System for transferring facsimile data without dedicated G3 hardware
First Claim
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1. A communications system for sending and receiving facsimile data, comprising:
- (a) a first computer;
(b) a second computer; and
(c) a connecting network disposed to connect the first computer to the second computer;
(d) the first computer comprising a first document converter adapted to convert input data in a facsimile-specific original format to converted data conforming to a softfax format, and the first computer further comprising a first device driver disposed to transfer the converted data conforming to the softfax format to the connecting network;
(e) the second computer comprising a second device driver adapted to transfer the converted data conforming to the softfax format on the connecting network to the second computer, the second computer further comprising a second document converter disposed to accept and convert the converted data conforming to the softfax format to conform to a selected format; and
(f) the first computer, first document converter and first device driver operating without prior knowledge of the selected format.
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Abstract
A system that provides supporting software to allow facsimile documents to be transferred via non-traditional mechanisms such as electronic mail, the Internet, and V.32 or other non-fax modems. The system allows facsimile documents to be transferred by computer without intermediate G3 facsimile hardware and without performing time-consuming compatibility determinations. The system also provides for cross-platform document transmissions.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A communications system for sending and receiving facsimile data, comprising:
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(a) a first computer; (b) a second computer; and (c) a connecting network disposed to connect the first computer to the second computer; (d) the first computer comprising a first document converter adapted to convert input data in a facsimile-specific original format to converted data conforming to a softfax format, and the first computer further comprising a first device driver disposed to transfer the converted data conforming to the softfax format to the connecting network; (e) the second computer comprising a second device driver adapted to transfer the converted data conforming to the softfax format on the connecting network to the second computer, the second computer further comprising a second document converter disposed to accept and convert the converted data conforming to the softfax format to conform to a selected format; and (f) the first computer, first document converter and first device driver operating without prior knowledge of the selected format. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A process for transferring facsimile data, comprising:
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(a) converting input data in a facsimile-specific original format to converted data conforming to a softfax format; (b) providing access for the converted data conforming to the softfax format to a connecting network; (c) transferring the converted data conforming to the softfax format across the network; (d) converting the converted data conforming to the softfax format to a selected format; and (e) wherein the transferring of the converted data conforming to the softfax format occurs without the prior knowledge of the selected format. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A communications system for sending and receiving facsimile data, comprising:
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(a) a sending computer; (b) a plurality of receiving computers; (c) a connecting network disposed to connect the sending computer to the plurality of receiving computers; (d) the sending computer comprising a sending document converter adapted to convert input data in a facsimile-specific original format to converted data conforming to a softfax format, the sending computer further comprising a sending device driver disposed to transfer the converted data conforming to the softfax format to the connecting network; (e) each of the plurality of receiving computers comprising a receiving device driver adapted to transfer the converted data conforming to the softfax format to the connecting network to each of the plurality of receiving computers, each of the plurality of receiving computers further comprising a receiving document converter disposed to accept and convert the converted data conforming to the softfax format to conform to a selected format; and (f) the sending computer, sending document converter and sending document driver further adapted to transfer the converted data conforming to the softfax format to the connecting network without prior knowledge of the selected format.
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34. A communications system for sending and receiving facsimile data, comprising:
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(a) a first computer; (b) a second computer; (c) a connecting network disposed to connect the first computer to the second computer; (d) the first computer comprising a first document converter adapted to convert input data in a non-facsimile original format to converted data conforming to a softfax format, the first computer further comprising a first device driver for transferring the converted data to the connecting network; (e) the second computer comprising a second device driver for transferring the converted data conforming to the softfax format on the connecting network to the second computer, the second computer further comprising a second document converter for accepting and converting the converted data conforming to the softfax format to conform to a facsimile-specific selected format; (f) the first computer, first document converter and first device driver further adapted to transfer the converted data conforming to the softfax format to the connecting network without prior knowledge of the facsimile-specific selected format. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A communications system for sending and receiving facsimile data, comprising:
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(a) a computer; (b) a disk file system; (c) a connecting network disposed to connect the computer to the disk file system; (d) the computer comprising a document converter adapted to convert input data in a facsimile-specific original format to converted data conforming to a softfax format, the computer further comprising a device driver for transferring the converted data conforming to the softfax format to the connecting network; (e) the disk file system being adapted to accept and store the converted data conforming to the softfax format and (f) the computer, document converter and device driver further adapted to transfer the converted data conforming to the softfax format to the connecting network without prior knowledge of the disk file system. - View Dependent Claims (45)
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46. A process for transferring facsimile data, comprising:
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(a) converting input data in a facsimile-specific original format to converted data conforming to a softfax format; (b) storing the converted data conforming to the softfax format; (c) providing access to a connecting network for the stored converted data conforming to the softfax format; (d) transferring the converted data conforming to the softfax format across the connecting network; (e) converting the converted data conforming to the softfax format to a selected format; and (f) wherein the transferring of the converted data conforming to the softfax format occurs without prior knowledge of the selected format. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification