JP2845378B2 - Communication device and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a terminal device such as a facsimile connected to ISDN, and in particular, a plurality of terminal devices are connected closer to the near side than a network terminating device. The contention arbitration of an incoming response by an individual terminal device for a call setup from a network in a case.

[Prior Art] When a plurality of ISDN terminals are connected in front of an ISDN network terminating device, each terminal sets up a call from a network side "SETUP".
When the sub-address is received, it is checked whether a sub-address is added to the call setting. If the subaddress is added, only the designated terminal sets the call. Conversely, if no subaddress is added,
Among the terminals connected on the ISDN bus cable, the terminal that returns the response "CONN" first has the right to receive the call, that is, arranges to establish a call with the network. Have been. As described above, the reason why "faster win" is given when the sub-address is not specified is that if these terminal devices are, for example, a plurality of facsimile devices, any one of the facsimile devices receives data from the network. It is enough.

Thus, a conventional terminal is designed to return a response "CONN" as soon as possible if a call setup with the network is possible when the call setup is detected.

Therefore, conventionally, a facsimile apparatus connected to ISDN is composed of an operation unit, a reading device, a recording device, a central processing unit, a code decoding device, an image storage device, and a line control device.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, as described above, as long as the call setup is simply possible at the time of receiving the call setup, if the call setup is acknowledged to the one that responded with “early win”, a plurality of In some cases, inconvenience may occur if the terminal is connected.

For example, call setting is at least possible at the time of receiving the setting signal, but there is a case where a memory overflow occurs during reception because the remaining memory of the terminal is small. If this occurs as a result, if another IS on the same ISDN bus cable
If a DN terminal device is connected and the terminal has sufficient memory capacity, a call should be established to a terminal with sufficient capacity instead of establishing a call to a terminal with low remaining memory. there were. However, as described above, in the control procedure in which a terminal that can simply set up a call at the time of receiving a call setting signal returns a response with “early win”, the above-described inconvenience can inevitably occur. .

That is, the establishment of a call should not be determined only when a call setup signal is received, but should be determined in consideration of other factors.

The other factor is, for example, whether the terminal device is a facsimile device and whether or not the recording paper is not only left for one or two sheets but also "sufficiently". If one or two sheets of recording paper remain, a call can be set, but if the total amount of received data is 10 sheets of recording paper, this reception will ultimately result in failure. If enough recording paper remains in another facsimile machine, a call should be set up in another facsimile.

Another factor to consider is whether the facsimile machine has a transmission reservation and whether the reservation time is coming soon. If you set up a call for the terminal simply because it is almost at the end of the reservation time, but it is not the end, even if there is another available terminal, The transmission reservation will be canceled or delayed.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above problem, and an object of the present invention is to propose a communication device and a control method thereof with an increased possibility that communication ends normally.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a communication apparatus which includes a waiting time from when a call from a network is detected to when a response signal to the call is returned to the network. Set according to the status.

Specifically, the communication device of the present invention that can be connected to a digital communication network includes: an incoming call detecting unit that detects an incoming call from the network; and an incoming call from the network is detected by the incoming call detecting unit. Return means for returning a response signal to the incoming call to the network; determining means for determining a state of the communication apparatus when the incoming call from the network is detected by the incoming call detecting means; Setting means for variably setting a standby time from detection of an incoming call to returning a response signal according to the state of the communication device determined by the means, wherein the reply means is set by the setting means. A response signal to the incoming call is returned to the network based on the waiting time.

Further, the communication device for controlling a call from a network according to claim 10 includes: an incoming call detection unit that detects an incoming call from a network; and if the incoming call detection unit detects an incoming call from the network, Return means for returning a response signal to an incoming call to the network; and a state where the communication device can sufficiently perform communication for the incoming call when the incoming call detecting means detects an incoming call from the network. Determining means for determining whether or not the waiting time is longer than a first time, or a waiting time from the detection of the incoming call to the return of the response signal, according to the determination by the determining means. Setting means for setting a long second time, wherein the reply means returns a response signal to the incoming call to the network based on the standby time set by the setting means.

Further, in the control method of a communication device connectable to a digital communication network according to claim 17, an incoming call detection step of detecting an incoming call from the network, and an incoming call from the network is detected by the incoming call detection step. Then, a return step of returning a response signal to the incoming call to the network; a determining step of determining a state of the communication device when an incoming call from the network is detected by the incoming call detecting step; A setting step of variably setting a standby time from the detection of the incoming call to returning the response signal according to the state of the communication device determined in the determination step; A response signal to the incoming call is returned to the network based on the set standby time.

The control method of a communication device according to claim 26, further comprising: an incoming call detecting step of detecting an incoming call from a network; and a response to the incoming call when the incoming call from the network is detected by the incoming call detecting step. A replying step of returning a signal to the network, and a state of the communication device when an incoming call from the network is detected by the incoming call detecting step, to a state where communication for the incoming call can be sufficiently performed. A determining step of determining whether or not there is, and, according to the determination by the determining step, a waiting time from the detection of the incoming call to returning the response signal to a first time, or the first time A setting step of setting a longer second time, wherein the reply step causes a response signal to the incoming call to be returned to the network based on the standby time set by the setting step. .

[Operation] The communication device and the control method thereof having the above-described configuration allow the standby time allowed from the detection of an incoming call from the network to the return of a response signal to the incoming call to the network according to the state of the communication device. To set.

Therefore, according to the present invention, for example, an incoming call from a network can be detected by any of a plurality of devices, such as a facsimile device that can be connected to ISDN, and a device that responds to the incoming call immediately starts communication for the incoming call. When the present invention is applied to a communication device having a function, the facsimile machine, which is its own device, has a small remaining amount of recording paper, a small remaining memory, or a small remaining time until the time designated by the time designation function. For example, if there is an incoming call, the standby time of the own device will be set to be substantially longer according to any of the above states, and as a result, the possibility of terminating the communication normally will increase. For other facsimile machines that are expensive,
The call is preferentially answered.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, using three examples of a facsimile apparatus connected to an ISDN bus as a terminal device. These three embodiments have a function of monitoring the D channel in common, a function of recognizing the remaining amount of memory, and information of the D channel when receiving the call setup “SETUP” from the network side. The first embodiment has a function of controlling the timing of returning the response "CONN" from the remaining memory of the terminal itself, and a function of detecting the remaining amount of recording paper. SETUP ", the timing of returning the response" CONN "by detecting the information of the D channel and the remaining amount of recording paper (second embodiment), and the time up to the time designation communication. It has a function to recognize the time, and the call setting "SETU
When receiving "P", the D-channel information and the time until the specified time of the time-specified communication are monitored, and the timing of returning the response "CONN" is controlled (third embodiment).

In these embodiments, the timing of returning the response "CONN" is as follows. That is, if there is no "circumstance" in which the terminal must not immediately respond,
More specifically, if there is sufficient memory, sufficient recording paper, or no transmission reservation, a response “CONN” is immediately returned in accordance with a normal rule. Conversely, if there is a “circumstance” that should not immediately send a response, a predetermined delay time is set. During this time, control is exercised so that a response “CONN” is not issued from its own terminal, Monitor the presence of the response "CONN". If there is no response "CONN" from the other terminal before the delay time times out, it is determined that the own terminal may establish a call, and the response "CONN"
N ". During the above time, the response "CON
If "N" is detected, the own terminal does not respond.

<Hardware Configuration> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration common to the G4 facsimile of these three embodiments.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a control signal line for connecting the devices, 2 denotes an image data line for transmitting and receiving image data between the devices, and 3 denotes a facsimile machine comprising a key, an LCD, and an LED. An operation unit for operating and displaying the device. Reference numeral 4 denotes a reading device for reading a document. Reference numeral 5 denotes a recording device for printing a received original, and 6 denotes a CPU and a RO.
A central processing unit composed of M and RAM for overall control of each device, 7 is a storage device composed of DRAM or a hard disk, 8 is a device for encoding image data of a document read by the reading device 4 into an MMR code or the like. Conversely, the encoding / decoding device decodes the received MMR code into the original image data.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a line controller connected to the ISDN for controlling a communication procedure. Reference numeral 10 monitors a signal Dch on the line 12, and determines whether or not another terminal has returned a response "CONN" to the central processing unit 6. This is the Dch monitor for notification. It should be noted that the interface unit 11 is designed to allow only the Dch signal to flow to the Dch monitor 10 at the cut end with the line 12. 12 is a line cable connected to ISDN.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a timer for monitoring a delay time of sending the response "CONN". A transmission reservation device 14 reserves facsimile transmission by designating a time.

FIG. 2 shows a plurality of facsimile machines of FIG.
It is a system diagram of a place where it is connected to 32.

31 is a network termination device (NT). 38 is one network termination device
This is an ISDN bus cable that connects NT and multiple terminal devices. Reference numerals 33 to 37 denote ISDN terminals, and in particular, reference numerals 36 and 37 denote G4 facsimile apparatuses having a "CONN" delay transmission function as shown in FIG. Needless to say, in order to obtain the effect of the present invention, it is sufficient that at least one terminal having the delay transmission function of "CONN" is connected to the system.

FIG. 3 shows a sequence of a normal incoming call operation between the network and the terminal, starting from sending out a response "CONN" to "SETUP". In FIG. 3, there are two cases of sending the response "CONN". One is that when the terminal receives “SETUP”, the terminal has a sufficient amount of memory, a sufficient amount of recording paper, or has no transmission reservation. When the response "CONN" is sent, and secondly, while controlling not to issue the response "CONN" from the own terminal, the presence of the response "CONN" from the other terminal is monitored. This is a case where there is no response “CONN” from the other terminal and a response “CONN” is transmitted from the own terminal.

In response to "SETUP" in Fig. 4, "RELCOM"
"P" is transmitted when the terminal attribute in the parameter of "SETUP" does not specify G4, and when the subaddress in "SETUP" does not match its own address.

Hereinafter, control of the first to third embodiments will be described in order.

<First Embodiment> The control procedure of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

At the time of an incoming call, call setup "SETUP" is received from the network side, that is, the network terminating device NT (31). This signal is received by all terminals connected on the ISDN bus (38). In response to this reception, the program shown in FIG. 5 is started.

It is determined whether the attribute of the terminal is a G4 facsimile apparatus from the parameters of the call setup "SETUP" (step S1). If the attribute is not a G4 facsimile attribute, a sequence for rejecting incoming calls is taken as shown in FIG. In other words, release completion "REL CO
MP ”is returned (step S2). On the other hand, step S1
If it is determined that the attribute is a G facsimile attribute, it is next determined whether or not a subaddress is included in the parameters of the call setup "SETUP" (step S3). If a subaddress has been added, it is determined whether or not it matches the one assigned to the terminal itself (step S
Four). If they match, a response "CONN" is transmitted, and an incoming call operation is performed (step S5, step S6). That is, it operates as shown in FIG. This is because if the own terminal is specified by the sub-address, other terminals must not receive it.

If the subaddress does not match the one assigned to the own terminal, the flow advances to step S2 to reject the incoming call (FIG. 4).

If it is determined in step S3 that the subaddress is not added to the parameters of the call setup "SETUP", the remaining memory is calculated (step S7). The remaining memory capacity is an open area of the storage device 7 and is managed by the central processing unit 6. If there is no remaining memory in step S8 and step S9 from the remaining memory, step S2
And reject the incoming call (FIG. 4).

If the remaining memory is 10% or more of the total capacity, step S5
To perform an incoming call operation (FIG. 3). This is because if there is sufficient memory, it is considered that there is a low possibility that the reception will fail due to the lack of memory on the way. Note that this 10% may be another ratio. For example,
The ratio may be set by the operator from the operation unit 3.

If the remaining memory is less than 10%, the timer 13 in the central processing unit is set (step S1). And step
Until the occurrence of a timeout is detected in steps S11 and S12, it is monitored via the Dch monitor 10 whether or not another terminal connected to the ISDN bus 38 has previously returned a response "CONN" to the network side. I do. That is, if the own terminal establishes a call, the reception of the call is highly likely to be unsuccessful, so that the terminal tries to give up the call establishment to another terminal.

If a time-out has occurred, that is, if no other terminal connected to the ISDN bus 38 returns a response "CONN", the facsimile apparatus of the own terminal responds to the incoming call (step S5, step 6).

In step S12, if another terminal connected to the ISDN bus 38 returns a response "CONN", the facsimile apparatus which is its own terminal cancels the timer 13 (step S12).
S13), end.

Here, communication commands such as the above-mentioned call setting “SETUP” are notified to the central processing unit 6 via the line control device 9. When a command is transmitted over a line, the reverse is true.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the provision of the means for monitoring the Dch and monitoring the status of the other terminal and the means for confirming the state of the remaining memory capacity of the own terminal allows the remaining memory capacity of the own terminal to be provided. If the volume is small, it is possible to leave the call to another terminal connected to the ISDN bus and control the reverse easily, so that the effective use of the line and the effective use of the terminal system connected to the line It is effective in point.

<Second Embodiment> The control procedure of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The difference from the first embodiment is the step S27 and subsequent steps, so that the description of the other steps is omitted.

In step S23, if the subaddress is not added to the parameter of the call setup "SETUP", the remaining amount of recording paper is detected by the remaining paper amount detector 5a of the recording device 5 (step S27). The remaining amount of paper is stored as follows. In a facsimile apparatus, roll paper is usually used, and its length is determined. Therefore, every time the recording paper is used, the used length is subtracted from the initial length value, and the subtracted value is stored. If there is no remaining recording paper in step S28 from the remaining amount of recording paper, the process proceeds to step S22 to perform incoming call rejection control (FIG. 4).

In step S29, if the remaining amount of the recording paper is 10 or more, the process proceeds to step S25 to perform an incoming call operation (FIG. 3).

If the remaining recording paper is less than 10, the timer 13 is set (step S30). In steps S31 and S32, it is monitored whether or not another terminal connected to the ISDN bus 38 has previously returned a response "CONN" to the network side via the Dch monitor until the occurrence of a timeout is detected. I do.

The control when a timeout occurs or when a response "CONN" from another terminal is detected is the same as that of the first embodiment.

As described above, according to the control of the second embodiment, there are provided means for monitoring Dch, monitoring the status of the other terminal, and recognizing the state of the remaining recording paper of the own terminal. This has the advantage that if there is little recording paper on your terminal, you can transfer the incoming call right to another facsimile device connected on the ISDN bus cable, so you do not have to worry about running out of paper during reception. is there.

Here, a modified example of the second embodiment will be described. In the apparatus of this embodiment, a so-called thermosensitive recording section is used. However, in the case where the recording apparatus 5 is an electrostatic recording type terminal, the case where the remaining amount of toner is detected can be similarly considered.

<Third Embodiment> The control procedure of the third embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The difference from the first embodiment is that
Since S46 and below, the description of the other steps is omitted.

If the sub-address is not added to the parameter of the call setup "SETUP" in step S41, it is determined whether or not the transmission reservation device 14 of its own terminal has reserved a timer for the time designation communication (step S46). If there is no timer reservation, a response "CONN" is transmitted in step S44 and below,
Perform an incoming call operation.

On the other hand, if the timer for the time-specified communication is reserved, the difference from the current time to the specified time is calculated (step S47). If the difference to the designated time is 30 seconds or more, there is a time to respond to the incoming call, so the response "CONN" is transmitted and the incoming call is performed first (step S48, step S44, step S45).

If the difference to the designated time is 30 seconds or less, the timer 13 is set, and the status of Dch on the bus 39 is monitored via the Dch monitor 10 until the timer times out (steps S30 and S31). ).

If another G4 facsimile apparatus does not transmit a response “CONN” to the call until the time-out occurs, the G facsimile apparatus that is its own terminal transmits a response “CONN” and performs an incoming call operation ( Step S50, Step S44, Step S45).

When another facsimile device transmits the response "CONN", the timer 13 is canceled, the right to receive the call is transferred to the other G4 facsimile device, and the G facsimile device as its own terminal prepares for the service of time designation communication.

As described above, according to the control of the third embodiment,
By providing a means for monitoring Dch to monitor the status of other terminals and a means for recognizing the registration status of the time designation service inside the own terminal, when the own terminal is inconvenient to receive a call, the other terminal can leave the incoming call , The opposite can be easily controlled,
This is effective in terms of effective use of the line.

<Modifications> The present invention can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof.

For example, in the above three embodiments, the delay time set in the timer 13 is fixed, but this delay time may be of various values. For example, in the case where the remaining memory is extremely small in the first embodiment, or in the case where the remaining time until the reservation time is extremely small in the third embodiment, it is better to set the delay time larger. .

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the communication apparatus and the control method thereof of the present invention, the communication apparatus is permitted from the detection of an incoming call from the network to the return of a response signal to the incoming call to the network. The standby time is set according to the state of the communication device.

Therefore, according to the present invention, for example, an incoming call from a network can be detected by any of a plurality of devices, such as a facsimile device that can be connected to ISDN, and a device that responds to the incoming call immediately starts communication for the incoming call. When the present invention is applied to a communication device having a function, the facsimile machine, which is its own device, has a small remaining amount of recording paper, a small remaining memory, or a small remaining time until the time designated by the time designation function. For example, if there is an incoming call, the standby time of the own device will be set to be substantially longer according to any of the above states, and as a result, the possibility of terminating the communication normally will increase. For other facsimile machines that are expensive,
The call is preferentially answered.

Therefore, it is possible to further increase the possibility of terminating the communication by the incoming call from the network normally.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile apparatus when the present invention is applied to a facsimile, FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram when a plurality of facsimile apparatuses of FIG. 1 are connected, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a communication procedure at the time of rejection of an incoming call, FIG. 5 is a flowchart relating to control of the first embodiment, FIG. 6 is a flowchart relating to control of the second embodiment, FIG. 7 is a flowchart according to the control of the third embodiment. In the figure, 1... Control signal line, 2... Image data line, 3... Operating unit, 4... Reading device, 5... Recording device, 5 a. Device, 7 ... storage device, 8 ...
.., A line controller, 10, a Dch monitor, 11, a line I / F unit, 12, a line (bus), 13, a timer, and a transmission reservation device.

Continued on the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04L 12/02 H04L 12/56 H04N 1/32 H04L 29/08

Claims (32)

(57) [Claims] 1. A communication device connectable to a digital communication network, wherein: an incoming call detecting means for detecting an incoming call from the network; and an incoming call from the network is detected by the incoming call detecting means.
Return means for returning a response signal to the incoming call to the network; determining means for determining a state of the communication device when the incoming call from the network is detected by the incoming call detecting means; In accordance with the determined state of the communication device, the communication device includes a setting unit that variably sets a standby time from detection of an incoming call to returning a response signal, wherein the reply unit includes a standby time set by the setting unit. A communication signal that returns a response signal to the incoming call to the network based on 2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination means determines whether or not said communication apparatus is in a state in which communication with respect to said incoming call can be sufficiently performed. 3. The setting means sets the standby time to a first time when it is determined by the determining means that the communication can be sufficiently performed, and the communication is not sufficiently performed. Is determined, the second time longer than the first time
3. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the time is set to: 4. The reply means includes monitoring means for monitoring a response signal transmitted by another communication device in response to an incoming call from the network, and wherein the setting means sets a standby time to the second communication time. The response means does not return a response signal to the network when the monitoring means detects a response signal transmitted by the other communication device in response to the setting of the time. 4. The communication device according to 3. 5. The incoming call detecting means further detects information included in a signal indicating an incoming call, which is designation information for designating a communication device. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the setting of the standby time is performed when the designated information is not detected in the signal. 6. The communication device further comprises recording means for recording and outputting the received data on recording paper, and wherein the determination means determines the state of the communication device based on the remaining amount of recording paper. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: 7. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device has a time-designated communication function, and the determination unit determines a state of the communication device based on a time from when an incoming call is detected to a time designated by the time-designated communication function. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the communication device determines: 8. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device has a memory for storing received data, and wherein the determination unit determines a state of the communication device based on a remaining amount of the memory. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, 9. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein said digital communication network is a communication device connectable to ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network). 10. A communication device for controlling a call from a network, comprising: an incoming call detecting means for detecting an incoming call from the network; and an incoming call from the network detected by the incoming call detecting means.
Return means for returning a response signal to the incoming call to the network, when the incoming call detecting means detects an incoming call from the network,
Determining means for determining whether or not the communication device is in a state capable of sufficiently performing communication for the incoming call; and, depending on the determination by the determining means, from detecting the incoming call to returning the response signal. The waiting time of the first time,
Alternatively, there is provided a setting means for setting a second time longer than the first time, wherein the reply means returns a response signal to the incoming call to the network based on the standby time set by the setting means. A communication device characterized in that: 11. The reply means includes monitoring means for monitoring a response signal sent by another communication device in response to an incoming call from the network, and wherein the setting means sets a standby time to the second time. 11. The communication device according to claim 10, wherein, when the monitoring unit detects a response signal transmitted by the other communication device in response to the setting, the response unit does not return the response signal. . 12. The incoming call detecting means further detects information included in the signal indicating the incoming call, which is designation information for specifying a communication device. 12. The communication device according to claim 10, wherein the setting of the standby time is performed when the designation information is not detected. 13. The communication device has recording means for recording and outputting received data on recording paper, and the determining means makes the communication device communicate with the incoming call based on the remaining amount of recording paper. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein it is determined whether or not the state is sufficient.
13. The communication device according to any one of 12. 14. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein said communication device has a time-designated communication function, and said determining means determines whether or not said communication device is based on a time from detection of said incoming call to time designated by said time-designated communication function. Determining whether or not the communication for the incoming call can be sufficiently performed.
13. The communication device according to any one of 10 to 12. 15. The communication device has a memory for storing received data, and the determination means determines that the communication device can sufficiently perform communication for the incoming call based on a remaining amount of the memory. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein it is determined whether the apparatus is in a state in which it can be performed.
13. The communication device according to any one of claims 12 to 12. 16. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein said communication device is an integrated services digital network (ISDN).
16. The communication device according to claim 10, wherein the communication device is a communication device connectable to a digital network. 17. A method for controlling a communication device connectable to a digital communication network, comprising: an incoming call detecting step of detecting an incoming call from the network; and an incoming call from the network being detected by the incoming call detecting step. ,
