Systems and Methods for Generating and Communicating Enhanced Portable Document Format Files

• US 20090190159A1
• Filed: 01/30/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Open Text Holdings, Inc. (Open Text Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Open Text Holdings, Inc. (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Moletteri, Felix, Toscano, Francis
• Granted Patent: US 10,003,701 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00212 Attaching image data to computer messages, e.g. to e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00214 details of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0022 involving facsimile protocols or a combination of facsimile protocols and computer data transmission protocols

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.

Claims

1. A method for converting documents, comprising:

receiving a facsimile via the public-switched telephone network;

generating an enhanced portable document format file that includes information in addition to image information; and

communicating the enhanced portable document format file to an e-mail server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a facsimile comprises receiving information in tagged image file format.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the enhanced portable document format file is responsive to a user profile.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein generating the enhanced portable document format file comprises adding searchable text.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein generating the enhanced portable document format file comprises applying an encryption scheme.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein generating the enhanced portable document format file comprises adding a comment.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating the original facsimile with the enhanced portable document format file.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein associating the original facsimile with the enhanced portable document format file comprises saving the original facsimile with the enhanced portable document format file.

24. The method of claim 5, wherein the encryption scheme is compatible with at least one federal information processing standard approved algorithm.

9. A method for processing documents, comprising:

receiving a facsimile format message intended for a communication service customer defined by a destination identifier;

determining if a user profile associated with the destination identifier includes an indicator of the user'"'"'s desire to receive an enhanced portable document format representation of the facsimile format message;

when the user profile includes the indicator of the user'"'"'s desire to receive an enhanced portable document format representation of the facsimile format message, preparing instructions for converting the image information in the facsimile format message in response to a set of format options;

communicating the instructions to a translator configured to generate an enhanced portable document format file from the facsimile format message, the enhanced portable document format file comprising information in addition to image information; and

communicating the enhanced portable document format file as an attachment to an e-mail message addressed to the user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining if a user profile associated with the destination identifier includes an indicator of the user'"'"'s desire to receive an enhanced portable document format representation of the facsimile format message comprises determining if the user profile includes an identified alphanumeric string.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein communicating instructions to a translator configured to generate an enhanced portable document format file from the facsimile format message comprises directing the translator to convert the image format file to text in response to a user selectable item.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein communicating instructions to a translator configured to generate an enhanced portable document format file from the facsimile format message comprises directing the translator to password protect the enhanced portable document format file in response to a user selectable item.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein communicating instructions to a translator configured to generate an enhanced portable document format file from the facsimile format message comprises directing the translator to add a signature to the enhanced portable document format file in response to a user selectable item.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein communicating instructions to a translator configured to generate an enhanced portable document format file from the facsimile format message comprises directing the translator to add the capability to insert a comment in the enhanced portable document format file in response to a user selectable item.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein communicating instructions to an translator configured to generate an enhanced portable document format file from the facsimile format message comprises directing the translator to encrypt the enhanced portable document format file in response to a user selectable item.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein determining if a user profile associated with the destination identifier includes an indicator of the user'"'"'s desire to receive an enhanced portable document format representation of the facsimile format message comprises determining if a keyword in the profile is populated with a specified alphanumeric string.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising saving the facsimile format message with the enhanced portable document format file.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a user profile from a network accessible profile management user interface.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

validating the user profile.

20. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

generating a user specific entry in a log responsive to a processed facsimile format message processed by the translator.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein directing the translator to encrypt the enhanced portable document format file in response to a user selectable item comprises using at least one federal information processing standard approved algorithm.

21. A facsimile processing system, comprising:

a public-switched telephone network interface in communication with the public-switched telephone network;

a packet-switched network interface communicatively coupled to a simple mail transfer protocol server via an input agent and a job processor; and

a translator communicatively coupled to the public-switched telephone network interface and the packet-switched network interface, the translator configured to receive information from a facsimile format message via the public-switched telephone network interface and the input agent, generate an enhanced portable document format file responsive to the facsimile format message and a user profile, the enhanced portable document format file comprising information in addition to image information, the translator further configured to forward the enhanced portable document format file via a mail transfer protocol server and the packet-switched network.

22. A method for converting documents, comprising:

receiving a document via a packet switched network;

generating an EPDF file that includes information from the document and at least one of a representation of a signature and a representation of a repositionable paper note;

converting the EPDF file to image information in a facsimile format; and

communicating the image information in a facsimile message via the public-switched telephone network.

23. A message processing system, comprising:

a packet-switched network interface communicatively coupled to a packet-switched network;

a server coupled to the packet-switched network interface, the server configured to receive e-mail messages;

a translator communicatively coupled to the server and configured to generate an enhanced portable document format file responsive to an e-mail message and a user profile, the enhanced portable document format file comprising at least one of a representation of a signature and a representation of a repositionable note that are integrated into a facsimile format message for delivery via a public-switched telephone network interface in communication with the public-switched telephone network.