Abstract: A facsimile machine is provided with only two receive modes: "Auto Answer" and as "Manual". In the Auto Answer mode the device will automatically receive incoming facsimiles and in the Manual mode it will not. The Auto Answer mode allows the user to automatically receive facsimile calls on either a dedicated facsimile line or a line shared with any other receiving device such as a telephone or answering machine. Since several receive modes have been collapsed into a single mode that may be used for all configurations, the user simply controls the behavior he desires by turning Auto Answer mode ON or OFF (i.e., Auto Answer mode must be ON for the facsimile to eavesdrop, or to answer the call when nothing else answers), with Auto Answer OFF being equivalent to Manual mode ON, and vice versa.

Abstract: A facsimile machine which may be successfully operated by a user, using a dialing mode with which the user is already familiar. Programed dialing, monitor dialing, and speed dialing are integrated in a way that does not artificially constrain the user to only certain combinations of commands. Users who are dialing through a PBX or placing the call through a credit card company, may dial the call interactively using one or more string of numbers stored in memory along with numbers entered directly from the keypad, with the user receiving audible feedback in the form of dial tones, beeps and tones, and recorded verbal instructions. Various international dialing functions such as Mercury are stored and accessed in the same way the user would access other numbers stored in a speed dial or one-touch dial memory location.