Systems and methods for generating and communicating enhanced portable document format files
First Claim
1. A method for generating and communicating enhanced portable document format (EPDF) files, the method comprising:
- a profile management interface receiving a user selection of at least one portable document format (PDF) enhancement option to be used in generating a user-specific EPDF file comprising image information and at least one desired user selected EPDF enhancement option, wherein the profile management interface presents an interface to the user for user selection of at least one desired PDF enhancement option selected from the group consisting of;
log, search, comment, secure, language, and signature, the profile management interface embodied on a non-transitory computer memory of a first device external to a data network server computer;
the profile management interface storing, in a profile store, the user selection of the at least one desired PDF enhancement option in a user-specific record associated with the user, the profile store embodied on a second device external to the data network server computer, wherein the first device, the second device, and the data network server computer reside on a data network layer between a public-switched telephone network layer and a client device layer, the data network server computer having a public-switched telephone network interface interlacing the public-switched telephone network layer and a packet-switched interface interfacing an e-mail server residing on the data network layer, the data network server computer communicating with client devices on the client device layer through the packet-switched interface and the e-mail server;
receiving, through the public-switched telephone network interface of the data network server computer, a facsimile message addressed to the user, the facsimile message comprising a document image;
responsive to receiving the facsimile message addressed to the user, the data network server computer performing;
retrieving, by an EPDF generator of the data network server computer from the profile store, the user-specific record associated with the user, the EPDF generator comprising a translator and a raster converter, the translator having a processor, a memory, and a scan library for processing facsimile messages, e-mail messages, or tagged image file format (TIFF) files into EPDF files, the raster converter having a raster conversion process for converting facsimiles into image only PDF files or converting EPDF files into TIFF files; and
generating, by the translator of the EPDF generator of the data network server computer, the user-specific EPDF file, wherein generation of the user-specific EPDF file comprises;
translating the document image of the facsimile message into a PDF file; and
modifying properties of the PDF file in accordance with the user selection of the at least one desired PDF enhancement option as indicated in the user-specific record associated with the user retrieved from the profile store to produce the user-specific EPDF file, the modifying including inserting into the PDF file the at least one desired PDF enhancement option selected by the user;
communicating, by the EPDF generator through the packet-switched interface of the data network server computer, the user-specific EPDF file to the e-mail server, wherein;
in response to a command from a client computer on the client device layer, the e-mail server sends an e-mail message with the user-specific EPDF file as an e-mail message attachment to the client computer;
receiving, by the data network server computer through the packet-switched interface from the e-mail server, an e-mail message addressed to the user;
converting, by the translator of the EPDF generator of the data network server computer, the e-mail message addressed to the user to an EPDF file in accordance with the user selection of the at least one desired PDF enhancement option as indicated in the user-specific record associated with the user stored in the profile store, wherein the EPDF file includes information from the e-mail message addressed to the user and at least one of a representation of a signature and a representation of a repositionable note;
converting, by the raster converter of the EPDF generator of the data network server computer, the EPDF file into image information in a facsimile format; and
communicating, by the data network server computer through the public-switched telephone network interface, the image information in the facsimile format converted from the EPDF file to a destination facsimile device on the public-switched telephone layer.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for converting a facsimile includes receiving the facsimile via the public-switched telephone network, generating an enhanced portable document format (EPDF) file that includes information in addition to image information and communicating the EPDF file to an e-mail server. The EPDF file can then be communicated as an attachment to an e-mail message addressed to the intended recipient of the facsimile. A facsimile processing system includes a public-switched telephone network interface, a packet-switched network interface, a mail transfer protocol server, an input agent, a job processor and a translator. The input agent identifies and forwards the incoming facsimile to the job processor. The job processor determines when an EPDF file is desired and communicates appropriate instructions to the translator. The translator generates the EPDF file in response to the instructions and the image information from the facsimile. The translator integrates signatures and repositionable notes in outbound facsimiles.
135 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for generating and communicating enhanced portable document format (EPDF) files, the method comprising:
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a profile management interface receiving a user selection of at least one portable document format (PDF) enhancement option to be used in generating a user-specific EPDF file comprising image information and at least one desired user selected EPDF enhancement option, wherein the profile management interface presents an interface to the user for user selection of at least one desired PDF enhancement option selected from the group consisting of;
log, search, comment, secure, language, and signature, the profile management interface embodied on a non-transitory computer memory of a first device external to a data network server computer;the profile management interface storing, in a profile store, the user selection of the at least one desired PDF enhancement option in a user-specific record associated with the user, the profile store embodied on a second device external to the data network server computer, wherein the first device, the second device, and the data network server computer reside on a data network layer between a public-switched telephone network layer and a client device layer, the data network server computer having a public-switched telephone network interface interlacing the public-switched telephone network layer and a packet-switched interface interfacing an e-mail server residing on the data network layer, the data network server computer communicating with client devices on the client device layer through the packet-switched interface and the e-mail server; receiving, through the public-switched telephone network interface of the data network server computer, a facsimile message addressed to the user, the facsimile message comprising a document image; responsive to receiving the facsimile message addressed to the user, the data network server computer performing; retrieving, by an EPDF generator of the data network server computer from the profile store, the user-specific record associated with the user, the EPDF generator comprising a translator and a raster converter, the translator having a processor, a memory, and a scan library for processing facsimile messages, e-mail messages, or tagged image file format (TIFF) files into EPDF files, the raster converter having a raster conversion process for converting facsimiles into image only PDF files or converting EPDF files into TIFF files; and generating, by the translator of the EPDF generator of the data network server computer, the user-specific EPDF file, wherein generation of the user-specific EPDF file comprises; translating the document image of the facsimile message into a PDF file; and modifying properties of the PDF file in accordance with the user selection of the at least one desired PDF enhancement option as indicated in the user-specific record associated with the user retrieved from the profile store to produce the user-specific EPDF file, the modifying including inserting into the PDF file the at least one desired PDF enhancement option selected by the user; communicating, by the EPDF generator through the packet-switched interface of the data network server computer, the user-specific EPDF file to the e-mail server, wherein; in response to a command from a client computer on the client device layer, the e-mail server sends an e-mail message with the user-specific EPDF file as an e-mail message attachment to the client computer; receiving, by the data network server computer through the packet-switched interface from the e-mail server, an e-mail message addressed to the user; converting, by the translator of the EPDF generator of the data network server computer, the e-mail message addressed to the user to an EPDF file in accordance with the user selection of the at least one desired PDF enhancement option as indicated in the user-specific record associated with the user stored in the profile store, wherein the EPDF file includes information from the e-mail message addressed to the user and at least one of a representation of a signature and a representation of a repositionable note; converting, by the raster converter of the EPDF generator of the data network server computer, the EPDF file into image information in a facsimile format; and communicating, by the data network server computer through the public-switched telephone network interface, the image information in the facsimile format converted from the EPDF file to a destination facsimile device on the public-switched telephone layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A facsimile processing system for generating and communicating enhanced portable document format (EPDF) files, the system comprising:
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a data network server computer; a profile management interface embodied on a non-transitory computer memory of a first device external to a data network server computer, the profile management interface configured to receive a user selection of at least one PDF enhancement option to be used in generating a user-specific EPDF file comprising image information and at least one desired user selected EPDF enhancement option, wherein the profile management interface presents an interface to the user for user selection of at least one desired PDF enhancement option selected from the group consisting of;
log, search, comment, secure, language, and signature;a profile store embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium of a second device external to the data network server computer; the profile management interface further configured to store, in the profile store, the user selection of the at least one desired PDF enhancement option in a user-specific record associate with the user; wherein the first device, the second device, and the data network server computer reside on a data network layer between a public-switched telephone network layer and a client device layer; the data network server computer comprising a public-switched telephone network interface interfacing the public-switched telephone network layer, the public-switched telephone network interface configured to receive a facsimile message addressed to the user, wherein the facsimile message comprises a document image; the data network server computer further comprising a packet-switched network interface interfacing an e-mail server residing on the data network layer, the data network server computer communicating with client devices on the client device layer through the packet-switched interface and the e-mail server; and an EPDF generator embodied on the data network server computer and communicatively coupled to the public-switched telephone network interface of the data network server computer, to the profile store embodied on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium of the second device external to the data network server computer, and to the packet-switched network interface of the data network server computer; the EPDF generator comprising a translator and a raster converter; the translator having a processor, a memory, and a scan library for processing facsimile messages, e-mail messages, or tagged image file format (TIFF) files into EPDF files; the raster converter having a raster conversion process for converting facsimiles into image only PDF files or converting EPDF files into TIFF files; the EPDF generator configured to, responsive to receiving the facsimile message addressed to the user; retrieve, from the profile store, the user-specific record associated with the user; and generate, by the translator, the user-specific EPDF file, wherein generation of the user-specific EPDF file comprises; translating the document image of the facsimile message into a PDF file; and modifying properties of the PDF file in accordance with the user selection of the at least one desired PDF enhancement option as indicated in the user-specific record associated with the user retrieved from the profile store to produce the user-specific EPDF file, the modifying including inserting into the PDF file the at least one desired PDF enhancement option selected by the user; and communicate, through the packet-switched network interface of the data network server computer, the user-specific EPDF file to the e-mail server, wherein; in response to a command from a client computer on the client device layer, the e-mail server sends an e-mail message with the user-specific EPDF file as an e-mail message attachment to the client computer; the data network server computer further configured for receiving, through the packet-switched interface from the e-mail server, an e-mail message addressed to the user; the translator of the EPDF generator of the data network server computer further configured for converting the e-mail message addressed to the user to an EPDF file in accordance with the user selection of the at least one desired PDF enhancement option as indicated in the user-specific record associated with the user stored in the profile store, wherein the EPDF file includes information from the e-mail message addressed to the user and at least one of a representation of a signature and a representation of a repositionable note; the raster converter of the EPDF generator of the data network server computer further configured for converting the EPDF file into image information in a facsimile format; and the data network server computer further configured for communicating, through the public-switched telephone network interface, the image information in the facsimile format converted from the EPDF file to a destination facsimile device on the public-switched telephone layer. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer instructions translatable by a data network server computer to perform:
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receiving, through a public-switched telephone network interface of the data network server computer, a facsimile message addressed to a user, the facsimile message comprising a document image; responsive to receiving the facsimile message addressed to the user, retrieving, from a profile store, a user-specific record associated with the user, the user-specific record including at least one desired portable document format (PDF) enhancement option selected by the user through a profile management interface embodied on a non-transitory computer memory of a first device external to a data network server computer, wherein the at least one desired PDF enhancement option is selected from the group consisting of;
log, search, comment, secure, language, and signature, the profile store embodied on a second device external to the data network server computer, wherein the first device, the second device, and the data network server computer reside on a data network layer between a public-switched telephone network layer and a client device layer, the data network server computer having a public-switched telephone network interface interfacing the public-switched telephone network layer and a packet-switched interface interfacing an e-mail server residing on the data network layer, the data network server computer communicating with client devices on the client device layer through the packet-switched interface and the e-mail server;generating a user-specific EPDF file, wherein generation of the user-specific EPDF file comprises; translating the document image of the facsimile message into a PDF file; and modifying properties of the PDF file in accordance with the user selection of the at least one desired PDF enhancement option as indicated in the user-specific record associated with the user retrieved from the profile store to produce the user-specific EPDF file, the modifying including inserting into the PDF the the at least one desired PDF enhancement option selected by the user; communicating through the packet-switched interface of the data network server computer, the user-specific EPDF file to the e-mail server, wherein; in response to a command from a client computer on the client device layer, the e-mail server sends an e-mail message with the user-specific EPDF file as an e-mail message attachment to the client computer; receiving, through the packet-switched interface from the e-mail server, an e-mail message addressed to the user; converting the e-mail message addressed to the user to an EPDF file in accordance with the user selection of the at least one desired PDF enhancement option as indicated in the user-specific record associated with the user stored in the profile store, wherein the EPDF file includes information from the e-mail message addressed to the user and at least one of a representation of a signature and a representation of a repositionable note; converting the EPDF file into image information in a facsimile format; and communicating, through the public-switched telephone network interface, the image information in the facsimile format converted from the EPDF file to a destination facsimile device on the public-switched telephone layer.
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Specification