System, method, and apparatus for an interactive virtual fax machine
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- displaying, by a computer to a user, an interactive virtual fax machine that resembles a physical fax machine, the interactive virtual fax machine having a send paper tray, a numeric keypad, a document attachment button, and a send button, the interactive virtual fax machine embodied at least as web pages and scripts stored at a server communicatively connected to the computer, as web pages and scripts stored at the computer, or as a program stored at the computer;
receiving, by the computer from the user, a fax number for sending a fax to a recipient, the fax number received through the numeric keypad of the interactive virtual fax machine or an input device of the computer;
attaching, by the computer responsive to an instruction from the user, an electronic document to the fax, the instruction received through the send paper tray or the document attachment button;
responsive to the user selecting the send button, transmitting, by the computer, the fax to the recipient using the fax number; and
responsive to completion of the fax, flashing a message displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine by the computer or generating a sound through a speaker connected to the computer.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method, and apparatus for a virtual fax machine are provided. In one embodiment, a system for a virtual fax machine is provided including a computer configured to display a virtual fax machine based on a script, a server configured to receive at least one electronic document associated with a fax to be sent using the virtual fax machine, and a traditional facsimile machine configured to receive the fax to be sent. In another embodiment, an apparatus for a virtual fax machine is provided including a computer configured to locate and execute a script associated with a virtual fax machine, display the virtual fax machine, associate at least one electronic document with a fax to be sent, encode the at least one electronic document to a form suitable for communication over a network, and transmit the encoded electronic document over the network as the fax to be sent.
67 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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displaying, by a computer to a user, an interactive virtual fax machine that resembles a physical fax machine, the interactive virtual fax machine having a send paper tray, a numeric keypad, a document attachment button, and a send button, the interactive virtual fax machine embodied at least as web pages and scripts stored at a server communicatively connected to the computer, as web pages and scripts stored at the computer, or as a program stored at the computer; receiving, by the computer from the user, a fax number for sending a fax to a recipient, the fax number received through the numeric keypad of the interactive virtual fax machine or an input device of the computer; attaching, by the computer responsive to an instruction from the user, an electronic document to the fax, the instruction received through the send paper tray or the document attachment button; responsive to the user selecting the send button, transmitting, by the computer, the fax to the recipient using the fax number; and responsive to completion of the fax, flashing a message displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine by the computer or generating a sound through a speaker connected to the computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus, comprising:
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a processor; a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and stored instructions translatable by the processor for performing; displaying, to a user, an interactive virtual fax machine that resembles a physical fax machine, the interactive virtual fax machine having a send paper tray, a numeric keypad, a document attachment button, and a send button, the interactive virtual fax machine embodied at least as web pages and scripts stored at a server communicatively connected to the apparatus, as web pages and scripts stored at the apparatus, or as a program stored at the apparatus; receiving, from the user, a fax number for sending a fax to a recipient, the fax number received through the numeric keypad of the interactive virtual fax machine or an input device of the apparatus; attaching, responsive to an instruction from the user, an electronic document to the fax, the instruction received through the send paper tray or the document attachment button; responsive to the user selecting the send button, transmitting the fax to the recipient using the fax number; and responsive to completion of the fax, flashing a message displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine or generating a sound through a speaker connected to the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions translatable by a computer for performing:
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displaying, to a user, an interactive virtual fax machine that resembles a physical fax machine, the virtual fax machine having a send paper tray, a numeric keypad, a document attachment button, and a send button, the interactive virtual fax machine embodied at least as web pages and scripts stored at a server communicatively connected to the computer, as web pages and scripts stored at the computer, or as a program stored at the computer; receiving, from the user, a fax number for sending a fax to a recipient, the fax number received through the numeric keypad of the interactive virtual fax machine or an input device of the computer; attaching, responsive to an instruction from the user, an electronic document to the fax, the instruction received through the send paper tray or the document attachment button; responsive to the user selecting the send button, transmitting the fax to the recipient using the fax number; and responsive to completion of the fax, flashing a message displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine or generating a sound through a speaker connected to the computer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification