as line switching information or packet switching information and a signal channel used for control of calling an objective communication terminal. In the device, two CODECs are provided in two corresponding information channels among information channels and analog sources such as a handset and a communication function control unit operative in a G3 facsimile code for encoding and converting switching information, supplied from the analog sources to the information channels, to a digital signal, and decoding and converting switching information received from the information channels, to analog signals. Analog switches are provided between the analog sources and the CODECs to switch among the analog switches and these CODECs to send and receive signals to and from the analog sources and the CODECs. Thus, simultaneous communication of image information (G3 mode/image information (G4 mode), image information (G3 mode/voice information, and voice information/voice information is possible depending on the aspect in which the analog switches are switched.

Description

co~MuNIcArIoN ~RMINAL ~ICE

ACKGROUND OF ~HE I~VENTION
1, Fi~ld o ~
~ he present inv~ntion relat~ to a comm~nication terminal device connect~d tQ a communication network via info~al:ion channels used fo~ tranqmis~ion of line switching information, pack~t ~witchin~ information o~ the like and a signal channel used for control of a call to an objective comm~nication t~rminal, and more partic~larly to a communication te~minal device ~ich performs ~fficient comm~nic~tion proce~sings ~in~ the information channels effecti~ely in a communication n~t~ork in which at least t~o cha~nel are dispos~d ~s the information chann~ls.
s~
An information channel for transfer of switching in.fo~tion and a signal channel for transfer of aontrol information may b~ ~eparat~d in a communication network such that control information can b~ tran~mitt~d, ~or exampl~, via th~ signal chan.nel at any time separately from voice informatio~ or imag~ in~ormation. as switchin~
information, or that a plurality of information channels can be controlled ~ia a single ~i~nal ch~nn~l to provide varlous service~ different in. nature s~ch as tele~hon~, telex or $acsimile sy~thetically and efficlently. One ~ch network is known con~entionally aQ an IS~N
(I~teg~at~d Service~ ~igital Network).

In the ISD~, the i~l~ormation channel~ and ~he ~ignal ch~nnel are called ~ and P-channel~, respecti~ly~
Especially in the ~-channel a~ th~ signal chann~l, identification lnformation o~ a caller's co~munlcatlo~
t~rminal is transmitted additlonally as the control information. ~herefore, in the called communic~ion terminal, it c~n be known in accordance with th~
identifica~ion information on ~he call~r's communication terminal tran~mltt~d via th~ channel which o~ the communication terminal~ ha~ tran~mitted th~ in~ormation tV4i~e inormation and ima~e information) in t~ B-channel.
In the ISDN, a plurality of chann~ provided a& the infor~ation channels (B-channels) ln order to controllably handle various s~rvic~ diffe~ent in nature such a~ telephone, telex and fac~imile~ Thu~, the transmis~ion of in~ormation is po~sibl~ in the form of si~ultanaous trans~ission of voic~ information and ima~
infor~ation using t~o empty ones of th~ information channel~.
~ or~ sp~aifically, if there i~ an inaoming tel~phon~ call in a first infor~atlon ahannel du~in~
communication oP imag~ i~formatlon in a G4 facslmile mod~
in ~ ~econd information channel, sim~ltan~ou6 communic~tion of imRge and voic~ is selected to co~tinue the ope:ration betw~n th~ appropriate communication t~rminaL deviceç, 13173~

AGCO~ding to ~u~h ISD~, it i8 true that the above vario~s 3er~ices can be reallz~d synth~tically and e~ficiently, and also sim~ltaneous communication of imaye and voic~ is po~ible, afi mentionecl above, butl for example, the existing facsimile d~vic~ connected to the ISDN is limited in u~e to the communication o~ image information in the G4 fac~imile mode and voice information on. ~e~ula~ telephone communication although simult~neou~
communication of imag~ and voic~ i3 possibl~, 80 that the eEficie:nt u~e o~ the whole communication network is not n~c~ssarily achi~v~d.
Fo~ ex~mple, the follo~ing ~equirement6 ~re essenti~l for re~lizing a very siynificant form of u~e in ord~r to improve the u~er interf~ce ~s the communication t~rminal d~vic~ or in ord~r to improv~ the communi~ation eficiency of th~ whole communic~tion network~
~a) When therQ is an originating t~lephone call in the se~ond information çhannel d~lring the com~unic~tion of image info~mation in the ~4 fac~imil~ mod~ in the ~irst informat,ion. channçl, the orlginating tele~hone call relating to a requefit for receipt of image information in the G3 ~ac~imile mode, th~ call Rhould b~ r~c~ d;
(b~ Wh~n there is an originatin~ telephone çall in the ~econd infonmation chann~l during telephone communication in th~ first information çhannel, the originating telephon~ call ~lating to a reguest for r~c~ipt of image information in th~ G3 fa~simile mode, the call ~hould be recçiv~d;
(c) Wh~n ther~ i~ an originati~g tel~phon~ ~all in the second information channel during telephone communicAtion in the first informat~on channel, the ~all r~latin~ to a r~q~st for tel~phon~ communication, th~
call should be received; and (d) When there is an ori~inating telephone c~ll in th~ *econd information chal~n~l during t~l~phon~
communication in the first infor~ation channel, the call relating to a reque~t for t~l~phon~ comm~nication, the oall should b~ r~corded by an a~tomatic answ~ring syst~.
~ owever, ~ome existlng communlcation terminal d~vic~s cannot virtu~lly realize these requirements in what~ver mann~r th~y ar~ conn~cted to th~ IS~N.

SUMMARY OF TH~ INVENTION
It i8 th~r~for~ object o~ the pres~t i~v~ntion to provide a communication terminal device which i8 excellent in th~ r int~)rface, and gr~atly imp~oves ths communication efficiency on th~ ba~is of the efficient u~ of a.t l~ast two in~orm~tion channels for transfe~ o~
switching information in a communication network which also has a ~ignal cha~n~l for ~ransfer o control information.
It is a specific obj~ot o~ th~ pr~nt inv~ntion to provi.d~.~ a communication terminal deviae whiah i~
capable of prop~rly r~alizing simultaneous communica~iQn _ 5 _ 1 31 7 3 61 of imAge in~orm~tion in th~ G4 and ~3 facsimile mo~e~, ~imultan~olls communication of ~Joice informatio~ and imag~
information in the ~3 facsimile mo~e, and simult~neous communi.ca~ion o~ two kind~ of voice information~
In order to achieve such object, accordi~g to the pre~ent invention, two COD~C~ ar~ provid~d in any ~orr~pondin~ inform~tion channel~ between analog qources 8uch as a handset an~ a communlcatlon functlon control unit operati~ in a G3 ~acsimile mode and the information channel~ to encode th~ ~witching information ~ent from an analog source to an in~ormation channel to a digital si~n~l and to decode the ~witching in~orm~tion received from ~n information ahann~l to an anàlog ~ignal. Analo~
6witche~ are provid~d b~t~een the analog sources and th~
CODEC~ and ~witched ~o as to tran~mit and receive ~ignals to and from d~sir~d one~ o~ the an~log ~ources ~nd t~e CODECs.
By ~uch arran.gement, the following opexations ar~ eaqily re~lized depending on the a~p~ot~ in whlch the a~alog ~witche6 ar~ switch~dî
(a) When there i~ an originating t~l~phon~ call in the 6eaond in~ormatio.n ~hannel during the co~munication of imag~ information in th~ G4 fac~imil~ mod~ in th~ flr~t lnformatio~ channel, the originating telephone call relating to a r~uest for receipt of im~ge in~ormation in the G3 ac~i~ile mode, the call ~hould b~ received lThe signal path between the CO~EC corr~ponding to th~ second - 6 - 13173fi~

infonnation chann~l and the communicatlon f~nction control unit in th~ G3 ~acsi~il~ mode is cond~ct~d. );
(b~ When there i~ an originating telephone c~11 in the s~cc,nd inormatlon ohannel during telsphone comm~nication in the first in~ormation chann~l, the original;ing tel~2pho~e call r~lating to a r~2q~t fox re.ceipt of image information in the G3 fac~i~ile mode, th~
call ~hould be recei~d (The signal path between the handset and th~ CODE(: corr~ponding to the fir~t information channel ls main~ained conductive while the signal path bet~een the CODEC correspondin~ to the ~econd informa~ion chann~l and -th~2 communication function control unit in th~ G3 fac~imile ~ode i~ conducted.);
(c) When there is an originating t~21~phone call in the second information ~hannel during t~lephone co~m~ic~tion i~ the first in~ormation chann~l, the call r~lating to a request for telephon~ communicationr th~
calL ~hould be r~ceived ~Th~ conduction b~twe~n the handset and the CO~EC corr~spondin~ to the first infoxmation channel is t~mporarily rel~a~d and the signal path between the hands~2t and the CODEC corr~sponding to the s~cond info~ma~lon channel i~ ~ond~ct~d.); and (d) ~h~n there is an originating t~l~phone call in th~ ~cond information chann~l during t~l~2phon~
communication in the first informa~ion channel, the c~ll r~lating to a reguest for telephone commu~ication, th~
call ~hould be r~cord~d by an ~utomatic an~ring 6y~tem ~3~73~

(The conduction between the handset and the CODEC
corresponding to the first information channel is maintained while the signal path between the automatic answering function unit and the CODEC corresponding to the second information channel is conducted).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a communication terminal device according to the present invention.
Fig~ 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the communication terminal device according to the present invention performed when there is an originating call.
Fig. 3 corresponds to Fig. 2 for an incoming call.
Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the simultaneous processing performed by the communication terminal device of Fig. 1 when there is an originating call or an incoming call during G4 facsimile communication.
Figs. 5 and 6 each are a flowchart showing the simultaneous processing performed by the communication terminal device of Fig. 1 when there is an incoming telephone call.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Fig. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a communication terminal device according to the present ,~
~.

131736~l in~ention. In the particular embodiment, for a con~enience 3ake, the ISDN, m~ntion~d a~ov~ con8~der~d as the aommunicatton ~t~ork an~ a facsimil~ d~vice is consldel-~d as the communic~tion terminal device.
A~ ~hown in Fig. 1, the device of the ~irst em~odiment mainly incl~de~ a main control unit 1 ~hich ~yst~mal:ically controls the whole device, a file ~ni.t ~an image memory) 2 in which imag~ data i~ t~mporarily ~tor~d as needed, an op~ration s~ction 10 w~ich tr~nsmits and r~ceiv~ data to ~nd ~rom the us~ (op~r~tor), an im~g~
procos~or 20 which performs ima~e proces~3ing& such as image reading and r~cordin~ as a facsimile unit, ~ network co1nmunication unit 30 which per~orm5 communi~ation (call) proce~3s:i~gs on an outgoing ~nd an incoming call between th~ par~ticular devic~ and th~ IS~N, a FAX communication control unit 4n whiah r~all~es a ço~nunication control function in accorda~ce with fac~imile. proces~e~ ln 80-~alled G3 and G4 modes~ a voic~ co~trol unit 50 which re~li.ze~3 thR comm~nication control f~nction in aaco~danc~
with pr~d~t~rmined process~ en by ~o-called telephone lin~ in.Formation lncl~din~ voice information mainly and which r,qaliz~s the t3imultaneou& comm~nication of two kinds of in~ormatlon ln various forms to be de&crlb~d lat~r ln ~ore detail a~ the particular device, and a hand~et 60 connected to the voi~ control unit 50 fo~ tran~itting and recei~in~ direct voice information to and from the op~rato~.

13~73~1 g ThR structure and function of these el~ment~
will now be deso~ibed in more detail. The op~ration section 10 includ~s a k~.yboacd 11 ~ich performs a oall origi~al:ing operation and other keying-in operationi, a di~play 12 which ~isually displays information on operation guides and other n~ces~a~y information, an op~ratic~n ~ontrol unit 13 which tran~it~ th~ inf~rmation keyed in at the keyboard ll to the main control unit 1,, and di~playg on th~ di~play 12 th~ in~orma~ion from the keyboard 11 ~nd commands on display from the main co~trol llnit l. ~rhe r~glllar call origination by~ th~ operator is per~orm~ad through the operation section 10 ~th~ main control unit l recognizes th~ originatiny call and starts the FAX co~munication control unit 40 or voice control ~nit S0). The number of the terminal which has brought about the incoming call .i~ al~o display~d and ~epo~ted to the operator via the op~ration ~ection 10.
The image processor 20 includes a reader 22 which r~ads an imag~ in an original docu~ent rec~ived via an imag~3 sensor 21 ~uch as a CCD, a read~r aontrol unit 23 which properly controls the ~eadln~ o~ the image by th~
~ad~r :2;2 and con~ert~ th~3 r~3ad im~ge to a binary lmag~3 sig~al, a recording unit 25 which records on paper an image corresponding to the imaga signal (bi~ary signal) via a r~oording head 24 such as a thermal head, a r~cording control unit 26 ~hich suppli~s th~ ima~ signal to the ;c~cordi~lg unit 2S and properly control~ the - lo ~ ~3~

recording operation of the recording ~nit 25, and an ima~
~u~Per :~7 which buf~r~ the ima~ slgnal received from the reader oontrol unit 23 while transferring t~ b~ff~red imag~ ~.ignaL to the FAX ~o~n~nicatlon control unit 40, or buffers the im~ge data received from the FAX communication control u~it 40 whil~ iuppl~ing th~ buff~red inform~tion to the :ce~ording control unit 26, in ~ccord~nc~ with commands ~rom th~ maln control unit 1. The ima~e proc~ssor 20 per~orms well-known image. xeading and lmage r~cording op~rations as th~ facsimile device.
Th~ n~twork communloation unit 30 includes a network interface 31 connected to an ISDN via the ~- and D-chann-sl6 (not 6hown), a first and ~ second network control units 32 and 33 conn~ct~d to the network interf~ce 31 to s~3p~rately perform op~rAtions ~or orlginating and receiving c~lls mainly to and f~om the I9DN. The fir~t n~twork control unit 32 p&rforms th~ abo~ oall processes in ~ fi;cst channel (h~reinafter referred to as a first informati~n ~hannel) chl oE the B-channel~ ~lnformation chann~ls) whil~ th~ sQoond network control unit 33 performs the ~ove c~ll proce6ses i~ ~ second chann~l ~h~roillaft~r r~f~rr~d to aj a ~cond inEormatlon channel) ch2 o~ the B channels.
The voice control unit 50 inolude~ a voice m~mory 51 which has an area i~ ~hich an incoming ton~
sig~al produced when there is an incoming telephone c~ll, a holding tone produc~d ~hen tel~phon~ ~o~munication is 13~73~1 held, and a voice me~sage which informs the call~r of the possible u~e of an a~tomatic ~ns~rin~ function are ~tored beforehclnd as digital ~oice ln~orm~tion, and an ar~a in.
which the voic~ information recei~d ~rom the caller i6 recordecl a8 digital ~oice information when an a~tomatic an~w~ring function is used, on~ o~ theffe voice in~ormation ~gments being 6eleoti~ely read or written f~om or in the memory 'il in accordanc~ with ~ch command from the main con trol unit 1, a ~oice CO~EC 52 which convert~ ~d~ood~s) th~ voic~ information (digital signal) read out ~rom the YOice m~mory 51 to an anAlog signal, and aon~e~t~
(decode~;) voic~ in~or~ation (an analog si~nAl) written in the voice memo~ 51 to a digital ~lgnal, a ton~ d~t~ctor 53 which detects an incoming tone (tone 6ignal) indiaative of a request for r~ceipt of image data in a G~ facsimil~
mode, a first PCM CO~EC S4 p~ovided in th~ tir~t i~ormation ch~nnel ahl for converting ~decoding) a digital signal (P~M signal) re~ d ~ia the ~irst information chann~l chl to an analog signal and suppll~
it to th~ voice cont~ol unit 50, converts (encode6) an analog ~ignal, tranxmitt~d ~rom th~ voio~ control ~nit 50 to the :Ei~st inforlnation channel chl, to a digital si~n~l (PCM si~nal) ~nd outputting th~ resulting signal, a ~econd PC~ CODSC 55 disposed in th~ s~cond infor~ation ch~nnel Ch~ for converting (d~coding) the digital slgnal (PCM
sign~l) recei~d ~ia the second info~matlon ch~nn~l ch2 to an analog signal and ~toring it in the voic~ ~ontrol unit 13~736~

50, converting (d~coding) the analog ~i~nal, supplied f~om the voice control unit 50 to the second informatlon.
channel ch2, to a dLg~tal signal (PCM ~i~n~l) and outputt:ing th¢ digital ~ig~al, .~ first and a ~cond analog 6witch '~6 and 57 di~po~ed among the fir~ and second PCM
CODEC~ 54 and 55 and analog sou~o~ (analog signal inputting/outputting units s~ch as th~ voice memory 51 via th~. voice CO~C 5~, tone detQctor 53, th~ G3 fa~simile mode communication function unit in the FAX communication control unit 40 and hand~t 60 for switching th~
conductive states among four t~minals ~, b, c and d, a G3-~nt~rface S8 bet~en the voice control ~nit 50 and th~
G3 facsimile mod~ comm~nication ~nction unit in the FAX
co~nunicatlon ~ontrol unit 40, and an ddder 59 dl~posed, a~ ~hown, betw~n the ~espectiv~ fir~t and second analog switc~le~ 5~ and 57 and h~ndset 60 fo~ adding analog voice info~mation sign~
Th~ r~3~p~ctive termin~l3 a of the ~irst and ~eoon~ analog switch~s 56 ~nd 57 ar~ conn~cted in common to the analo~ input/output t~r~ninal of the volce CO~EC 52 and to a tone si~nal detection terminal of the to~e detec~or 53, the respective t~rminals b of the an~lo~
switches 56 and 57 are conneot~d to the ~n~log input/outp~t t~r~inal~ of th~ correspon~ing PCM CODEC~, the re~pective terminals c of the analog xwitches 56 and 57 are connect~d in common to th~ G3 interfac~ 58, and the respective terminal~ d are connected to one input/output terminaL of t:he ~dd~rs 5q.
The first and second analog ~witche~ 56 and 57 ar~ cont.rolled independently so th~t th~ ~imultaneo~
comm~nication of two kind~ of information is re~lized in several form6, which are conventiona~ly consldered to ~e impossible, in accordance with the respective swit~h~d states of the analog ~witoh~s.
Figs. 2 - 6 ill~strate the various operation~ o~
the ~o~uni~atlon t~minal de.vice of the partic~lar ~mbodim~nt, mainly the aperation~ of th~ main control unlt 1, ~nd th~ r~pecti~ op~rational mechanisms of the communication t~rminal d~ice will be des~ribe~ in d~tail with referen~e to Figs, 2 - 6 together.
Th~ ope~ation of the communic~tion terminal device related to general outgoin~ and incomln~ ~alle in th~ ca~ of faa~ FAX~ communlcation and r~gular voic~ ao~munication ~t~lephone aommunication) will be describ~d. ~all origina~ion is per~ormed by th~ oall originating operation o~ th~ main control unit 1 illustrated in Fig. 2. Assu~e now that the operator p~rform6 a predet~r~ined calling operation to any parti~llar subscrib~r thro~h th~ k~yboard ll of the op~ration unit 10 in a~cordanoe ~ith approp~iate guides for operation displayed on th~ display 1~ of th~ op~ration unit 10~ Th~ aommunication t~rmlnal d~lco ~tart~ the proce~sing~, r~cit~d b~low, in accordanc~ with ~he reco~nition o~ the callin~ op~ration by the main control - 14 ~ 1317361 unit l (step 20l of Fi~. 2 ):
(l) W~len the main ~ontrol u~it l reco~nize~ the oalling operation in accordance with a report on the keyb~ard op~ration from the. op~ratio~ contxol unit 13, it determin~s ~hether the calling oper~tion require~
fac~imil.e ( FAX) commu~ication via the opè~atlon aont~ol unit 13 or ~oic~ communication (tel~phon~ communication) ~t~p 202 o~ Fig. ~)t (2~ A~ ~ ~esult, if the main ~ontrol u~it l d~t~rmi~es that the aalli~ operation require~ FAX
communic:ation it starts the FAX co~muni~ation control unit 4~ and outputs a call ~uest to the network control ~nit 32 o~- 33 via the FAX aommunicatio~ control ~unit 40 ~step 203 of Fig~ 2). In accordana~ with the call reque~t the network cvntrol unit 32 or 33 perfo~ms a predetermined calli~g process via the n~twork i~ter~ace 31 to a d~sired o~jectiv~ t2rminal. Thereaft~r the main control unit l starts the image processor 20 (reader 22) on con.dition that the aomm~nication enable ~tate i~
brought abo~t by the execution. of th~ calling proce~ to ~tart tr.ansmission of th~ imag~ data via an empty informa1:ion ohan~l7 (3) A3 the result of the determination (~tep 20Z of Fig. 2) if th~ main control unit ~etermines that the callin~ operation r~quires voice co~munication (telephone com~unication) lt ~tart~ the voice ~ont~ol unlt 50 and outputs a calllng r~quest via the ~oice control unit 50 to the net~ork control unit 32 or 33 (~t~p 204 of Fig 2).
In accordance with thi~ calling re~uest, th~ n~t~ork control unit 32 o~ 33 p~rforms a p~ed~t~rmin~d calling process via t~e network interface 31 to th~ dosired objectivo t~rmin~l. Th~r~a~t~r, the main control unit l controls the snalo~ switcheq S6 and S~ so as to rende~
co~duc~ive the path bet~een the terminal~ b and d of a switch corre6pondin~ to an empty inEormation ~hann~l, and logically connects th~ handset 60 to the ompty information chann~l. By th~ above p~oa~ssing by the mai~ control unit 1, FAX communicdtion or voice communlcation (telephon~
communication) i8 ~tarted. Simultaneous communication o~
image ~ataJvoic~ data is po6sibl~ via two empty information channel~ in the ca~ of the facsimile communication (in a ~4 mod~) and ~egular ~oic~
com~unication con~iderod.
The incomlng c~ll op~ration ~s pe~formed by t~e main co~t~ol unit 1 as illu~trated in Fig. 3. Assume now that a call is originated for r~qu~sting communication ~facsimil~ communica~ion or regular voic~ communicAtion) to th~ communication terminal d~vice o~ Fig. 1 by another communic:ation terminal (a facsimile unit, not shown) conn~cted to th~ ISDN. The communic~ion t~minal which llas oriqinated ~he call ~irst send~ to the IS~N a ~lgnal to call th~ com~unication t~x~inal d~ice of the particu]ar embodiment. The call signal u~ually incl~des data inclicative of th~ s~bscrib~ number ~llocat~d b~fo~ehand to the call~r.
Thb ~alL ~ign~l sent to the ISDN iB receiv~d a6 an incoming signal by the net~ork contro~ unit~ 32 or 33 in the communioation ~erminal device vla the IS~N oirouit ~D-channel) and the n~twork int~rface 31~ Wh~n the n~two~k control unit ~2 or 33 r~cel~e~ the incoming si~nal, th~ communication terminal d~vice ~tarts to pe~form p~ocessing~ r~cit~d below in accordancç ~lth the reco~nition of ~h~ incomlng signal by ~h~ main control unit 1 (step 301 of Fig. 3):
(1) When the main control unit 1 reco~niz~s the lnooming aall in accordance with a r~po~t on the incoming call from the network control unit 32 or 33, it d~t~rmines wheth~r th~ in~om~ng c~ll siynal re~uires FAX
oommunication or voice communication ~t~l~phone communicatio~) via t~ twork control unit 32 or 33 (step 302 of Fig. 3)~
( 2 ) As a r~sult, if the ~ain control unit 1 determines that the incoming ~ignal requires ~AX
~ommunicAti~n, it pe~forms ~ pr~deter~ined in~oming signal ~spons~ proce.ss via the FAX com~unication control unit 40 and ~twvrk ~ontrol unit 32 or 33 (step 303 o~ Fig. 3).
Th~.~reafter, the main control unit 1 st~rt3 th~ image processor 20 (recording ~nit 25) to receive image data on condition that coMmunlc~tion enable state is brought abou~
~y the exe.cution of the incoming ~ig~al r~ponse process.
The image data recsived and su~sequ~n.t to the inco~ing ~3173~1 ~all s~gnal 1~ suppli~d to the n~twoxk control ~nit8 32 or 33 via an empty infor~ation channel, dpp~opriately demodul.at~d vi~ the FAX communication control unit 40, transferr~d to the lmage buffer p~oce3~0r 37, and recorded on recording paper via the recording unit 35; ~nd ~3) As the re~lt of th~ d~t~rmination (step 302 of Fig. 3 ), if the main control unit 1 deter~ines that th~
incoming call signal require~ voice communication ~t~lephone communication), it performs ~ pred~t~rmin~d incoming ~i~n~l r~spons~ process via the ~oic~ ~ontrol unit 50 and network control unit~ 32 or 33 (6tep 304 of Fig. 3). Th~reaft~r, th~ ~ain control ~nit 1 cont~ols the analoy ~itche~ S6 or S7 90 as to render çon~uGtiv~ the path between the terminals b and d of the ~witche~
56 or 57 corr~sponding to an elnpty information channel on condition that th~ co~mun.lcation enabl~ ~tate is ~rough~
about by the ~xecutt.on of the inco~ing call re~pon~
proce~s to thereby connect th~ hand~et 60 logically to the e~pty information chann~l.

~3173~1 Uy the above operation of the main control ~nit 1~ a ~parat~ proc~in~ is ~oerform~d wh~th~r ~t i~
directecl to F~X co~unic~tion or to voi~e communicatlon ~tel~phc)ne co~unic~tion). Also in this case, simultaneou~ communlaation of imag~ data and voice data is pos~ible through two empty information channels in the fac~imi~.e comm~ni~tion (in the G4 mod~) and regul~r voice communic;ation con~id~r~d her~.
A~ a specific ex4mple o~ th~ operation of the device meeting the a~t~al ~ituation, v~riou~ operatio~ of th~ d~i.c~ p~rformed, for example, whe~ ther~ 18 a ~e~uest for an originating call or an inaomin~ call in the second in~ormat:ion channel during C4 facsimile com~unicat on th~ough the ~irst info~matlon c~hann~l, ~ill b~ de~ribed with r~ nc~ to Fi~. 4.
A~ume no~ that wh~ G4 fac~im~l~ communiaation is being perEormed through th~ first information channel, the op~rator p~rorm~ th~ pred~t~rmin~d callin~ op~ratlon to any partiaular ~ub~crib~r. T~ d~ic~ start~ th~
~o~lowing proce~sing in ~ccordanc~ with the re~ognition of the c~lling operation by th~ ~ain ~ontrol unit l (~ep 410 of Fig. 4~:
(1) When the main control unit l recogni~es the calling operation in ac~ordance with a report on th~
keyboartl operation ~rom the ope~ation cont~ol unit 13, i~
det~rmin~ ~h~ther th~ callin~ operation ~equire~ FAX
communica~ion in th~ G3 mode or ~o~c~ communtcation ~3~7361 lg --(telephone communication) th~ough the op~ration control unit 13 (step 411 of Fig. 4)~

(2) A~ a result, i~ the control unit 1 detarmines that the caLling op~r~tion require~ FAX comm~nic~tion in the G3 mode, it start~ the G3 mode communic~tion control functio~ p~rt of the ~AX communication control unit 40 and outputs a ~alling ~eq~st to the network control ~nit 33 through the G3 mod~ communica~ion control ~unction part (~t~p 41~ of Fig. 4). Thus, the network control unit 33 performs ~ predetarmined calling proc~ss to th~ de~ired objecti.ve ~ubscribar through the network interf~e 31, as mention.ed abo~1 (3) Thereaft~r, the main control ~nit 1 ~et~ the second analDg switch 57 corre~pondlng to the s~cond inEormation channel ch2 in tha voice control unit 50 ~o as to rencl~r conductive the path betw~n the tenmin.als b and c o~ tha ~econd analog switch S7 (step 41 of Fig. 4) and ~tart~ a pred~t~rmined FAX communication pro~s~ing in th~
~3 mod~ ~hrough the image processo~ 20, ~AX communication contro:L unit 40, ~3 int~rfac~ 58, second analog swit~h 57, second PCM CODEC 55, and sacond network control unit ~3 tste~ ~15 of Fig. 4). The imaga p~ocessing in that G~
i~ per:Eormed u3ing the portion of the imaga proce~o~ 20 oth~r th~n its portion ~d in tho G4 mode ( for ~xample, using the ~eader 22 if the f~csimile ~ommunic~tion in the G4 mod~ parformed now involves recording (receivel i~ag~
~ata). Of course, it is not performed ~o if desir~d 13i73~

tran~mlt:ted image d~t~ is beforehand ~tored in the ~ile section ~ imMge memory) 7 in the G3 rnode. In that case, ~i~ultaneo~s communication in th~ G4/G3 mode6 i8 possibl~
irrespective of ho~ th~3 imag~ proces~or 20 i3 us~d. If communic:~tion enable state is ~ot bro~ght out for the convenience of the objecti~e subscriber although the calling pro~s i~ performed (step 413 of ~ig~4), the m~in ~ont~ol uni~ 1 3hi~ts to a ~tandby state for a new oriyinat:ing call o~ an incoming call;

(4) A~ the r~sult of the dete~mination (1) (st~p 411 of Fiy~ 4), if the ~ain controL unit d~termines that the calling op~ation requires voice communication (telQphone ~ommunic:ation), it starts the voic~ control unit 50 to output an originating call requefit ~o the network control u~it 33 through the voice control unit 50 (step 416 of Fig. 4). Th~, the network control unit 33 performs a desired calling proces~ to th~ d~sir~d objective ~ub~crib~r through the network interface 31, ~s ~ntion~d abo~e~ clnd (5) ~hereafter, the ~ain cont~ol unit 1 s~ts the second ~nalog ~itch 57 correspondln~ to the second informat:ion channel ch2 in the voice cont~ol unit 50 80 as to render conductive t~e pat~ b~tw~n th~ ter~inals b ~nd d of th~ it~h 57 (~tep 418 of ~ig, 4) to thereby enabl~
communication through the hand~et 60, add~r 59, second analog ~witch 57, seaond PC~ CODEC 5S and second n~twork control unit 33 (step 411 of Fi~. 4). If the 13173~1 communlcation en~ble sta~e i~ not brought ~bout for th~
convenience o~ the objectiv~ subxc~ r ~n by th~
execution of the calli~g proce88 (~tep 417 of Fig. 4), the main control unit l shifts ~o a ~tand~ ~tate for a n~
originating call or a n~ in~omin~ call.
Similarly, if the incoming c~ll signal mentloned above i~ received at th~ net~ork control unit 33 whe~ G4 ~acsimile co~nmunication i3 boing p~rformed i~ the first information chann~l, the communication ter~inal device performs the following pro~essing~ in accordance with the recognition of th~ incoming call by the ma~n control unlt l (~t~p 420 of Fig, 4)~
(1) When th~ main. cont~ol unit 1 recognizes the incoming call in accordance with a r~port on th~ i~coming call frc,m the network control unit ~3, it determine~
~hether the inaolning call ~ignal is diréct~d to fa~simll~
(FAX) in a G4 mod~ or an incoming tel~phon~ call (~t~p 421 of Fi~. 4)~
(2) As a rssult, if the m~in control unit 1 determirle~ that the incoming call slgnal is directed to an incominç~ fac~imile (G4 mod~) call, it ~k~s a ~USY
r~spo~e to the caller through th~ F~X communic~tion control ~n.it 40 ~nd network control unit 3~ (~tep 422 o~
Fig. 4) and shiftY to a ~tandby s~ate for a new originat:ing call or an lnaolning call;
(3) As th~ result of the det~rmi~ation (step 421 o~
~ig. 4~, if the ~ain control unit d~t~rmines ~hat th~

incoming c~ ignal is ~irecte~ to an incoming telephone call, i1: makes a pred~termined r~spon6e ~o the inco~ing call through the volce control ~nit S0 ~nd ne~o~ control unit 33, and sets th~ ~econd analog ~itch 57 corresponding to th~ second info~mation channel ch2 in th~
voice co~trol unit 50 so as to ~ender conductlve th~ path betwe~ the t~rminals a and b of th~ ~alog switch 57 (step 423 of Fig. 4) to logically conn~ct the ton~
detecto~ 53 to the second infvxm~tlon chann~l (s~cond PC~
CODEC S5) ~hich ha~ r~c~ived the incoming call and to determ:Lne wh~ther th~ tone sig~aL ~8 b~en r~celved (step 424 of Fiy. 4)t t4) As a result, lf t~e main cont~ol unit l de~rmines that the tone signal has be~n ~ec~ived, namely, that the inconling t~lephone call ~9 a r~que6t for ~ao6imile receipt in th~ G3 modQ, it set~ thç seaond a~alog switch 57 so as to re~der conducti~e the path betwe~n thR terminals b And c (~tep ~25 of Fig, ~) of the switch 57, and starts a predetermin~d FAX comm~ication (r~ipt) in the G3 mod~ through the ~econd network control unit 33, se~ond P~M COD~C 5S, s~cond analog switch S7, G3-i~terface 58, FAX co~m~nica~ion c;ontrol unit 40 an.d imag~ proces~o~ 20 (st~p 426 of Fig. 4)~ I~ the i~age proce,ssing i~ ~ha~ cas~ i~ pe~formed ~hrough the po~tion of th~ image proc~sor 20 other than its portion use~ in the G4 mode (fo~ example, through the recording unit 2S if the :Eacsi~ile communic~tion which i8 b~ing p~rformed in ~31~36~
~ 23 -thc G4 mod~ i~ directed to reading (trlnsmi~ion~ o~ im~g~
data). Of aourse, in this ca~e, rec~ived lmHge d~ta may be stored in th~ fil~ ~Init ( irna~e merno~y) 2 ~ven if there are no ~mpty locationE; in th¢ image proces~or 20. At any event, slmultan~ou~ fac~imile comm~nication in ~he ~4 mod~/G3 mode is pos~ible by ~lch ope,ration of the communication te~minal de~ic~ of th~ p~rticular ~bodiment;
(5) ~s the result of the d~termination (step 424 of Fig~ 4), if the main control unit 1 determin~s that no ton~ si.gna~ i~ received, nam01y, that th~ inoomin~
tel~phone call i5 a r~qu~st for telephon~ communi~ation, it mailltain th~ ond ana~og switch S7 6uch that cond~ctive the pdth b~tw~en the t~rminals a and b of th~
~itch ~7 to operat~ the automatic an~ering telephone function, for exampl~, whils reading a voice messags fro~
th~ vsice m~mory 51 and transmittlng it to the obiective subsarlb~r (st~p 427 of Fig. 4)~ and (6) Wh~n the ~utomatic ~nawering telephone ~nction i~i th~ls operated, the main control ~nit l sets the ~oi~
memory 5 ln the r~aording mod~ (~tep 428 of Fi~, 4)~ It re~a!ies the reaording mode and ~hift6 to a 6tand~y ~tat~
for a new originating call or a n~ in~oming call ~f ter a lapse of a predete~mined time during which ~ mes~a~e (voic~ data) ~ro~ the objective co~m~nication terminal i~
s~ffici~ntly recorded or if the objectiv~ te~minal has perorm~d an op~ration of breaking th~ ao~icatlon ~tate suoh as an off-hook operation (step 4Z9 of E'ig. 4).
Thu~, even if fa~slmil~ communication i~ being performed in a G4 mode in one info~matlon channel, another facsimile commun.ication o~ t~l~3phone comm~nication c~n be performed in a G3 mod~ usi~g anoth~r ~mpty information channel, ~ hile it i~ illustrated that th~ ~utomatic an~wexing telephone ~unGtion is opera~d a~ shown in th~
it~ms (5) and (6) if there ig an incoming telephone call to r~q~st a t~l~pho~ call in the example of Fig, 4, th~
operation of th~ co~munication terminHl devi~e may be c~ang~d, of course, to the followingg z (5') When no ton~ ~ign~ detec~ed, ~he m~in control unit re~de data on th~ i~coming ~all tone and o~tputs it to the handset 60 to th~reby r~q~lr~ th~
op~ratOr to p~rform a~ off-hook operations and (6') If th~ hand6et go~s off-hook, the ~ain control unit 1 6ets the second analog s~ltch 57 so as to render oond~otive the path between th~ t~rminals b and d o~ the ~witch 57 to thereby enable telephone communication, The op~ration o the communi~tion termin~l device p~rform~d ~h~n there is an i~coming telephone call through the se~ond information channel d~ring tel~phon~
oomm~ni~ation in the first informa~ion ~h~nnel will now be de~cribed as anoth~r ~p*cifi~ example. Fig. S illust~ates the operation of the communication terminal d~lce perfo~m~.d for po~itiv~ly catching ~n incoming telephone call, if any, wltho~t reJecting it if th~ telephon~ call i~ direct~ to ~ requ~st ~or t~lephone communication.
First, variou~ op~ratlons of th~ comm~nication t~rminal device direct~d mainly to that catching ope~tion and perorm~d during t~lephone communic~tion in the fir~
i~formation channel will now be described i~ detail witb ref~re~ce to ~ig. 5. If the incoming call ~ignal i~
receiv~d by the network control u~it 33 during tel~phona communic:ation in the fir3t information channel, th~
~ommunioation termin~l device starta the operations reaited b~low in accordance with th~ r~co~nition of the incomin~ signdl by the main control unit l (step SOl of Fig. 51:
(l) When the main control unit l r~cognizes the in~omin~ signal in accordan~e ~ith a report on the lncoming si~nal rom the n~twork control unit 33, it respond~ to the incomin~ signal in a predetarmined mann~r th~ough the voice cont~ol unit 50 and netwo~k control unit 33, then B~t8 th~ second analog ~witch 57 corre~ponding to the second inforMation c~annel ch2 in the voio~ control unit sa ~o as to r~nder cond~ctiv~ th~ path betwo~n th~
t~rminals a and d o the s~itch 57, re~d~ data on th~
inaoming 3ignal to~e from the voice m~mory Sl, outputs it to the hand~et 60 and requir~ ~ha ope~ator, w~o ~s ma~
a ~el~phone call thro~1gh the h~nd~et 60, to perform an operat:Lon abo~t whether he will rec~iv~ the n~w inooming signal or not (step 502 of Fig~ 5)1 ~31736~

( 2 ) If there i~ th~ keying-in ope~ation by the operator through th~ op~ration ~nit 10 to the effec~ that he will :r~Cei~e th~ n~w incoming ~all or perform th~
catching operation (atep 503 of Fig. 5), the maL~ cont~ol ~nit 1 r6~Cogni~ss it and sets the first analog 6Witch S6 in which the ~ath betwe~n th~. t~rminals b and d of the switch 5~ is conductive in a state in which tho p~th between the t~rminals a and b of the s~itch i8 co~ductive, then reads data on the holding tone from th~ vo~ce m~mo~y 51 and ~.end i.t to the obj~ctive com~unic~tion terminal whiah iE; put so fa~ in the telephon~ com~un iCation throu~h thQ voice COD~C 52, first analog ~witoh 56, first P~
CODEC 54, and first net~ork cont~ol unit 32, sets the seGond analog switch 57 in which the p~th between the terminal~ a and ~ o~ the 6witch 57 is cond~ctl~e in anoth~r state in ~hich the path betwe~n th~ t~rminals b and d of the switch 57 is conduotiv~ to ther~by ~n~ble telephone communication with a te~minal which h~ bro~ht about the llew inco~n~ c~ll in the ~eaond informatlon ch~n~e]. (st~p 504 of Fi~. 5)~
~3) ~her~aft~r, ~o long as ther~ i~ no operatlon inp~t ~)y the operator (step 505 of Fig. S), the main contro:L ~nit 1 maint~ins its telepho~e comm~nication through the second i~formation channel (st~p 506 of Fig, ~), and initi~ es the second an~log 6witch 57 (for example, such th~t no conduotion i8 establlshed between any t~o ~f fou~ termi~als) ~nd ~itohe6 a~ain the irst ~ 3~7~6~
_ 27 -analog ~witch 56 to a ~tate in which ths p~th b~tw~en terminals b and d of the ~itch 56 is conductlve i~ the telephone communication is termlnated (~t~p 507 o~ Fig. 5) to ~cover telephone communication through th~ firflt in~ormatlon ch~nnel (step 508 of Fig. 5);
~4) ~s~ume that after telephon~ communicatlon with th~ call,sr from ~ho there has b~en the new inco~ing call in the second information channel is enabl~d (step 504 of Fig. 5~, the operator ha~ p~rformed th~ input op~ration through the operatlon ~nit 10 to again s~l~ct the comm~nication t~rminal in the fir~t information channel (step 5()5 of Fl~. 5). ~he ~ain control unit l ~t~ the ~irst ~nalog ~witch 56 so a8 to render conducti~e the path betwe~n th~ terminals b and d of th~ sw~tch 56 to retu~n to th~ communication through the ~irst information chan~el, and th~ ~aond analog switcb 5~ 50 ~B to r~nder conduct.iv~ the psth between the termlnals a and b of the s~itch 57, s~nd~ the d~ta on th~ holding tone r~ad Prom th~ voic~ ~mory 51 now throu~h th~ now CODEC 52, ~aond analo~ swit~h 57, s~cond P~M CODEC S5 a~d s~cond nstwork control unit 33 to the communic~tion termi~l in th~

s~cond in~ormation ChAnn~l ( 3tep 50~ of ~ig. 5 ), initia.liz~s ~he flrst an~lo~ ~witch 56 when th~
comm~nication thro~gh the fi~st in~ormation oh~nnel i5 t~rminated (~t~p 51~ of Fig. 5), again ~et~ th~ ~eaond analog s~itch 5~ ~o as to ~ender ~onducti~ the path betwe~n the t~rminal~ b and d of the xwitch S7 to thereby recover t~lephone com~unication through the second informat:ion chanr-el (~tep 511 of Fiy. S); and ( 5 ) ABSUme that after tel~phorle communi~ation ~ith the caller from whi~h th~re wa~ the new inco~in~ call in the secolld ln~ormation channel is enabl~d (step 504 of Fig, S ), the operator ha~ performed an input operation through the operation unit 10 to select a third-party telephone communioation (step 50S of Fig. 5). At thi6 time the main control unit 1 maint~ins th~ second analog switc~ S7 in the stat~ in ~hich the path between the terminal~s b and d of the switch 57 i~ conducti~, set~ th~
fir~t an,~log ~itcb 5~ so as to r~nder conductive the path bet~n the terminal~ b and d o the switch 56 to ena~le a third-pa:rty t~l~phone communiaation through th~ add~r 59 with the objective s~bs~rib~rs in the second information channel ,~nd in the first information chann~1 tst~P 51~ o~
Fig~ 5).
When telephone communication with th~ caller from which th~r~ was the new incomlng call in the s~o~d information channel ig ~nabl~d (step S04 of Fig. S), and if the incomi~g t~l~phonQ calL r~q~ests Eac~ilnile ~eceipt ill the G3 mode, th~ oper~tor hims~lf recogniz~s a tone sign~l indicative oE th~ r~quest for facsimile ~ec~pt .
In that cas~, th~ operator det~rmin~s that t~ n~w incoming t~l~phone call i~ directed to a reque~t for facsimile receipt in tbe G3 mode (step S13 of Fi~. S) and performs an i~put operation through th~ operation ~nit lO

~ 3~73~ 1 to the ~fEeot that faa~imile r~ceipt in the G3 mode i5 ~llow~ble. I
Wh~n s~ch input operation iK performed, th~ j commun~cation t~rminal devich of the particular embodim~nt further performs th~ ~ollowing prOCQ5sin~s in ac~ord~nce wlth th~ r~cognition of the. input op~ration by the main control u.~it l (step 514 of Fig. 5 ): i ( 6 ) ~hen the mai.n control unit l recogni~s ~he input operation that faGsimile r~ceipt in the G3 mod~ is allowabl~, it switch~s th~ f i~Bt an~log swltch 56 ag~in ~uch thal: cond~ction 1~ establi~hed between lt~ t~rminals b and d to retur~ th~ first inXormation channel to a telephon~s communicatio~ ~tate, con~rols the ~econd analog switch 57 ~o as to ~nd~r conductive the path bet~n th~
terminals b and c (st~p 515 of Fi9. 5), and start6 a pr0det~r~in~d FAX comm~nlcation ~receptlon) ln the G~ mode th~ough th~ second r~twork control unit 33, s~cond PCM
CODEC 55, s~cond analog switch S7, G3~int~rfaco S8, FAX
comm~nication controL unit 40 and imag~ proce~or 20 (~t~p 516 o~ E'ig. 5).
According to th~ above operation of the aommunication termillal devic~, ~ven if one in~ormatlon chann~l iB uo~d for t~lephone com~nicatlon, catahing the caller ~rom which ther~ was th~ new incoming call in ~n empty information channel and fac~i~il~ communication in th~ ~3 mod~ through anothe~ empt~ information channel c~n rformed sim~ltaneously.

13173~1 A re~ue~t for facsi~iLe r~c~ipt in th~ G3 mod~
c~n b~ perform~d, of course, in the ~anner ~hown by the broken l.ine in Fig. 5, u~ing the tone det~ctor S-~. In thi~ case, if the in~omin~ call iynal i~ recei~r~d in ~he ne~work control unit 33, the co~municatio~ t~rminal d~vice sta~t~ proce~ing~ de~cribed b~low in accord~nce with the recogni1:ion o~ the incoming call by the main control unit 1 (ste~ 501 of P~q. 5 i /

- 31 - 13173~1 (7) Wh~n the main control u~it 1 recognizes the lncoming call in aocordance with a r~port on th~ incoming call f~oln the network control ~it 33, it m~kes a predetermin~d r~pon~e to th~ incoming caLl throug~ the voice cc,ntrol ~nit 50 and ne~twork control unit 33, controls the second analog ~wit~h 57 corre~pon~ing to t~
~econd i.nformation chann~l ch2 in th~ ~oice co~t~ol uni~
50 so as to render cond~ti~ the path between the termina].~ a an~ b (step 520 of Fig. 5) o th~ switch 57 to Logical].y conn~ct the tone d~tector S3 to th~ ~cond i~foxmat:ion chanl~el (the ~cond PCM CO~EC 5S) in which the~e ~as the i~cominy call, and determine6 whethe~ the ton~ sign~ r~c~ived (step 5Zl of Fig. 5).
(~) As a res~lt, if the main control ~nit d~termines that the to~e si~nal is r~c~ived, namely, that the ~n~om.inq telephon~ cell is a requ~t for a facsi~ile reoeipt in the G~ mod~, it control~ the ~econd analog ~witch 57 so a6 to r~nd~r conductiv~ th~ path b~twee~ the termina:L~ b and c (~tep 522 o~ Fig, 5)o th~ s~itch ~7, and ~tarts a ~red~termlned FAX communication (~ec~lpt) i~
th~ G3 mode th~ou~h the ~econd n~work ~o~trol unit 33, second PCM CODEC S5, ~econ~ ana~og ~witch 57, G3-lnterface 58, FAX communicatlon ~ontrol u~it 40 and image proce 20 ~fitep 523 o~ Fig. 5).
Al~o by the ~bove prQc~sing, simultaneou~
communication of tel~phone con~unioation a~d ~3 mo~e faCSilllile iB po~qible. In this c~se, if no receipt of the 13173~1 ~ 32 -tone slgnal i~ racogniz~d in the ~tep of $21 o~ Fig, 5, control ~hift~ to ~he processing (1) (step 50~ of Fig. S).
If the n~ incoming call in th~ empty inf~rmation channel i~ a requ~st ~or fac~im~1 communication in th~ G4 mode, the gimultaneo-ls communication of telephon~ communication and G4 mode fa~simile i~ ~hieved as mention~d above with no prublems.
Fi~. 6 mainly ilLustrdtes the ope~ation of th~
automatic ~n~wering telephone f~nction which includes autom~t.ically recordi.ng voic~ in~ormation ~rom a aall~r on an incoming ~all r~qu~sting a telephone ~ommunication and receiv~!d through the second information channel during tel~phone commun.ication in the fir~t informatio~ channel.
Finally, vario~ operations of ~he communioation t~rminal device direat~d main].y to the a~tomatic answering t~l~phone ~unction and perormed during t~l~pho~
communi.cation in the fi~st information channel wlll b~
described in d~tail with rbfsr~nc~ to Fig. 6~ If the in.coming call slgnal is received ~n the n~twork control unit 3~ durin~ t~l~phone communication in the i~st information channel, thQ communication t~rminal d~vice of the partiaular ~mbodiment starts its p~ocessing in ths aspects r~cit~d below in accordance with the recognition of th~ inco~ing call by the main control unit 1 (step 601 of Figv 6).
(l) When the mai~ control unlt 1 reco~nizes that there wa~ the incomin~ call in ~cco~danc~ ~ith a report on 13173~

the lncoming call from the network control unit 33, it makes a R~dete~mined respon~e to the incoming call through the voic~ cont~ol unit 50 and n~twor~ co~trol unit 33, control~ th~ s~cond analog ~witch 57 corre~ponding to the second in~ormation ch~nnQl ch2 in the voice control unit 50 ~o a~ to render oonduc~ive th~ path b~tween the terminals a and b of the switch 57 (step 602 of Fig. 6) to loglcally connect the tone det~ctor 53 to the second information channel (~econd PCM COD~C 55) i~ which the incomi~g call is received and to determine ~hether th~
tone s~gnal is received (~tep 603 of Fig. 6)J
(2~ As a r~sult, if the ma~n ~ont~ol ~nit determin~s that no tone si~nal is rec~ived, namely, that th~ incoming tel~phone call i~ a r~quest ~or tel~phon~ co~munication, th~ main control unit 1 maintains the seaond analoy ~witch 57 in a state in which the path between the terminals a and b of the 6witch i~ conductive whil~ r~ading the voiae.
m~ssa~e ~rom th~ m~mory 51 and s~nds it to th~ ob~ectiv~
communication terminal (~t~p 604 of Fig~ 6)1 13) Th~ main control unit 1 then s~t the voi~e m~lnory 51 i.n a r~.cording mud~ (step ~05 of Fig. 6)~ After a lapse o f a pr~determined tim~ in whlch the m~ssage (voice data) from th~ objective communication terminal i~
r~corde.d suficiently, or if the o~jective aommunication t~r~inal ha~ t~rminated th~ communication by p~r~orming ~n on-hook op~ration (stæp 60~ of Fig. 6~, the main cont~ol unit 1 relQases the re~ording mode, lnitializes the ~econd 131736~
- 34 ~
~nalog 6witch 57 ~t~p 607 of Fig~ 6~ and ~hifts to a ~tandby stdt~ for a new origin~ting G~ll sr ~ new incomin~
call; arld (4) If th~ main control unit dt~termin.~s that the ton~ sicln~l is r~ct3ived, name.ly, that th~ in~omin~
telephorlt3 call i~ a reque~t or facaimile receipt in ths G3 mode as the ~s~lt of the determination about whe~her the tone signal i8 received (st~p 603 o~ E'ig. 6~, the main control unit 1 controls the ~o~cond ~nalog switch 57 50 as to ~end~r cond~ctive th~ path ~etween the t~rminal~ b and c of the switch ~ step 608 of Flg. 6), ~nd starts ~
prt:~dt3tt~r.mint3d FAX communication (r~ceipt) in the G3 mode thro~gh th~ s~cond network control unit 33, second P~
CODEC 5'i, s~cond analog switch 57, G3-int~rfac~ 58, FAX
~ommunication control uhit 40 and imag~ proce6So~ ~0 1 ~tep 60~ of Fig~ 6). Al~o in that cas~, aft~r ~uch communication proceasing .is terminated, th~ ~cond analog s~itch 57 iB initiali~ed to b~ing about a atandby state for a n~3w origlnating call or a nt~ incoming call, of coura~.
According to the above op~ration of thu commun~oation terminal dt-.~vice, even if on~ information channel 1B us~d for telephon~ oommunication, ~utomatic recor~ing of a messag~ from a distant ~bscrib~r who has iss~ed a n~w call in anoth~ ~mpty information ch~nn~l and fac~imil~ communication in the G3 ~od~ through a~ empty in ~ormation channel ~an bt~. p~r~ormed simultan~ougly. In ~3173~1 - ~5 -addition, 6ince the m~sage recordlng and fac3imile communication are all p~rfo~m~d automatic~lly in the communica~ion terminal device, the operator i8 not troubled d~ring telephone com~nication, As d~c~ib~d above, according to th~
communication t~rminal device (facsimil~ d~vice) o~ the paxticul~r em~odi~nt ~hown in Fig 1, simultaneous communication o~ image information i~ the G4 facsimile mod~ an.d image in~ormation in the G~ ~acsimile mod~
throu~h th~ first and ~econd information channels, simultan~o~ communiaation of voice inform~tion and im~ge i~or~ation in the G3 ~acsi~ile mode, simultaneous communication of two kinds of voiae information, ~tc., can b~ realized prop~rly as required in add~tion to the simultaneo~ communiaation of voice information and image in~o~mation in the G4 facsimile mod~ vi~ th~ ~irst and ~cond informa~ion ohann~ls.
Whil~ in the above embodlm~nt the IS~N is pr~s~m~d ~ ~ communioation nQtwork ~nd a faasimile d~vlc~
is pre6umed as the communication t~rmi~al d~vice for convenienc~ sak~, a communication t~rminal d~vice according to th~ pr~ t invention is not limit~d to this communication n~twork or te~minal device, o~ co~rse.
~sp~cially, a telephon~ s~t or ~ telex may b~ u~d as th~
communication t~rminal device in addition to the ~acsi~ile device. If two CODECs corr~ponding to the two information channels are provid~d a~d appropriate analog 6 13~73~

switche~; are disposed among t~;ese COD~Cs and analog sources to ~itch between th~R~ analog ~ources ~nd th~s two system CODEC8 to ~nd and receiv~ 8iglll~l8 to and from th~
corresponding distant subscri~ers, or between the a~alog ~ource~ to send and l~ect3ive ~ignals to and f~om eabh othor, simultelneou~ ~orrununication of two kind~ of informa1~ion i~ vario~ls ~orms corr~spondin~ to the manners in. which the anal.og awitch is switched i~ redlized~

Claims

1. A communication terminal device which is connected to a communication network through communication lines in which at least two information channels used for transfer of switching information such as line switching information or packet switching information and a signal channel used for control of call of a distant communication terminal are disposed, comprising:
one or more analog sources for receiving and outputting the switching information an an analog signal:
a first and a second CODEC disposed in a first and a second information channel, respectively, of the communication lines for encoding and converting switching information, sent from the analog sources to the respective information channels, to corresponding digital signals, and decoding and converting switching information received from the respective information channels to corresponding analog signals; and a first and a second analog switch disposed between the analog sources and the first and second CODECs so as to correspond to the first and second CODECs for switching between the analog sources and the first and second CODECs to send and receive signals to and from the analog sources and the first and second CODECs, or between the analog sources to send and receive signals to and from each other.

2. A communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal device includes a facsimile device which includes a communication function control unit operative in a G4 facsimile mode, and at least a communication function control unit operative in a G3 facsimile mode and a handset for performing a voice communication as the analog sources;
and wherein the second analog switch is switched such that a conductive signal path is established between the second CODEC corresponding to the second information channel and the communication function control unit operative in the G3 facsimile mode when there is an incoming telephone call or an originating telephone call in the first information channel during communication of image information in the G4 facsimile mode, the incoming telephone call or the originating telephone call being a request for receipt or transmission of image information in the G3 facsimile mode.

3. A communication terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the facsimile device includes an image memory for storing image information temporarily, and wherein the image information received through the second CODEC and the communication function control unit operative in the G3 facsimile mode is temporarily stored in the image memory when a recording section of the facsimile device is used during communication of the image information in the G4 facsimile mode.

4. A communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal device includes a facsimile device which includes at least a communication function control unit operative in a G3 facsimile mode and a handset for making a voice communication as analog sources, and wherein the analog switches are switched such that the first analog switch renders conductive the signal path between the handset and the first CODEC corresponding to the first information channel during telephone communication through the handset in the first information channel and that the second analog switch renders conductive the signal path between the second CODEC
corresponding to the second information channel and the communication function control unit operative in the G3 facsimile mode when there is an incoming telephone call in the second information channel during the telephone communication, the incoming telephone call being a request for receipt of the image information in the G3 facsimile mode.

5. A communication terminal device according to claim 4, wherein the facsimile device further includes a tone detector as the analog source for detecting an incoming tone requesting the receipt of image information in the G3 facsimile mode; and wherein the second analog switch first renders conductive the signal path between the second CODEC and the tone detector when there is an incoming telephone call in the second information channel and renders conductive the signal path between the second CODEC and the communication function control unit operative in the G3 facsimile mode when an incoming tone requesting the receipt of the image information in the G3 facsimile mode is detected by the tone detector.

6. A communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal device includes at least a handset as the analog source for making s voice communication; and wherein the analog switches are switched such that the first analog switch renders conductive the signal path between the handset and the first CODEC corresponding to the first information channel during communication through the handset in the first information channel, and that the first analog switch temporarily releases the conduction between the first CODEC and the handset, and the second analog switch renders conductive the signal path between the handset and the second CODEC
corresponding to the second information channel when there is an incoming telephone call in the second information channel during the telephone communication, the incoming telephone call being a request for telephone communication with the communication terminal device.

7. A communication terminal device according to claim 6, wherein the device further includes means for generating a holding tone indicating that the telephone communication is held; and wherein the analog switches render conductive the signal path between the holding tone generating means and the first CODEC which has been temporarily released from the conduction with the handset.

8. A communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the device includes at least a handset for making a voice communication and an automatic answering telephone function unit for automatically recessing voice information as the analog source; and wherein the analog switches are switched such that the first analog switch renders conductive the signal path between the handset and the first CODEC corresponding to the first information channel during telephone communication. through the handset in the first information channel and that the second analog switch renders conductive the signal path between the automatic answering telephone function unit and the second CODEC corresponding to the second information channel when there is an incoming telephone call in the second information channel during the telephone communication, the incoming telephone call being a request for telephone communication with the communication terminal device.

9. A communication terminal device connected to a communication network via communication line in which at least two information channels used for transfer of switching information such as line switching information or packet switching information and a signal channel used for control of calling an objective communication terminal are disposed, comprising:
a communication function control unit operative in a G4 facsimile mode;
a communication function control unit operative in a G3 facsimile mode;
a handset for making a voice communication;
a first and a second CODEC disposed in a first and second information channel, respectively, in the communication lines for encoding and converting switching information, sent from the handset or the communication function control unit operative in the G3 facsimile mode to the respective information channels, to digital signals, and decoding and converting the switching information received from the respective information channels to analog signals; and an analog switch disposed among the handset and the communication function control unit operative in the G3 facsimile mode and the first and second CODECs and controlled so as to render conductive the signal path between the second CODEC corresponding to the second information channel and the communication function control unit operative in the G3 facsimile mode when there is an incoming telephone call of an originating telephone call in the second information channel during communication of image information in the G4 facsimile mode in the first information channel, the incoming telephone call or originating telephone call being a request for receipt of transmission of image information in the G3 facsimile mode.

10. A communication terminal device connected to a communication network via communication line in which at least two information channels used for transfer of switching information such as line switching information or packet switching information. and a signal channel used for control of calling an objective communication terminal are disposed, comprising:
a communication function control unit operative in a G4 facsimile mode;
a communication function control unit operative in a G3 facsimile mode;
a handset for making a voice communication;
a first and a second CODEC disposed in a first and second information channel, respectively, in the communication lines for encoding and converting switching information, sent from the handset or the communication function control unit operative in the G3 facsimile mode to the respective information channels, to digital signals, and decoding and converting the switching information received from the respective information channels to analog signals; and an analog switch disposed among the handset and the communication function control unit operative in the G3 facsimile mode and the first and second CODECs and controlled so as to render conductive the signal path between the handset and the first CODEC corresponding to the first information channel during communication through the handset in the first information channel, and controlled so as to render conductive the signal path between the second CODEC corresponding to the seocnd information channel and the communication function control unit operative in the G3 facsimile mode while maintaining the conductive state between the first CODEC and the handset when there is an incoming telephone call in the second information channel during telephone communication, the incoming telephone call being a request for receipt of image information in the G3 facsimile mode.

11. A communication terminal device according to claim 10, further including a tone detector for detecting an incoming tons requesting the receipt of image information in the G3 facsimile mode; and wherein the analog switch first renders conductive the signal path between the second CODEC and the tone detector when there is an incoming telephone call in the second information channel and renders conductive the signal path between the second CODEC and the communication function control unit operative in the G3 facsimile mode when an incoming tone requesting the receipt of the image information in the G3 facsimile mode is detected by the tone detector.

12. A communication terminal device connected to a communication network via communication lines is which at least two information channels used for transfer of switching information such as line switching information.
or packet switching information and a signal channel used for control of calling an objective communication terminal are disposed, comprising:
a communication function control unit operative in a G4 facsimile mode;
a communication function control unit operative in a G3 facsimile mode;
a handset for making a voice communication;
a first and a second CODEC disposed in a first and second information channel, respectively, in the communication lines for encoding and converting switching information, sent from the handset or the communication function control unit operative in the G3 facsimile mode to the respective information channels, to digital signals, and decoding and converting the switching information received from the respective information channels to analog signals; and an analog switch disposed among the handset and the communication function control unit operative is the G3 facsimile mode and the first and second CODECs and controlled so as to render conductive the signal path between the handset and the first CODEC corresponding to the first information channel during communication through the handset in the first information channel, and controlled so as to temporarily release the conductive state between the handset and the first CODEC and the handset and render conductive the signal path between the handset and the second CODEC corresponding to the second information channel and render conductive the signal path between the second CODEC corresponding to the seocnd information channel and the communication function control unit operative in the G3 facsimile mode while maintaining the conductive state between the first CODEC and the handset when there is an incoming telephone call in the second information channel during the telephone communication, the incoming telephone call being a request for telephone communication with the communication terminal device.

13. A communication terminal device according to claim 12, further including means for generating a holding tone indicating that the telephone communication is held;
and wherein the analog switches render conductive the signal path between the holding tone generating means and the first CODEC which has been temporarily released from the conduction with the handset.

14. A communication terminal device connected to a communication network via communication lines in which at least two information channels used for transfer of switching information such as line switching information or packet switching information and a signal channel used for control of calling an objective communication terminal are disposed, comprising:
a communication function control unit operative in a G4 facsimile mode;
a communication function control unit operative in a G3 facsimile mode;
a handset for making a voice communication:
an automatic answering telephone function unit;
a first and a second CODEC disposed in a first and second information channel, respectively, in the communication lines for encoding and converting switching information, sent from the handset, the communication function control unit operative in the G3 facsimile mode, or the automatic answering telephone function unit to the respective information channels, to digital signals, and decoding and converting the switching information received from the respective information channels to analog signals; and an analog switch disposed among the handset, the communication function control unit operative in the G3 facsimile mode and the automatic answering telephone function unit, and the first and second CODECs and controlled so as to render conductive the signal path between the handset and the first CODEC corresponding to the first information channel during communication through the handset in the first information channel, and controlled so as to render conductive the signal path between the second CODEC corresponding to the seocnd information channel and the automatic answering function unit while maintaining the conductive state between the first CODEC and the handset when there is an incoming telephone call in the second information channel during the telephone communication, the incoming telephone call being a request for telephone communication with the communication terminal device.