Internet global area networks fax system

• US 6,028,679 A
• Filed: 11/03/1998
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Netfax Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Netfax Incorporated
• Inventors: Murphy, Frederick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROGERS, SCOTT A
• Application Number:
  US09/184,972
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 358/407, 358/402, 358/442, 358/468, 358/434, 379/100.01, 379/100.02, 379/100.09, 379/100.15, 379/100.16, 379/100.17, 380/30, 380/44, 380/49, 709/200, 709/227-231, 709/238, 709/245-247
• US Class Current: 358/407
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/10 Text processing natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30; processing or translation of natural language G06F40/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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 1/00209 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 1/00212 Attaching image data to computer messages, e.g. to e-mails
• 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 1/32411 Handling instructions for routing or relaying
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32416 Storage of instructions or retrieval of prestored instructions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0067 Converting to still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 Converting from still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for transmitting class 1, 2, or 3 fax image data streams over Internet Global Area Networks is shown. A first device converts local fax image data streams into electronic data streams, transmits the data stream over the network, to a second device at the remote fax machine which reconverts the electronic data to fax image data and prints it out on said remote fax machine.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transmitting and receiving class 1, 2, 3 and other non-digital facsimile image data over internet global area networks which comprises:

signal recognition means for determining send and receive status information;

an image data compression, store and forward buffer means connected to said recognition means;

conversion means connected to said buffer means for converting class 1, 2, 3 or other non-digital facsimile image data to any MIME enabled electronic mail data format and vice versa;

a MIME compliant electronic mail agent connected to said conversion means;

user identification means connected to said MIME compliant electronic mail agent associated with storing, sending, and receiving functions;

electronic management means connected to said user identification means for input of address information, send and receive instructions, control information, and apparatus status information;

said electronic management means including a processor for implementing fax and e-mail address functions, send and receive functions, and mail server query functions in accordance with the input information and instructions, and stored software instructions; and

output means connected to said electronic management means for storing data, and dialing and connecting said apparatus to a mail server associated with said MIME compliant electronic mail agent resident on the selected internet global area networks.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 further including encryption means connected to said conversion means and said MIME complaint electronic mail agent for selectively encoding and decoding said any MIME enabled electronic mail data format.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 further including a public and private two key encryption and decryption means together with means for accessing and retrieving a public key from a private address book.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said encryption and decryption means includes an attachment MIME/MOSS extender.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said MIME complaint electronic mail agent is a commercial mail agent and said mail server resident on the internet global area networks is a commercial server for said agent.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said MIME complaint electronic mail agent is a public mail agent and said mail server resident on the internet global area network is a public server.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said output means includes circuitry to store data, dial said mail server, and operatively connect the apparatus via said mail server resident on the internet global area network to a remote mail agent connected via a remote mail server to said Internet Global Area Network.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said electronic management means includes a keypad input device having at least means for input of said send and receive functions;

said fax and e-mail address functions;

said mail server query functions; and

private address book and fax machine query functions for commanding operation of said apparatus.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 further including an RJ 11 input terminal connected to said signal recognition means for operatively connecting said apparatus to a class 1, 2, 3 or other non-digital facsimile machine standard output terminal.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 further including an RJ 11 output terminal connected to said output means for operatively connecting said apparatus via a POTS line to said mail server resident on the internet global area networks.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said apparatus is powered by a separate DC voltage power supply operatively connected thereto and adapted to be connected to a standard commercial AC power source.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said conversion means includes electronic means for attaching and detaching native facsimile images to said any MIME enabled electronic mail data format created by said conversion means for transmission and reception over the internet global area networks.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said electronic means includes e-mail extender MIME protocol.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electronic management means includes an electronic keyboard having at least the following operating keys:

a QWERTY keyboard;

a 1 through 0 keyboard;

domain keys COM, NET, EDU, ORG, GOV, and MIL;

function keys SEND MAIL, GET MAIL, PREVIEW MAIL, DELETE MAIL, PRIVATE, and PRINT;

addressing keys @, DOT;

each of said keys causing upon actuation all the necessary electronic operations for accomplishing the indicated command within the apparatus.

25. The method of transmitting and receiving class 1, 2, 3 or other non-digital facsimile image data over non-facsimile image data compatible networks from a local fax machine to a selected remote fax machine and vice versa using the apparatus of claim 1 which comprises:

storing the image data stream from a local transmitting class 1, 2, 3 or other non-digital fax machine in a local store and forward buffer;

converting the image data stream in said buffer to a MIME enabled electronic data format compatible with the network over which the converted image data stream is to be sent;

connecting a local MIME complaint electronic mail agent directly to said store and forward buffer and to a local mail server for the local mail agent resident on the network over which the converted image data stream is to be sent;

connecting a remote store and forward buffer to said selected remote fax machine;

connecting a selected remote MIME compliant electronic mail agent to said remote store and forward buffer and to a selected remote mail server for the remote mail agent resident on the network over which the fax is to be sent;

sending the converted image data stream over a non-facsimile image data compatible network together with address and user identification information to said selected remote mail server resident at a remote location on the network serving said selected remote mail agent;

receiving and storing said converted image data stream in said remote store and forward buffer, connected to said selected remote fax machine;

reconverting said received and stored converted image data stream image data stream into class 1, 2, 3 or other non-digital facsimile image data;

printing out the reconverted image data on said selected remote fax machine.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25 further including querying said remote mail server for the presence of stored mail data;

and

printing out on said remote fax machine said reconverted image data for the mail data selected from that stored in said remote mail server.

27. The method as claimed in claim 25 further including converting the image data stream in said local store and forward to a commercial compatible MIME enabled electronic mail data format;

and

connecting a commercial MIME compliant electronic mail agent to said local store and forward buffer directly and to a commercial mail server resident on the network over which the converted image data stream is to be sent.

28. The method as claimed in claim 25 further including converting the facsimile image data stream from a local transmitting class 1, 2, 3 or other non-digital fax machine to an e-mail data stream format;

connecting said local MIME complaint electronic mail agent to an e-mail server resident on the Internet global area networks; and

sending said converted converted data stream to said selected remote fax machine store and forward buffer over the Internet global area networks Network.

29. The method as claimed in claim 25 further including converting the facsimile image data stream from a local transmitting class 1, 2, 3 or other non-digital fax machine to a private data stream format;

connecting said local MIME complaint electronic mail agent to a private server resident on the Internet global area networks; and

sending said converted private data stream to said selected remote fax machine buffer store and forward over the Internet global area networks.

30. The method as claimed in claim 25 further including converting the facsimile image data stream in said local store forward buffer to commercial and public compatible data format;

connecting said local store and forward buffer to a selected commercial or public MIME complaint electronic mail agent and corresponding mail server resident on the Internet global area networks;

sending said converted image data stream over the Internet global area networks to a selected remote MIME compliant electronic mail agent and remote mail server corresponding in kind to the selected commercial or public MIME complaint electronic mail agent and mail server at the sending fax machine; and

connecting said selected remote commercial or public MIME complaint electronic mail agent to said store and forward buffer connected to said selected remote fax machine.

31. The method as claimed in claim 25 further including encrypting the converted image data stream;

sending the encrypted data stream to said selected remote mail server; and

decrypting the encrypted data stream received and stored in said remote store and forward buffer before reconverting said data stream converted image to facsimile image data.

15. An system for transmitting facsimile images from a first, class 1, 2, to 3 or other non-digital fax machine across the internet global area networks to a second, class 1, 2, 3 or other non digital fax machine which comprises in combination:

a first device connected between a first fax machine and a local mail server resident on the Internet global area networks comprising;

signal recognition means connected to said first fax machine for determining send and receive status information;

an image data compression, store and forward buffer means connected to said recognition means;

conversion means connected to said buffer means for converting class 1, 2, 3 or other non-digital facsimile image data to any MIME enabled electronic mail data format and vice versa;

a MIME compliant electronic mail agent connected to said conversion means;

user identification means for connected to said electronic MIME complaint mail agent associated with storing, sending, and receiving functions;

electronic management means connected to said user identification means for input of address information, send and receive instructions, control information, and apparatus status information;

said electronic management means including a processor for implementing fax and e-mail address functions, send and receive functions, and mail server query functions in accordance with the input information and instructions, and stored software instructions; and

output means connected to said electronic management means for storing data, and dialing and connecting said apparatus to said local mail server resident on the internet global area networks;

a second device connected between a second remote fax machine and a remote mail server resident on the internet global area networks comprising;

signal recognition means connected to said remote fax machine for determining send and receive status information;

an image data compression and decompression, store and forward buffer means connected to said recognition means;

conversion means connected to said buffer means for converting class 1, 2, 3 or other non-digital facsimile image data to any MIME enabled electronic mail data format and vice versa;

a MIME compliant electronic mail agent connected to said conversion means;

user identification means connected to said electronic mail agent associated with storing, sending, and receiving functions;

electronic management means connected to said user identification means for input of address information, send and receive instructions, control information, and apparatus status information;

said electronic management means including a processor for implementing fax and e-mail address functions, send and receive functions, and mail server query functions in accordance with the input information and instructions, and stored software instructions; and

output means connected to said electronic management means for storing data, and dialing and connecting said second device to said remote mail server resident on the internet global area networks;

whereby input to said first fax machine can be transmitted to said second fax machine over the Internet global area networks and input to said second fax machine can be transmitted to said first fax machine over the Internet global area networks.

16. An apparatus system according to claim 15 further including encryption and decryption means connected to said conversion means and said MIME complaint electronic mail agents of each of said first and second devices for selectively encoding and decoding said any MIME enabled electronic mail data format.

17. An apparatus system according to claim 16 further including a public and private two key encryption and decryption means together with means for accessing and retrieving a public key from a private address book.

18. An apparatus system according to claim 15 wherein said MIME complaint electronic mail agents and said mail servers of said first and second devices are commercial mail agents and commercial mail servers resident on the Internet Global Area Network.

19. An apparatus system according to claim 15 wherein said electronic management means in said first and second devices includes a get mail query means for getting electronic mail stored in said local and remote mail servers printed out on said first and second class 1, 2, 3 and other non-digital fax machines.

20. An apparatus system according to claim 19 wherein said query means includes mail preview means for reviewing stored mail and printing out only selected items.

21. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said electronic management means for said first and second devices operates in accordance with TCP/IP protocols.

22. A system for transmitting and receiving class 1, 2, 3 and other non digital facsimile image data over the Internet global area networks which comprises an apparatus connected to the output of a fax machine having the following components operatively connected together on a bus between said fax machine input and a POTS line output:

means for converting class 1, 2, 3 or other non-digital facsimile image data to a MIME enabled e-mail data streams;

an analog to digital converter for encapsulating said MIME enabled e-mail into MIME e-mail digital format;

high speed RAM for storing and forwarding native fax data to CPU and ASIC means for conversion to said MIME enabled e-mail data streams;

a plurality of digital signal processors for formatting said MIME enabled e-mail data streams;

at least one EPROM containing a commercial, private, and/or public MIME compliant e-mail agent;

a UART for transferring keypad entered addressing information, and encoding and operating commands to a display module for displaying status information;

an ASIC chip programmed with translation algorithms for converting phase C11 data into commercial and or public e-mail format, in both forward and reverse directions;

a digital to analog converter;

a transmitting modem and a receiving modem;

a line tone and ring generator; and

a CPU controlling and directing the flow and processing of data within the system.

23. A system according to claim 22 further including a flash EPROM containing signature and encryption/decryption, two key algorithms for the coding/decoding of facsimile to facsimile, e-mail to facsimile, and facsimile to e-mail data streams.

