System and method for facsimile cover page storage and use

• US 5,438,433 A
• Filed: 03/31/1994
• Issued: 08/01/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Marceau, Renee, Tobey, Chris E., Reifman, Jeffrey B., DelBene, Kurt D.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRINICH, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US08/221,681
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 358/400, 358/402-404, 358/407, 358/409, 358/468
• US Class Current: 358/468
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00206 Transmitting or receiving computer data via an image communication device, e.g. a facsimile transceiver H04N1/00236 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00384 Key input means, e.g. buttons or keypads electromechanical details of key input means in general H01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00427 using a menu list H04N1/00421, H04N1/00424, H04N1/00429 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00437 Intelligent menus, e.g. anticipating user selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00474 outputting a plurality of functional options, e.g. scan, copy or print
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00477 Indicating status, e.g. of a job for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N2201/3219
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00962 Input arrangements for operating instructions or parameters, e.g. updating internal software program loading in general G06F9/445; network-specific protocols involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32005 Automation of particular receiver jobs, e.g. rejecting unwanted calls requesting a communication from a transmitter H04N1/32771; with picture signal storage for forwarding messages H04N1/32358
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32037 Automation of particular transmitter jobs, e.g. multi-address calling, auto-dialing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3208 Transmitting a plurality of separate messages to a common destination in a single transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32112 in a separate computer file, document page or paper sheet, e.g. a fax cover sheet H04N1/32122 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32411 Handling instructions for routing or relaying
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32416 Storage of instructions or retrieval of prestored instructions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32502 in systems having a plurality of input or output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32523 : a plurality of output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32545 : Distributing a job or task among a plurality of input devices or a plurality of output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 : Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 : Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 : Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3212 : of data relating to a job, e.g. communication, capture or filing of an image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3222 : of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 : of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 : Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 : Transmission

Abstract

A user interface simplifies operation of a intelligent facsimile machine (IFAX). A display screen displays a plurality of menus and allows the user to select from the menus. The IFAX can store a plurality of digital cover pages to minimize transmission time for a facsimile cover page. The user may select from a list of stored digital cover pages. The user may also attach a binary data file to a facsimile message and transfer the data to another facsimile machine. The IFAX uses a storage location for storing outgoing facsimile messages. The IFAX periodically check the storage location to determine if more than one facsimile message is to be transmitted to the same location and transmits the facsimile messages in one facsimile telephone call. If the IFAX is coupled to a second IFAX on a network, the two IFAX machines can balance the work load by sending a load transfer request if the number of outgoing facsimile messages exceeds a predetermined threshold level. The IFAX can also route incoming facsimile messages to a variety of destinations such as a floppy disk or other storage device, or an external computer. The IFAX can also relay incoming facsimile messages to another facsimile machine, using a set or relay instructions. The relay instructions may be stored in the IFAX or may be a portion of the incoming facsimile message. The relay instructions may be nested, and the IFAX sends the facsimile message to a second IFAX with instructions for the second IFAX to relay the facsimile message to a third facsimile machine. The IFAX contains security measures to prevent unauthorized relaying.

Claims

1. A method in a facsimile machine having a display and a user input device, for storage and use of a facsimile cover page, the method comprising the steps of:

maintaining at least one facsimile cover page in a first storage location continuously accessible by any of a plurality of users of the facsimile machine;

maintaining at least another facsimile cover page in a second storage location accessible by a selected one of said plurality of users, said selected user having a corresponding user identification;

sensing if a user inputs a user identification; and

enabling access to said, second storage location only if said sensed user identification corresponds to said user identification of said selected user, said first storage area being continuously enabled for any of said plurality of users and said second storage area being enabled only when said sensed user identification corresponds to said user identification of said selected user.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

scanning a user created cover page in a scan engine on the facsimile machine to create a scanned page;

storing said scanned user created cover page in said second storage location as said another cover page if said sensed identification data corresponds to said user identification of said selected one user; and

storing said scanned user created cover page in said first storage location as said one facsimile cover page if said sensed identification data does not correspond to said user identification of said selected one user.

3. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

storing a user created cover page in said second storage location as said another facsimile cover page if said sensed identification data corresponds to said user identification of said selected one user; and

storing said user created cover page in said first storage location as said one facsimile cover page if said sensed identification data does not correspond to said user identification of said selected one user.

4. A method in a facsimile machine having a user input device for the storage and use of a facsimile cover page, the method comprising the steps of:

maintaining at least one facsimile cover page in a first storage location continuously accessible by any of a plurality of users of the facsimile machine;

maintaining at least another facsimile cover page in a second storage location accessible by a selected one of said plurality of users, said selected user having a corresponding user identification;

sensing if a user inputs a user identification; and

enabling access to said second storage location only if said sensed user identification corresponds to said user identification of said selected user, said first storage area being continuously enabled for any of said plurality of users and said second storage area being enabled only when said second user identification corresponds to said user identification of said selected user;

sensing a user input on the user input device to select a particular one of said stored cover pages from said first storage location or said second storage location if said user identification data corresponds to said selected one of said plurality of users;

selecting said particular cover page in response to said user input; and

transmitting said particular cover page as a cover page for a facsimile message.

5. The method of claim 4 for use on a facsimile machine having a scan engine, further including the steps of:

scanning a user created cover page in the scan engine to create a scanned page;

storing said scanned cover page in said second storage location as said another cover page if said sensed identification data corresponds to said user identification of said selected one user; and

storing said scanned cover page in said first storage location as said one facsimile cover page if said sensed identification data does not correspond to said user identification of said selected one user.

6. The method of claim 5, further including the steps of:

storing a user created cover page in said second storage location as said another facsimile cover page if said sensed identification data corresponds to said user identification of said selected one user; and

storing said stored user created cover page in said first storage location as said one facsimile cover page if said sensed identification data does not correspond to said user identification of said selected one user.

7. A system for the storage and use of facsimile cover pages by a facsimile machine, the system comprising:

a public storage area accessible by the facsimile machine and designated for storage of at least one facsimile cover page to be used by any of a plurality of users of the facsimile machine;

a private storage area accessible by the facsimile machine and designated for storage of at least another facsimile cover page to be used by a selected one of said plurality of users; and

a user input device to sense entry of a user identification, said selected one user having a corresponding user identification, said user input device enabling use of said private storage area if said sensed user identification corresponds to said selected one user, said public storage area being continuously enabled by any of said plurality of users and said private storage area being enabled only when said sensed user identification corresponds to said user identification of said selected one user.

8. The system of claim 7, further including selection means for user selection of a facsimile cover page from said private storage area if said sensed user identification corresponds to said user identification of said selected one user and for the display of at least a portion of said public storage area if said sensed user identification does not correspond to said user identification of said selected one user.

9. The system of claim 7, further including a display viewable by the user for the display of at least a portion of said public and private storage areas if said sensed user identification data corresponds to said user identification of said selected one user and for the display of at least a portion of said public storage area if said sensed user identification data does not correspond to said user identification of said selected one user.

10. The system of claim 9, further including selection means operable in conjunction with said display for user selection of a facsimile cover page from said displayed portion.