A return step of returning a response signal to the incoming call to the network; a determining step of determining a state of the communication device when an incoming call from the network is detected by the incoming call detecting step; A setting step of variably setting a standby time from the detection of the incoming call to returning the response signal, according to the determined state of the communication device, wherein the return step is set by the setting step. A method for controlling a communication device, comprising returning a response signal to the incoming call to a network based on a standby time. 18. The communication apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said determining step determines whether or not said communication apparatus is in a state capable of sufficiently performing communication with respect to said incoming call. Control method. 19. The setting step sets the standby time to a first time when it is determined in the determination step that the communication can be sufficiently performed, and sets the standby time to a state where the communication cannot be sufficiently performed. 19. The communication device control method according to claim 18, wherein if it is determined that there is, the second time is set to be longer than the first time. 20. The replying step includes a monitoring step of monitoring a response signal from another communication device for an incoming call from the network, and when the second time is set by the setting step, 20. The control method of a communication device according to claim 19, wherein when the response signal transmitted by the other communication device is detected by the monitoring step, the response step does not return the response signal. 21. The incoming call detecting step also detects designation information for designating a communication device included in the signal indicating the incoming call, and the setting step does not detect the designation information in the incoming call detecting step. 21. The control method for a communication device according to claim 17, wherein the setting of the standby time is performed in such a case. 22. A control method for a communication device, comprising: a recording step of recording and outputting received data on recording paper; and the discriminating step discriminating a state of the communication device based on a remaining amount of the recording paper. 22. The control method of a communication device according to claim 17, wherein: 23. The method for controlling a communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a time designation communication function, wherein the determination step includes the step of determining the communication based on a time from when the incoming call is detected to a time designated by the time designation communication function. 22. A state of the device is determined.
The control method of a communication device according to any one of the above. 24. A method for controlling a communication device, comprising: a storage step of storing received data in a memory; and the determining step includes determining a state of the communication device based on a remaining amount of the memory. 22. The control method for a communication device according to claim 17, wherein 25. The communication device according to claim 17, wherein said digital communication network is a communication device connectable to ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network). 26. A method for controlling a communication device, comprising: an incoming call detecting step of detecting an incoming call from a network; and an incoming call from the network is detected by the incoming call detecting step.
A replying step of returning a response signal to the network to the network; and a state of the communication device when the incoming call from the network is detected by the incoming call detection step, the communication for the incoming call is sufficiently performed. A determination step of determining whether or not the state is in a state in which the response signal can be returned from the detection of the incoming call to the first time, or Setting a second time longer than the first time, wherein the replying step returns a response signal to the incoming call to the network based on the standby time set by the setting step; A method for controlling a communication device, comprising: 27. The replying step includes a monitoring step of monitoring a response signal transmitted by another communication device in response to an incoming call from the network, and the setting step sets a waiting time to the second time. 27. The communication according to claim 26, wherein, if set, if the monitoring step detects a response signal transmitted by the other communication device, the response step does not return the response signal. How to control the device. 28. The incoming call detecting step also detects designation information for designating a communication device included in the signal indicating the incoming call, and the setting step does not detect the designation information in the incoming call detecting step. 28. The control method for a communication device according to claim 26, wherein the time is set in such a case. 29. The communication device control method according to claim 29, further comprising a recording step of recording and receiving the received data on recording paper. 27. A system according to claim 26, wherein it is determined whether or not the communication for the call can be sufficiently performed.
29. The control method for a communication device according to any one of claims to 28. 30. The control method for a communication device, comprising: a time designation communication function, wherein the determination step is based on a time from the detection of the incoming call to a time designated by the time designation communication function. And determining whether or not the communication device is in a state in which communication with respect to the incoming call can be sufficiently performed.
29. The method for controlling a communication device according to any one of 26 to 28. 31. A method for controlling a communication device, comprising: a storage step of storing received data in a memory; and the determining step includes the step of the communication device responding to the incoming call based on a remaining amount of the memory. 27.A determination is made as to whether or not there is a state in which the
29. The control method for a communication device according to any one of items 30 to 28. 32. The communication device according to claim 26, wherein the communication device is an integrated services digital network (ISDN).
32. The control method for a communication device according to claim 26, wherein the communication device is a communication device connectable to a digital network.