Facsimile delivery to electronic mail
DCFirst Claim
1. A facsimile-to-electronic mail system, comprising:
- a facsimile server device including;
a facsimile receiving device;
means for converting a facsimile transmission to a subscriber selected format, including a facsimile server coupled to said facsimile receiving device, said facsimile server including file translation software for converting the facsimile transmission to the subscriber-selected format;
means for transmitting a converted facsimile transmission to a subscriber electronic mail address; and
a subscriber directory coupled to said facsimile server for storing subscriber information, for generating record formats comprising the subscriber information and for providing the record formats to said facsimile server, the subscriber information including subscriber electronic mail addresses and subscriber selected file translation formats.
7 Assignments
Litigations
2 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method is provided for delivering facsimile messages to electronic mail addresses as object files attached to or inserted within e-mail messages. A facsimile server device is provided with a facsimile modem for receiving facsimile calls. The facsimile server device includes various application file translation software programs for translating the facsimile object files to subscriber selected formats. In operation, an e-mail subscriber also subscribes to a facsimile-delivery-to-electronic-mail system and is issued a specially designated phone number for receiving facsimile transmissions. The subscriber selects a file translation format in accordance with a software application program which the subscriber uses. The facsimile server device receives and demodulates the facsimile transmission and stores it as an object file in the native facsimile format. The facsimile server device then queries a subscriber database for translation of the dialed phone number to an e-mail address. The subscriber database query also provides a subscriber selected file format which the facsimile file is to be translated into prior to sending to the subscriber. The facsimile server device creates an e-mail message addressed to the e-mail address and translates the native facsimile object file to the format file specified by the subscriber database. The facsimile server device attaches the translated object file to the electronic mail message, or inserts it within, and sends the electronic mail message to the subscriber.
296 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A facsimile-to-electronic mail system, comprising:
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a facsimile server device including; a facsimile receiving device; means for converting a facsimile transmission to a subscriber selected format, including a facsimile server coupled to said facsimile receiving device, said facsimile server including file translation software for converting the facsimile transmission to the subscriber-selected format; means for transmitting a converted facsimile transmission to a subscriber electronic mail address; and a subscriber directory coupled to said facsimile server for storing subscriber information, for generating record formats comprising the subscriber information and for providing the record formats to said facsimile server, the subscriber information including subscriber electronic mail addresses and subscriber selected file translation formats. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of reformatting a facsimile transmission to an electronic mail system comprising the steps of:
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(1) receiving a facsimile transmission through a telephone number; (2) storing the received facsimile transmission as an object file; (3) retrieving a record format associated with the telephone number, the record format including a subscriber'"'"'s electronic mail address and selected file translation specification, to determine the subscriber'"'"'s selected file translation specification; (4) converting the stored object file into a preselected file format based upon the subscriber selected file translation specification; (5) retrieving the record format associated with the telephone number to determine the subscriber'"'"'s electronic mail address; (6) creating an electronic mail message from the stored object file; and (7) sending the electronic mail message. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification