Facsimile transmissions system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for transmitting document facsimile data through a conventional text electronic mail system using conventional facsimile machines coupled to one another through a communication network, the electronic mail system being of the type wherein text messages including a first destination address for a first I/O device are input to the electronic mail system at a second I/O device and communicated to the first destination address as packages of binary encoded text characters by the electronic mail system, the apparatus comprising:
- receiving means for receiving the document facsimile data from a transmitting facsimile machine, the document facsimile data including;
a first document sheet having coding thereon identifying the first document sheet as containing document facsimile data for the first destination address; and
a second document sheet containing facsimile data to be transmitted to the first destination address;
first blocking means, responsive to the receiving means, for converting the coding in the first document sheet into a first block having bytes identifying the first destination address;
second blocking means, responsive to the receiving means, for converting the second document sheet into a second block comprising binary encoded facsimile data, the second block including a plurality of binary encoded fields forming a record which identifies the second block; and
wherein the electronic mail system includes;
grouping means, responsive to the first blocking means and to the second blocking means, for logically grouping the first and second blocks together as a package.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A facsimile transmission system is used to transmit documents over telephone lines using an electronic mail system, which may be a localized system or a distributed electronic mail system. Transmission is initiated by the sending facsimile machine transmitting a mark sense cover sheet, which has a mark sense identifier printed on it, to a facsimile controller. The controller checks for the presence of the mark sense identifier and if present, the controller reads the identifying information and destination address coded thereon. The controller then transmits the identifying information and destination address and the subsequently received document facsimile data to the electronic mail system in digital form, for retransmission back through the same or a different controller to one or more receiving facsimile machines.
250 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus for transmitting document facsimile data through a conventional text electronic mail system using conventional facsimile machines coupled to one another through a communication network, the electronic mail system being of the type wherein text messages including a first destination address for a first I/O device are input to the electronic mail system at a second I/O device and communicated to the first destination address as packages of binary encoded text characters by the electronic mail system, the apparatus comprising:
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receiving means for receiving the document facsimile data from a transmitting facsimile machine, the document facsimile data including; a first document sheet having coding thereon identifying the first document sheet as containing document facsimile data for the first destination address; and a second document sheet containing facsimile data to be transmitted to the first destination address; first blocking means, responsive to the receiving means, for converting the coding in the first document sheet into a first block having bytes identifying the first destination address; second blocking means, responsive to the receiving means, for converting the second document sheet into a second block comprising binary encoded facsimile data, the second block including a plurality of binary encoded fields forming a record which identifies the second block; and wherein the electronic mail system includes; grouping means, responsive to the first blocking means and to the second blocking means, for logically grouping the first and second blocks together as a package. - 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 method for transmitting document facsimile data through a conventional text electronic mail system using conventional facsimile machines coupled to one another through a communication network, the electronic mail system being of the type wherein text messages including a first destination address for a first I/O device are input to the electronic mail system at a second I/O device and communicated to the first destination address as packages of binary encoded text characters by the electronic mail system, comprising the steps of:
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receiving the document facsimile data from a transmitting facsimile machine, the document facsimile data including; a first document sheet having coding thereon identifying the first document sheet as containing document facsimile data for the first destination address; and a second document sheet containing facsimile data to be transmitted to the first destination address; converting the coding in the first document sheet into a first block having bytes identifying the first destination address; converting the second document sheet into a second block comprising binary encoded facsimile data, the second block including a plurality of binary encoded fields forming a record which identifies the second block; grouping the first and second blocks together as a package. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification