Facsimile apparatus

Abstract

A facsimile apparatus having a scanner for reading original images, a memory for storing images, a printer for recording images, and a communication control section for controlling the transmission/reception of data with a receiving communication apparatus is connected to a host computer via a small computer system interface (SCSI). As a result, the scanner, the memory, the printer and the communication control apparatus provided in the facsimile apparatus can be controlled from the host computer. Data can be transferred between the host computer and the facsimile apparatus at a higher speed, and the scanner, the memory, the printer and the communication control apparatus can be effectively controlled from the host computer. Thus, various kinds of applications can be realized.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A facsimile apparatus system, comprising: 
 a facsimile apparatus, comprising: 
 reading means for reading an original image;  
 storage means for storing images;  
 output means for outputting images;  
 communication control means for controlling transmission and reception of data from another communication apparatus; and  
 a bus connected to said reading means, said reading means, said storage means, said output means and said communication control means;  
   a small computer system interface (SCSI) connected to said bus; and    a host computer connected through said interface to said bus for controlling said reading means, said storage means, said output means and said communication control means.    
     
     
         2 . A facsimile apparatus system according to  claim 1 , wherein said host computer comprises means for receiving information about functions of said reading means, means for instructing said reading means to read the original image in a reading operation, means for receiving a result of the reading operation, and means for causing the reading operation to be discontinued.  
     
     
         3 . A facsimile apparatus system according to  claim 1 , wherein said host computer comprises means for receiving information about functions of said output means, means for instructing said output means to output an image stored in said storage means in an output operation, means for receiving a result of the output operation, and means for causing the output operation to be discontinued.  
     
     
         4 . A facsimile apparatus system according to  claim 1 , wherein said host computer comprises means for transferring images produced by said host computer to said facsimile apparatus, and said storage means stores the transferred images.  
     
     
         5 . A facsimile apparatus system according to  claim 4 , wherein said facsimile apparatus further comprises means for deleting images stored in said storage means under instructions from said host computer.  
     
     
         6 . A facsimile apparatus system according to  claim 4 , wherein said facsimile apparatus further comprises means for transferring information about images stored in said storage means under instructions from said host computer.  
     
     
         7 . A facsimile apparatus system according to  claim 1 , wherein said communication control means connects to the other communication apparatus under instructions from said host computer and includes means for transferring information about the other communication apparatus to the host computer.  
     
     
         8 . A facsimile apparatus system according to  claim 7 , wherein said communication control means further transmits/receives images under instructions from said host computer.  
     
     
         9 . A facsimile apparatus system, comprising: 
 storage means for storing documents;    communication control means for transmitting, to a receiving communication apparatus, documents stored in said storage means;    a host computer which controls said storage means and said communication control means by causing the sending or receiving of commands between said storage means and said communication control means; and    notification means for notifying said host computer of information about the receiving communicating apparatus,    wherein said communication control means sets a call with the receiving communication apparatus under instructions from the host computer and receives information about the receiving communication apparatus, and said notification means notifies said host computer of information about the receiving communication apparatus received by said communication control means.    
     
     
         10 . A facsimile apparatus system according to  claim 9 , wherein said host computer includes means for instructing said communication control means to transmit documents after said host computer receives the information about the receiving communication apparatus.  
     
     
         11 . A facsimile apparatus system according to  claim 10 , wherein said host computer includes means for instructing said communication control means to discontinue the transmission of a document.  
     
     
         12 . A facsimile apparatus system, comprising: 
 a facsimile apparatus comprising: 
 reading means for reading an original image;  
 storage means for storing images from the reading means; and  
 output means for outputting images stored in said storage means;  
   a host computer for controlling said reading means, said storage means and said output means; and    notification means for notifying said host computer of information about images stored in said storage means,    wherein said notification means notifies said host computer of information about the images in a data format selected by said host computer from among a plurality of data formats.    
     
     
         13 . A facsimile apparatus, comprising: 
 reading means for reading an original image;    storage means for storing images;    output means for outputting images;    communication control means for controlling transmission and reception of data from another communication apparatus;    a bus connected to said reading means, said storage means, said output means and said communication control means; and    a small computer system interface (SCSI) connected to said bus, wherein a host computer may be connected through said interface to said bus in order to control said reading means, said storage means, said output means and said communication control means.    
     
     
         14 . A facsimile apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said interface transmits to the host computer information about functions of said reading means, receives an instruction from the host computer for instructing said reading means to read the original image in a reading operation, transmits to the host computer a result of the reading operation, and receives from the host computer an instruction for causing the reading operation to be discontinued.  
     
     
         15 . A facsimile apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said interface transmits to the host computer information about functions of said output means, receives an instruction from the host computer for instructing said output means to output an image stored in said storage means in an output operation, transmits to the host computer a result of the output operation, and receives from the host computer an instruction for causing the output operation to be discontinued.  
     
     
         16 . A facsimile apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said interface receives images produced by the host computer, and said storage means stores the received images.  
     
     
         17 . A facsimile apparatus according to  claim 16 , said facsimile apparatus further comprising means for deleting images stored in said storage means under instructions from the host computer.  
     
     
         18 . A facsimile apparatus according to  claim 16 , said facsimile apparatus further comprising means for transferring information about images stored in said storage means under instructions from the host computer.  
     
     
         19 . A facsimile apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said communication control means connects to the other communication apparatus under instructions from the host computer and includes means for transferring information about the other communication apparatus to the host computer.  
     
     
         20 . A facsimile apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said communication control means further transmits/receives images under instructions from the host computer.  
     
     
         21 . A facsimile apparatus, comprising: 
 storage means for storing documents;    communication control means for transmitting, to a receiving communication apparatus, documents stored in said storage means, wherein said storage means and said communication control means are controlled by a host computer by sending or receiving commands between said storage means and said communication control means; and    notification means for notifying the host computer of information about the receiving communicating apparatus,    wherein said communication control means sets a call with the receiving communication apparatus under instructions from the host computer and receives information about the receiving communication apparatus, and said notification means notifies the host computer of information about the receiving communication apparatus received by said communication control means.    
     
     
         22 . A facsimile apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein said communication control apparatus is instructed by the host computer to transmit documents after the host computer receives information about the receiving communication apparatus.  
     
     
         23 . A facsimile apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein said communication control apparatus is instructed by the host computer to discontinue the transmission of a document.  
     
     
         24 . A facsimile apparatus, comprising: 
 reading means for reading an original image;    storing means for storing images from the reading means;    output means for outputting images stored in said storage means, wherein said reading means, said storage means and said output means are controlled by a host computer; and    notification means for notifying the host computer of information about images stored in said storage means,    wherein said notification means notifies the host computer of information about the images in a data format selected by the host computer from among a plurality of data formats.