Systems and methods for storing, delivering, and managing messages
First Claim
1. A method of receiving a fax document via a DID telephone line and for making the fax document available to a user via a client web browser, the method comprising:
- receiving a fax telephone call via a DID telephone line at an extension associated with a user, and receiving from the fax telephone call a fax document in a fax transmission format;
converting the fax document from the fax transmission format to a stored image file format;
storing the converted fax document into a message storage mailbox associated with the user;
coupling an access control web page via a packet switched data network to the client web browser executing on a client computer operated by the user, wherein the access control web page includes a user logon prompt that allows the user to gain access to a second web page;
coupling the second web page via the packet switched data network to the user, wherein the second web page includes at least N links to stored messages, where N is a non-negative number that represents the number of fax messages presently stored the user mailbox;
receiving via the packet switched data network from the client web browser an indication that the user has selected one of the N links in order to request a selected fax message to be downloaded to a client computer; and
coupling via the packet switched data network the selected fax message to the client computer in response to the request.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A Message Storage and Deliver System (MSDS) is connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and receives incoming calls with these calls being facsimile, voice, or data transmissions. The MSDS detects the type of call and stores the message signal in a database. The MSDS is also connected to the Internet and has a hyper-text transfer protocol deamon (HTTPD) for receiving requests from users. The HTTPD forwards requests for certain files or messages to a network server which transmits at least part of the message to the HTTPD and then to the user. In addition to requests for certain documents, the HTTPD may also receive a request in the form of a search query. The search query is forwarded from the HTTPD to an application program for conducting the search of the database. The results of the search are forwarded through the HTTPD to the user. The user may then select one or more files or messages from the search results and may save the search for later reference.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of receiving a fax document via a DID telephone line and for making the fax document available to a user via a client web browser, the method comprising:
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receiving a fax telephone call via a DID telephone line at an extension associated with a user, and receiving from the fax telephone call a fax document in a fax transmission format;
converting the fax document from the fax transmission format to a stored image file format;
storing the converted fax document into a message storage mailbox associated with the user;
coupling an access control web page via a packet switched data network to the client web browser executing on a client computer operated by the user, wherein the access control web page includes a user logon prompt that allows the user to gain access to a second web page;
coupling the second web page via the packet switched data network to the user, wherein the second web page includes at least N links to stored messages, where N is a non-negative number that represents the number of fax messages presently stored the user mailbox;
receiving via the packet switched data network from the client web browser an indication that the user has selected one of the N links in order to request a selected fax message to be downloaded to a client computer; and
coupling via the packet switched data network the selected fax message to the client computer in response to the request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
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a DID trunk line for receiving a telephone call at a dialed telephone extension, the DID trunk being adapted to receive a message, wherein, depending on the content of the telephone call, the message is one of a voice message and fax message;
a storage area comprising one or more user mailboxes;
a first HTML web page comprising a form that enables a user to enter at least one of a username and a password in order to gain access to a second HTML web page, wherein the HTML second web page is indicative of the contents of a particular user mailbox associated with the particular user;
a first software function operative to associate the dialed telephone extension with the particular user mailbox;
a second software function operative to convert the message into a computer file in accordance with a storage file format and to store the computer file into a portion of the storage area associated with the particular user mailbox;
a third software function that writes information indicative of the presence of the computer file in the user mailbox into the second HTML web page, wherein the indication comprises a selectable link and an indication of whether the computer file corresponds to a stored fax message or a stored voice message; and
a fourth software function adapted to perform a server interaction with a client computer in accordance with a hypertext transfer protocol to communicate with a web browser that executes on the client computer via a packet switched data network;
wherein in response to a hypertext transfer protocol message indicating the selection of the selectable link, the computer file is coupled via the packet switched data network to the user web browser. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus comprising:
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a DID trunk line for receiving a telephone call at a dialed telephone extension, the DID trunk being adapted to receive a message, wherein, depending on the content of the telephone call, the message is one of a voice message and fax message;
a storage area comprising one or more user mailboxes;
a first markup language representation comprising a form that enables a user to enter at least one of a username and a password in order to gain access to a second markup language representation, wherein the second markup language representation is indicative of the contents of a particular user mailbox associated with the particular user;
a first software function operative to associate the dialed telephone extension with the particular user mailbox;
a second software function operative to convert the message into a computer file in accordance with a storage file format and to store the computer file into a portion of the storage area associated with the particular user mailbox;
a third software function that writes information indicative of the presence of the computer file in the user mailbox into the second markup language representation, wherein the indication comprises a selectable link and an indication of whether the computer file corresponds to a stored fax message or a stored voice message; and
a fourth software function adapted to perform a server interaction with a client computer in accordance with a hypertext transfer protocol to communicate with a web browser that executes on the client computer via a packet switched data network;
wherein in response to a hypertext transfer protocol message indicating the selection of the selectable link, the computer file is coupled via the packet switched data network to the user web browser. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification