GB2232324A - Facsimile systems having telephone-answering function - Google Patents

Abstract

A facsimile system is capable of embodying an auto-answering function by coupling an auto-answering machine 2 therewith. The improved facsimile system and a method of operation can reduce auto-answering time by operating in auto-receiving mode, regardless of present mode, when a calling station FAX requests transmission of image data while a called station FAX is in a voice-answering mode. To achieve these objects the inventive FAX system includes a telephone (TEL) 1 for performing voice communication function through a first line and an image processing means for processing image data from a second line. The FAX system further comprises: an auto-answering machine (ASM) 2, a hook-off detection coil (HOC) 3a, a hook-off detection switch (HOD) 3B, a control unit 11, a signal induction unit (SIU) 13, a tone- detection unit (TDU) 14, a dialling-detection unit (DDU) 15, a ring-detection unit (RDU) 16, an input/output unit (I/O) 12, a relay driver (RLD) 17A, a set of switch means 17B, a transformer means 18, a MODEM 19, and an image processor unit (IPU) 20. <IMAGE>

Description

FACSIMILE SYSTEMS HAVING AUTO-ANSWERING FUNCTION This invention relates to facsimile systems, and particularly to facsimile systems having an auto-answering function.

Generally, a facsimile (hereinafter referred to as FAX) is connected to a telephone line, and able to transmit or receive image data by using the FAX, while voice signals are transmitted or received through the telephone line. Operating modes of the FAX may be either manual receiving mode or auto-receiving mode. In manual receiving mode, by executing a hook-off operation for the telephone hand-set a communication path is set up, and the FAX is driven by turning "ON" the receive-mode switch means to receive the image data transmitted from the calling station FAX. On the other hand, in autoreceiving mode, the communication path is already established and the system is switched to automatically drive the FAX.

Therefore, when the FAX operates in auto-receiving mode, the telephone line merely performs the function of providing the communication path for the FAX. This means that a voice communication path through the telephone line cannot be established when the calling station is an ordinary telephone subscriber. Therefore, the FAX and telephone functions cannot be implemented at the same time. To implement the FAX and telephone functions simultaneously, an auto-answering function, which is conventionally implemented using a semiconductor memory, may be added.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a prior system block diagram illustrating a voice answering function of a known FAX, using a semiconductor memory device. Recording procedures for the voice information will now be described.

A control unit 101 of the FAX drives the voice synthesizer IC (VOS) 104 by a command from a keyboard (not shown here), to record a voice signal transmitted through a microphone means 102. The voice synthesizer IC 104 converts the analog voice signal generated from the microphone 102 into a digital signal, and applies it to a semiconductor memory 106 through a buffer means 105 for storage. For replaying the stored voice signal, the above-mentioned procedure should be executed in reverse order, and the voice information signal previously stored will be output through a loudspeaker means 103 or a telephone speaker. However, when the voice signal is stored in the semiconductor memory 106 by the above-mentioned technique, the stored quantity or recording time for the voice signal is restricted.

When the memory is full, the auto-answering function can be implemented only after resetting the system. If both the auto-receiving mode and the auto-answering mode are established at the same time, the FAX executes the auto-answering mode first, and after completing this function, the auto-receiving function will be performed.

Therefore, the time required for the auto-answering mode cannot be reduced. Moreover, the voice quality is not high, since the auto-answering function is performed by using a semiconductor memory, and additional circuits are further required to drive the semiconductor memory device.

The present invention aims to provide a generally improved facsimile system having an auto-answering function.

Preferred embodiments of the invention aim to provide a facsimile system and a method for reducing auto-answering time by operating an auto-receiving mode, regardless of present mode, when a calling station FAX requests transmission of image data while a called station FAX is in a voice-answering mode. Another aim is to provide a facsimile system and a method for facilitating extension of the stored quantity of voice signal when utilizing the voice-answering function of the FAX system.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a facsimile system including: input terminals for connection to a telephone line; first and second lines; switching means for selectively connecting said input terminals to said first or second line; an auto-answering machine connected to said first line, for transmitting pre-recorded voice information to a caller and recording voice information from a caller; an image processing means connected to said second line, for receiving and processing image data from a calling facsimile station; detection means for detecting signals received from a telephone line connected to said input terminals; and control means connected to receive signals from said detection means and to control said switching means in response thereto.

The facsimile system may further include a telephone connected to said first line, in parallel with said autoanswering machine, for voice communication.

Preferably, said detection means includes a tone detection unit for detecting a calling tone from a calling facsimile station and, upon detecting such a tone, outputting a signal to the control means.

Preferably, said detection means includes a dial signal detection unit for detecting reception of a dial signal from a calling telephone or facsimile station and, upon detecting such a dial signal, outputting a signal to the control means.

Said dial signal detection unit is preferably adapted to detect both pulse and tone dialling signals, and preferably comprises an A/D converter for converting pulse dial signals to digital signals, and a DTMF detection unit for detecting DTMF dial signals.

Preferably, said detection means includes a ring detection unit for detecting a ring signal from a calling telephone or facsimile station and, upon detecting a ring signal or a predetermined number of ring signals, outputting a signal to the control means.

Preferably, said control means is arranged to control said switching means to connect said input terminals to said first line when the system is in a standby mode, and said detection means is arranged to detect signals on said first line.

Said pre-recorded voice information preferably includes a message to a caller to select facsimile function if desired, and the control means is preferably arranged to respond to a facsimile selection signal received on said input terminals to cause said switching means to connect said input terminals to said second line.

Said facsimile selection signal preferably comprises a predetermined dial signal or sequence of dial signals received from a calling telephone or facsimile system.

Said control means is preferably arranged to control overall operation of the facsimile system.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating a facsimile system as above, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, comprising the steps of: (a) upon initialisation or when in standby mode, controlling the switching means to connect said input terminals to said first line, assigning the image processing means to an auto-receive mode, and assigning the auto-answering machine to auto-answer mode; (b) upon detecting a ring signal upon said first line, starting the auto-answering function of the autoanswering machine to transmit to a caller said prerecorded voice information, which includes a message to the caller to select facsimile function if desired, by activating one or more dial keys; ; (c) controlling the switching means to connect said input terminals to said second line, and processing received image data by said image processing means, if a calling tone from a calling facsimile station is received during the auto-answering function of step (b) above; (d) controlling the switching means to connect said input terminals to said second line, and processing received image data by said image processing means, if a predetermined dial signal or sequence of dial signals is received after step (b) above has been initiated; (e) driving the auto-answering machine to record a voice message from a caller after the auto-answering function of step (b) above, in the absence of a calling tone or predetermined dial signal(s) as recited in steps (c) and (d) above.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Fig.2 is a system block diagram illustrating one example of a facsimile system according to the present invention; Fig.3 shows one example of the system of Figure 2 in more detail; and Fig.4 is a flow chart illustrating sequentially one example of the operational process of a system as shown in Figure 2 and/or 3.

Referring to Fig.2, the facsimile system comprises a telephone (TEL) 1, an auto-answering machine (ASM) 2, a hook-off detection coil (HOC) 3A, a hook-off detection switch (HOD) 3B, a pair of input terminals 5, a control unit 11, a signal induction unit (SIU) 13, a tone-detection unit (TDU) 14, a dialing- detection unit (DDU) 15, a ring-detection unit (RDU) 16, an input/output unit (I/O) 12, a relay driver (RLD) 17A, a set of switch means 17B, a transformer means 18, a MODEM 19, and an image processor unit (IPU) 20.

The functions of the parts of Figure 2 will now be explained. The input terminals 5 are connected to an external telephone line (not shown). The telephone 1 performs a voice communication function through a first line. The auto-answering machine 2, connected to the first line in parallel with the telephone, performs an auto-answering function when a ring signal is detected.

A hook-off detection means, composed of the hook-off relay 3A and the hook-off detection switch 3B, generates a fourth control signal when the telephone 1 is hooked-off.

The control unit 11 controls the overall operation of the FAX system and analyzes the status of first to third control signals to generate a fifth control signal. The signal induction unit 13, connected to the first line in parallel, induces an AC signal and compensates for line-loss. The tone-detection unit 14 detects calling tone from the output of said signal induction unit 13 and generates the first control signal. The dialing-detection unit 15 detects a dialing signal designated from the signal induction unit 13, for selecting the FAX system, and generates the second control signal.

The ring-detection unit 16, connected to the first line in parallel, generates the third control signal when the ring signal is detected, and when the auto-answering machine 2 is switched off. The input/output unit 12 inputs the first control to fourth control signals to the control unit 11 sequentially under the control of the control unit 11 and outputs the fifth control signal from the control unit 11. A switching means, composed of the relay driver 17A and the switch 17B, is driven by the fifth control signal and performs the switching operation from the first line to the second line. An image processing means, composed of the transformer 18, the MODEM 19 and the image processor unit 20, processes the image data from the second line under the control of the control unit 11.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 2 will now be described in further detail on the basis of the above-mentioned configuration.

The first line, connected to the telephone 1, is connected in parallel to the auto-answering machine 2. If the telephone 1 is hooked-off, a small current is induced in the hook-off detection coil 3A. This current operates the hook-off detection switch 3B and, as a result, the fourth control signal is applied to the input/output unit 12. Here, the control unit 11 acknowledges the induction of the fourth control signal, via the input/output unit 12, and puts the FAX in a stand-by state ready to operate in transmission mode or copy mode.

Firstly, an operating procedure of the system under the conditions that the telephone 1 is in hook-on state, the automatic answering machine 2 is in voice answering mode and the FAX is in auto-receiving mode will be examined.

The ring signal, when input through the telephone line connected to a switchboard (not shown), enters in the first line through the terminals 5 and the switch means 17B. This ring-signal operates the auto-answering machine 12 and the outgoing message (hereinafter referred to as OGM) is output to the telephone line through the first line and the switch means 17B.

The function of said OGM is to give the caller instructions for leaving a message after hearing a beep tone when wishing to transmit a voice message, and/or of pressing a designated key when wishing to use the FAX function. If the calling station FAX is in a manual transmission mode, the caller hears the OGM and presses a correstonding key to transmit the image data. Then the signal induction unit 13 eliminates the DC component of said key signal to convert it into a signal with an AC component only for induction. The converted signal is compensated for line loss and applied to the dialing detection unit 15 and the tone detection unit 14. The tone detection unit 14 does not generate a detection signal since a dialing signal is input to the unit.

However, the dialing detection unit 15 detects the dialing signal on the first line. Hence it detects a pulse signal or DTMF signal according to the calling station telephone, and generates the corresponding second control signal.

The control unit 11 outputs a decoding signal to the input/output unit 12 and sequentially analyzes the control signal inputs of the input/output unit 12. If the input/output unit 12 generates the second control signal from the dialing detection unit 15, the control unit 11 acknowledges the second control signal to generate the fifth control signal.

The fifth control signal is applied to the relay driver 17A through the input/output unit 12 to drive the relay driver 17A, and the contact of switch 17B is switched to connect the telephone line to the second line.

Then, if a called station identification ( (CED) is generated through the second line to indicate preparedness for receiving the image information, the calling station FAX starts to transmit the image information and the called station FAX receives the information through the second line for processing.

However, in the case that the calling station is a telephone subscriber and generates voice messages after hearing the beep tone, the auto-answering machine starts to operate, to record the messages on the ICM (Incoming Message) tape. In this case, the switch 17B continues to connect the telephone line to the first line.

Secondly, an operating procedure will be considered under the condition that the calling station FAX is in automatic transmission mode. In this case, if the calling station FAX performs automatic dialing, the auto-answering machine 2 will be operated by the ring signal. However, the calling station FAX in automatic transmission mode must send out a calling tone of 1100Hz in accordance with the recommendation of the CCITT (International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee). Therefore, this calling tone is applied to the signal induction unit 13 via the first line. The signal induction unit 13 induces an AC component signal with DC component eliminated, amplifies it, and applies it to the tone detection unit 14. The tone detection unit 14 detects said calling tone to output the first control signal to the input/output unit 12.The control unit 11 generates the fifth control signal in response to the first control signal transmitted through the said input/output unit 12 and switches the switch means 17B to the second line. The called station FAX generates the CED tone for transmission to the calling station FAX, and the calling station FAX starts to transmit the image data upon receiving the CED tone.

Thirdly, if the auto-answering machine is not in the answering mode but the FAX is in auto-receiving mode, the ring signal passed through the first line is applied to the input/output unit 12 via the ring detection unit 16.

If the ring signal passes more than a given number of times through the ring detection unit 16, the control unit 11 acknowledges the presence of the fourth control signal and generates the fifth control signal, to activate the switch means 17B and FAX as described above.

Figure 3 is a more detailed circuit diagram of Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a flow chart to show switching functions for auto-answering mode and auto-receiving mode.

Firstly, there is explained the case where the auto-answering machine is in voice answering mode and the called station FAX is in auto-receiving mode, while the calling station FAX is in automatic transmission mode.

A step Sl sets the auto-answering machine 12 to the voice answering mode, the FAX to the auto-receiving mode, and initializes the system. If the FAX is not in operating mode, the switch means 17B is positioned at the contact "a" in order to connect the telephone line connected with the switchboard to the telephone 1 and the auto-answering machine 2 via the first line. Thereafter, if the calling station FAX performs automatic dialing and the communication path between the calling and the called station is established, the ring signal generated from the switchboard is applied to the auto-answering machine 2 and the telephone 1 via the telephone line. Then at a step S2, the auto-answering machine 2 detects the ring signal from the second line and, at a step S3 it starts to transmit the OGM.At this time, the calling station FAX automatically generates the calling tone in accordance with the CCITT recommendation after the automatic dialing.

The calling tone generated by said calling station FAX is applied to the first line through the contact "a" of the switch means 17B. The tone signal is accompanied by a -48V DC signal. Hence the coupling capacitors C1, C2 eliminate the -48V DC component and the signal with AC component only is induced from the primary coil to the secondary coil of the matching transformer Ti. This matching transformer T1 of high-impedance 20 kc): 20 kQ is used to protect the telephone line against change of electrical characteristics thereof. The signal which is induced to the secondary coil of the matching transformer T1 is applied to the tone detection unit 14 and an A/D converter unit in the dialing detection unit 15.The tone detection unit 14 detects the 1100Hz calling tone and applies the tone as the first control signal to the input/output unit 12. Therefore, the control unit 11 outputs the decoding signal to the input/output unit 12 to select the input/output port of the input/output unit 12 and, at a step S4, it acknowledges that the calling station FAX is going to transmit the image information by the acquisition of the calling tone transmitted through the tone detection unit 14 as the first control signal.

Therefore, at a step S5, the control unit 11 outputs a logic "high" level of the fifth control signal to switch the telephone line from the first line to the second line by means of the first control signal.

The fifth control signal output from said input/output unit 12 is inverted to a logic "low" level by passing an invertor I1 for current drive in the relay driver 17A and, as a result, a current path for the supply voltage Vcc is established and currents flow in the coil Li.

As a result, the contact of the switch 17B is switched from the position "a" to "b" to connect the telephone line to the second line. At this moment, the loop for the auto-answering machine 2 is cut off and the operation of the auto-answering machine is automatically suspended. Thereafter, the called station FAX generates the CED tone 2100Hz to transmit to the calling station FAX. At a step S6, the control unit 11 controls the MODEM 19 and the image processing unit 20 to process the image data transmitted from the calling station FAX.

Secondly, there is considered the case that the automatic answering machine is in voice answering mode and the FAX is in auto-receiving mode, while the calling station FAX is in manual transmission mode.

The user assigns the auto-answering unit 2 to the voice answering mode and the FAX to automatic receiving mode, and initializes the system at step Si. In this case, as discussed above, the switch 17B is positioned at the contact "a" to connect the telephone line to the first line. Thereafter, if a dialing signal is generated by the calling station FAX, the ring signal generated from the switchboard is applied to the first line. The automatic answering machine 2, at step S2, detects said ring signal.

Therefore, at step s3, the auto-answering machine 2 sends out the following OGM to the calling station: "This is XXX. Nobody is available for your call right now. So, if you want to send some FAX data, press key "0" twice. Otherwise, if you want to send some messages, please leave your message after the beep tone." The above OGM is output through the first line.

After hearing the above OGM, the calling station can select the transmission of either message or FAX data by pressing the corresponding key.

The case that the FAX data is transmitted will be discussed first. In the above OGM, the key "0" is assumed for FAX data transmission. Any key can be used by modifying software. The key signals are different from one another according to the kinds of calling station telephones. That is, DTMF signal is generated for a MFC type telephone, and pulse signal for a pulse-type telephone.

The key signals generated by the MFC telephone are DTMF signals. For the key "0", the high frequency is 1336Hz and the low is 941Hz. The DTMF signals are applied to the signal induction unit 13 via the first line. The DTMF detector 21 detects the DTMF signals of 1336Hz and 941Hz, and applies them to the input/output unit 12 as the second control signal. Herein, the tone detection unit 14 and the DTMF detector 21 are IC's for tone decoding and can be implemented using "XR2211" manufactured by "EXAR".

At this time, the control unit 11 acknowledges the second control signal at a step S7 and generates the fifth control signal at step S5.

After this, as detailed in the above, the relay driver 17A is driven to position the contact of switch 17A to "b" to open the loop for the auto-answering machine 2 and to switch the mechanism to the FAX. Therefore, the operation of the auto-answering machine 2 is suspended.

At step S6, the control unit 11 controls the MODEM 19 and image processing unit 20 to process the image data transmitted from the calling station FAX.

If the calling station telephone is a pulse-type telephone, pressing the key "0" once generates ten pulses.

Since the key is pressed twice, twenty pulses can be detected. The required procedures are discussed hereinbelow.

The pulse dial signal applied to the first line is processed by the signal induction unit 13. This analog pulse signal is adjusted by the resistors R3, R4 and applied to the base of the transistor Q1.

During the period when the level of the said pulse signal is logic "HIGH", the transistor Q1 is turned on, and the pulse signal which is applied the the input/output unit 12 is inverted. The control unit 11 periodically scans the data from the input/output unit 12 every toms, and, thus, can accept 10 x 2 = 20 periodic pulses of key signals generated by the calling station.

The control unit 11, at a step S8, acknowledges the pulse signal as the second control signal and generates the fifth control signal using the second control signal at step S5. Then the relay driver 17A is driven by said fifth control signal to connect the loop switch 17B to "b" and, as a result, a communication path for the FAX is established. Henceforth, the control unit 11 controls the MODEM 19 and the image processing unit 20 to process the image information transmitted from the calling station FAX.

On the other hand, if there is no specified key input (in this example, the key "0" twice) from the calling station after transmission of the OGM message, the switch means 17B continues to set the loop to the first line. If the calling station transmits a voice message , the received messages are recorded on the ICM tape because the auto-answering machine continues to operate. This recording will be terminated when the calling station is hooked on.

Thirdly, there is considered hereinbelow the operation that the automatic answering machine 2 is not in answering mode but the FAX is in automatic answering mode while the calling station FAX is in manual transmission mode.

The switch means 17B remains to form the loop to the first line. Therefore, the ring signal is applied to the first line and the auto-answering machine 2 is not operated. The said ring signal accompanies the -48V DC signal and a capacitor C3 eliminates this -48V DC signal to generate a signal with AC component only.

The ring signal is applied to zener diodes ZD1, ZD2 via a current limit resistor R6 and is sliced. In other words, during application of the ring signal, a pulse (+) component signal operates a light emitting diode LD2 to turn a photo transistor PQ1 on, and a minus (-) component signal operates the light emitting diode LD1 to turn the photo transistor PQ1 on. However, the photo transistor PQ1 is turned off because said LED's LD1, LD2 are not operated at a slice level of the back-to-back zener diodes ZD1, ZD2. The ring signal which has been transmitted through the emitter of said photo transistor PQ1 is converted into a digital signal and this digital signal is applied to the input/output unit 12.The control unit 11 acknowledges the signal as the third control signal and generates the fifth control signal if a predetermined number (typically two or three times) of the ring signal are detected. Operation thereafter is the same as described above.

Fourthly, hereinafter is considered the operation procedures at which the telephone 1 is hooked off. If the telephone 1 is hooked off, a loop passing through the telephone 1 is established and a small current is generated in the hook-off detection unit 3A. Therefore, the contact of the hook-off detection switch 3B is switched, and the fourth control signal which is converted to logic "high" through the pull-down resistor R8 is applied to the input/output unit 12. At the same time, the control unit 11 detects the fourth control signal via the input/output unit 12 and acknowledges that the telephone is hooked-off.

In addition to the above mentioned configuration, said MODEM 19 can be used to add the auto-answering machine 2 to the FAX. In general, the MODEM used in the FAX adopts IC chips which can perform not only data conversion but also tone detection and image conversion (e.g. R96MD manufactured by the Rockwell Co.).

When the MODEM which can detect the tone is used, by removing the tone detection unit 14 and DTMF detector 21 and connecting the output of the induction unit 13 to the receiving port of the MODEM 19 in parallel with line 2, the calling tone and the DTMF signal generated on the first line can be detected even if the loop for the second line is not established. In this case, the A/D conversion means of the dialing detection unit 15 which detects the second control signal from the pulse type dialing signal is connected in the same manner as in the output of the signal induction unit 13.

As described above, by applying an auto-answering machine to the FAX system in which the FAX and telephone are connected to one telephone line, both the FAX function of processing image information, and the auto-answering function of recording the received voice message during absence, can be implemented together.

Therefore, the telephone line can be used more efficiently and the function of the FAX can be improved, since it can perform receiving mode regardless of the modes or status of the telephone in the calling station FAX.

Although specific constructions and procedures of preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the elements and constructions disclosed. One skilled in the art will easily recognize that other particular elements or subconstructions may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims (13)

1. A facsimile system including: input terminals for connection to a telephone line; first and second lines; switching means for selectively connecting said input terminals to said first or second line; an auto-answering machine connected to said first line, for transmitting pre-recorded voice information to a caller and recording voice information from a caller; an image processing means connected to said second line, for receiving and processing image data from a calling facsimile station; detection means for detecting signals received from a telephone line connected to said input terminals; and control means connected to receive signals from said detection means and to control said switching means in response thereto.

2. A facsimile system according to claim 1, further including a telephone connected to said first line, in parallel with said auto-answering machine, for voice communication.

3. A facsimile system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said detection means includes a tone detection unit for detecting a calling tone from a calling facsimile station and, upon detecting such a tone, outputting a signal to the control means.

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4. A facsimile system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said detection means includes a dial signal detection unit for detecting reception of a dial signal from a calling telephone or facsimile station and, upon detecting such a dial signal, outputting a signal to the control means.

5. A facsimile system according to claim 4, wherein said dial signal detection unit is adapted to detect both pulse and tone dialling signals, and comprises an A/D converter for converting pulse dial signals to digital signals, and a DTMF detection unit for detecting DTMF dial signals.

6. A facsimile system according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said detection means includes a ring detection unit for detecting a ring signal from a calling telephone or facsimile station and, upon detecting a ring signal or a predetermined number of ring signals, outputting a signal to the control means.

7. A facsimile system according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said control means is arranged to control said switching means to connect said input terminals to said first line when the system is in a standby mode, and said detection means is arranged to detect signals on said first line.

8. A facsimile system according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said pre-recorded voice information includes a message to a caller to select facsimile function if desired, and the control means is arranged to respond to a facsimile selection signal received on said input terminals to cause said switching means to connect said input terminals to said second line.

9. A facsimile system according to claim 8, wherein said facsimile selection signal comprises a predetermined dial signal or sequence of dial signals received from a calling telephone or facsimile system.

10. A facsimile system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said control means is arranged to control overall operation of the facsimile system.

11. A facsimile system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2, optionally with Figure 3 and/or 4, of the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of operating a facsimile system according to any of the preceding claims,comprising the steps of: (a) upon initialisation or when in standby mode, controlling the switching means to connect said input terminals to said first line, assigning the image processing means to an auto-receive mode, and assigning the auto-answering machine to auto-answer mode; (b) upon detecting a ring signal upon said first line, starting the auto-answering function of the autoanswering machine to transmit to a caller said prerecorded voice information, which includes a message to the caller to select facsimile function if desired, by activating one or more dial keys;; (c) controlling the switching means to connect said input terminals to said second line, and processing received image data by said image processing means, if a calling tone from a calling facsimile station is received during the auto-answering function of step (b) above; (d) controlling the switching means to connect said input terminals to said second line, and processing received image data by said image processing means, if a predetermined dial signal or sequence of dial signals is received after step (b) above has been initiated; (e) driving the auto-answering machine to record a voice message from a caller after the auto-answering function of step (b) above, in the absence of a calling tone or predetermined dial signal(s) as recited in steps (c) and (d) above.

13. A method of operating a facsimile system, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.