Abstract: There is provided a common-memory controlling apparatus which controls data transfer between a common-memory and a plurality of central processing units. A separating buffer separates a CPU bus connected to each of the central processing units from a common-memory bus connected to the common-memory. A request signal generating circuit generates a request signal for accessing to the common-memory when each of the central processing units requires accesses to the common-memory. An arbitration circuit arbitrates the request signals supplied by the central processing units so that a request signal corresponding to one of the central processing units is selected. The central processing unit having the highest priority level is served. A control signal generating unit generates control signals used for controlling a bus connection corresponding to the selected central processing unit so that the CPU bus connected to the selected central processing unit is connected to the common-memory.

Abstract: A facsimile machine has a store and forward (SAF) mode and comprises a reader for successively reading a plurality of document pages which are to be transmitted to different destinations in one read operation, a memory for storing image data related to the document pages which are read by the reader, a first designating part for designating a plurality of destinations, a second designating part for arbitrarily designating document pages which are to be transmitted to each of the destinations which are designated by the first designating part, and a transmitting part for making a call out to the destinations one destination at a time and for successively transmitting to each destination the image data which are read out from the memory and are related to the document pages which are to be transmitted to each destination.

Abstract: A plurality of facsimile machines each having a LAN interface function are connected to a LAN. The memory unit of each of the facsimile machines is shared by all of the facsimile machines. Thus, if the memory unit of one of the facsimile machines is full, information may be stored in the memory unit of one of the remaining facsimile machines through the LAN. If the plotter fails, received image information may be transferred to any other facsimile machine having an operative plotter through the LAN to have the received image information recorded on recording paper.