COMMUNICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

A facsimile interface apparatus (12) is connected between facsimile terminals (10, 24) communicating via a satellite (16). The interface apparatus converts a conventional facsimile signal (66, 68) to a signal (70, 72, 74) suitable for transmission to the satellite (16). However, the interface apparatus and the satellite may incur a long delay such that the calling facsimile terminal (10) repeats a transmitted signal while the response to that signal is being received over the satellite (16). To overcome this problem, the facsimile interface apparatus (12) connected to the calling terminal (10) sends, after a period t1, a holding signal (90) to the calling terminal (10), to prevent the calling terminal from repeating the transmitted signal (66, 68). After a further period t2, the interface apparatus (12) sends a command repeat signal (93) to the calling terminal (10), so that the transmitted signal (66, 68) is repeated if the called terminal (24) has not transmitted a response.