Apparatus and method for storing and transmitting data between a computer, a facsimile machine and a telephone network

• US 5,790,640 A
• Filed: 07/31/1996
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fontech Limited
• Original Assignee: Fontech Limited
• Inventors: Tassa, Menachem, Na'aman, Gad
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US08/690,498
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 379/100.01, 379/100.06, 379/100.08, 379/100.09, 379/100.12, 379/100.15, 379/93.05, 379/93.07, 379/93.09, 379/93.11, 379/122, 358/400, 358/404, 358/407, 358/434, 358/438, 358/442, 358/443, 358/468
• US Class Current: 379/100.15
• 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 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00238 using an image reproducing device as a local output from a computer output via network, e.g. network printing H04N1/00233
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00241 using an image reading device as a local input to a computer input via network, e.g. network scanners H04N1/00225
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32379 Functions of a still picture terminal memory associated with reception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0034 Details of the connection, e.g. connector, interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/007 Selecting or switching between a still picture apparatus or function and another apparatus or function H04N2201/0022 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for storing and transmitting data comprises a processor, a memory, an output device, a facsimile-modem unit, and a line interface unit. The line interface couples the processor and the facsimile-modem unit via lines to the facsimile machine and telephone network. The processor is also coupled to the computer and a memory, and controls the facsimile-modem unit and the line interface unit. The system stores and transfers data to operate in a capture mode, an auto-receive mode, a fax-modem mode, a printer mode, or a scanning mode. The present invention also includes a number of methods, including a method for determining the operational mode of the data transfer system; a method for capturing and storing facsimile transmissions; a method for transmitting and sending data over the telephone line; a method for sending data for printing; and a method for scanning data for storage.

Claims

1. A data transfer system for transferring data between a facsimile machine, a telephone network and a computer, the data transfer system comprising:

a processing unit coupled to the computer;

a memory coupled to the processing unit providing a buffer for storing data;

a facsimile-modem unit for converting data to and from facsimile and modem protocols, the facsimile-modem unit coupled to the processing unit; and

a line interface unit for selectively coupling the computer, the telephone network, the facsimile machine and the facsimile-modem unit, the line interface unit coupled to the telephone network, the facsimile machine, the facsimile-modem unit, and the processing unit, wherein the line interface unit comprises;

a first coupling means having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal for selectively coupling the first terminal to the second terminal in response to a signal applied to the control terminal, the first terminal coupled to the telephone network, the second terminal coupled to the facsimile machine and control terminal coupled to the processing unit;

a second coupling means having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal for selectively coupling the first terminal of the second coupling means to the second terminal of the second coupling means, the first terminal of the second coupling means coupled to the facsimile-modem unit, the second terminal of the second coupling means coupled to the facsimile machine and control terminal of the second coupling means coupled to the processing unit,

a transformer and amplifier for converting a signal, the transformer and amplifier coupled between the facsimile machine and the second terminal of the second coupling means;

a transmitting transformer for converting signals, the transmitting transformer coupled between the line interface unit and the first terminal of the second coupling means; and

an isolation coupler having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of the isolation coupler connected to the telephone network and the second terminal of the isolation coupler connected to the processing unit.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an input/output port and an RS-232 transceiver for coupling the processing unit to the computer.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a status indicator for providing visual output as whether the data buffer is full and whether the data buffer stores a facsimile, the status indicator coupled to the processing unit.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an extension memory for increasing the size of the data buffer, and

a memory connector for coupling the extension memory to the processing unit and memory.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply for providing power to the processing unit, the memory, the facsimile-modem unit, and the line interface unit; and

wherein the system is operational independent of operation of the computer and the facsimile machine.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises a recognition unit for determining whether facsimile data being received via the facsimile-modem unit has a special format suitable for compression, the recognition unit coupled to control the processing unit.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises a detection and auto-receive unit for controlling the operation of the processing unit to detect the presence of and store incoming facsimile transmissions received via the line interface unit, the detection and auto-receive unit coupled to the processing unit.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises a detection and capture unit for controlling the operation of the processing unit to detect the presence of and store incoming facsimile transmissions received via the line interface unit and for controlling the line interface unit to provide the incoming facsimile transmissions to the facsimile machine, the detection and capture unit coupled to the processing unit.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second coupling means are relays.

10. A method of receiving and storing facsimile transmissions in a data transfer system coupled to a computer and a telephone line, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring the telephone line for a facsimile transmission;

receiving a facsimile transmission;

determining whether the computer is operational;

transferring the facsimile transmission from the data transfer system to the computer if the computer is operational; and

storing the facsimile transmission in a memory of the data transfer system if the computer is operational wherein the step of storing the facsimile transmission comprises the steps of;

determining whether the memory has space in which to store the facsimile transmission;

storing the facsimile transmission in a memory of the data transfer system if the memory has space;

determining whether the facsimile transmission has an encoded format; and

the storing step is performed only if the facsimile transmission has the encoded format.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether a facsimile transmission is being received;

determining whether the computer is operational;

determining whether any stored transmissions exist in the memory of the data transfer system; and

;

transferring the stored transmissions from the data transfer system to the computer if the computer is operational if any stored transmissions exist.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein step of transferring the facsimile transmission comprises the steps of:

sending the facsimile transmission from a facsimile-modem unit to a processing unit of the data transfer system;

sending the facsimile transmission from the processor to the computer; and

storing the facsimile transmission on a storage media of the computer.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of storing the facsimile transmission further comprises the steps of:

compressing the facsimile transmission; and

setting a status indicator specifying that the memory holds at least one facsimile transmission.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of transmitting the facsimile transmission to the facsimile machine.

15. A data transfer system for transferring data between a facsimile machine, a telephone network and a computer, the data transfer system comprising:

a processing unit coupled to the computer;

a memory coupled to the processing unit providing a buffer for storing data, wherein the memory comprises a recognition unit for determining whether facsimile data being received via the facsimile-modem unit has a special format suitable for compression, the recognition unit coupled to control the processing unit;

a facsimile-modem unit for converting data to and from facsimile and modem protocols, the facsimile-modem unit coupled to the processing unit; and

a line interface unit for selectively coupling the computer, the telephone network, the facsimile machine and the facsimile-modem unit, the line interface unit coupled to the telephone network, the facsimile machine, the facsimile-modem unit, and the processing unit.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the memory further comprises a detection and auto-receive unit for controlling the operation of the processing unit to detect the presence of and store incoming facsimile transmissions received via the line interface unit, the detection and auto-receive unit coupled to the processing unit.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the memory further comprises a detection and capture unit for controlling the operation of the processing unit to detect the presence of and store incoming facsimile transmissions received via the line interface unit and for controlling the line interface unit to provide the incoming facsimile transmissions to the facsimile machine, the detection and capture unit coupled to the processing unit.