Image communication apparatus and its control method

Abstract

Demand for an inexpensive color facsimile apparatus is expected not in the business field but in home use, and a product which is easy to operate and use is required in consideration of home use. Such color facsimile apparatus, i.e., an image communication apparatus has a communication means for communicating with a partner terminal via a line, a DRAM ( ) for storing image information received by the communication means, a management means for managing the image information stored in the DRAM ( ), decoding means for decoding the image information stored in the DRAM ( ) into image data to be recorded on a recording paper sheet, and a recording unit ( ) for recording a visible image on a recording paper sheet on the basis of the decoded image data using a selected attached ink cartridge. A CPU ( ) of the image communication apparatus counts C indicating the number of non-recorded color images stored in the DRAM ( ), M indicating the number of non-recorded monochrome images, C indicating the number of recorded color images, and M indicating the number of recorded monochrome images. When a value C +M is not zero, the CPU displays a message indicating that a new image is stored in the DRAM ( ) using a first display unit on a control panel ( ). When the value C is not zero, the CPU displays a message indicating that a new image is stored in the DRAM ( ) using a second display unit independent from the first display unit.