[54] COMMUNICATION DEVICE THAT
IDENTIFIES AND STORES AND INCOMING
SIGNAL AND TRANSMITS THE SIGNAL TO
A COMPUTER
[75] Inventor: Wataru Tomida, Owariasahi, Japan
[73] Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha,
Nagoya, Japan
[21] Appl. No.: 08/990,815
[22] Filed: Dec. 15, 1997
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data
Dec. 19, 1996 [IP] lapan 8-354895
[51] Int. C I. I HUM 11/00
[52] U.S. CI 379/100.16; 379/100.15;
379/93.11; 379/373
[58] Field of Search 379/93.05, 93.09,
379/93.11, 100.02, 100.15, 102.02, 373,
100.16
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
A multifunction communication device is provided which transmits a call identity signal to a computer through an outside communication line resulting in the device transmitting data and the computer receiving at least a portion of any data received by the device. The multifunction device includes signal identification means, storage means and transmitting means. The signal identification means identifies the call identity signal patterns for the plurality of call identity signals sent from a line exchange. The storage means stores a specific pattern from the plurality of call identity signals having a specific pattern designating the computer. The transmitting means transmits to the computer at least a part of the data following each call identity signal when a pattern of the call identity signal is identified as having the specific pattern by the signal identification means. The device may also include input means for allocating the respective function of each pattern of the call identity signals transmitted from the line exchange.
24 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