24. A system according to claim 23 wherein said EPROM contains a public key query instruction set.

32. In a system for transmitting and receiving class 1, 2, 3 or other non-digital facsimile image data over non-facsimile image data compatible networks connecting a local fax machine to a selected remote fax machine having a facsimile image data processing apparatus connected at the local and remote fax machines comprising;

signal recognition means for determining send and receive status information;

an image data compression, store and forward buffer means connected to said recognition means;

conversion means connected to said buffer means for converting class 1, 2, 3 or other non-digital facsimile image data to any MIME enabled electronic mail data format and vice versa;

a MIME complaint electronic mail agent connected to said conversion means;

encryption means connected to said conversion means and said MIME complaint electronic mail agent for selectively encoding and decoding said converted facsimile image data and having a public and private two key encryption and decryption means together with means for accessing and retrieving a public key from a private address book;

user identification means connected to said electronic MIME complaint mail agent associated with storing, sending, and receiving functions;

electronic management means connected to said user identification means for input of address information, send and receive instructions, control information, and apparatus status information;

said electronic management means including a processor for implementing fax and e-mail address functions, send and receive functions, and mail server query functions in accordance with the input information and instructions, and stored software instructions; and

output means connected to said electronic management means for storing data, and dialing and connecting said apparatus to a mail server resident on a global area network;

the system for sending converted and encrypted facsimile image data from a local to a remote fax machine which comprises;

means for alternatively bypassing at both the local and remote locations said MIME compliant mail agent in the facsimile image data processing apparatus and providing functions of the conversion means, encryption and decryption means, signal recognition means, compression store and forward buffer means, electronic management means, and output means; and

means for connecting the facsimile data processing apparatus connected to said local fax machine and said remote facsimile image data processing apparatus connected to said selected remote fax machine directly over a POTS line for transmission of converted and encrypted facsimile image data.

33. An apparatus for receiving facsimile data from a Class 1, 2, 3 or other non-digital facsimile machine and packaging said facsimile data for delivery to an intended recipient over a computer network, said apparatus comprising:

a facsimile data receiver adapted to be connected to said facsimile machine and receives from said facsimile machine said facsimile data and the telephone number of said intended recipient of said facsimile data;

a delivery address device coupled to said facsimile data receiver for deriving delivery address information from said telephone number;

an image data restore device coupled to said facsimile data receiver for restoring said facsimile data to native facsimile image data;

MIME complaint electronic mail agent coupled to said delivery address device and to said image data restore device for converting said delivery address information and said native facsimile image data to any MIME enabled electronic mail compatible format;

user identification means connected to said MIME compliant electronic mail agent associated with storing, sending, and receiving functions;

electronic mail management means connected to said user identification means for input of address information, send and receive instructions, control information, and apparatus status information;

said electronic management means including a processor for implementing fax and e-mail address functions, send and receive functions, and mail server query functions in accordance with the input information and instructions, and stored software instructions; and

a transmission device coupled to said MIME complaint electronic mail agent for transmitting an electronic mail message carrying said native facsimile image data to said computer network for delivery to the intended recipient.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 further including a data security encoding device coupled to said image data restore device for encoding said native facsimile image data in accordance with an encoding code.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 further including an encryption device coupled to said image data restore device for encoding said native facsimile image data in accordance with an encryption code.

36. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said electronic mail agent converts said delivery address information and said native facsimile image data to a MIME compatible electronic mail format.

37. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said MIME complaint electronic mail agent converts said delivery address information and said native facsimile image data to a MOSS compatible electronic mail format.

38. The apparatus of claim 33 further including a compression device coupled to said image data restore device for compressing said native facsimile image data, wherein said data compression device compresses said native facsimile image data without loss of data content.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said data compression device compresses said facsimile data in accordance with a format selected from among the group consisting of JPEG, GIF, TIFF, MPEG and their extensions.

40. The apparatus of claim 33 further including a receiving device coupled to said MIME complaint electronic mail agent for receiving an electronic mail message carrying native facsimile image data from said computer network, wherein said MIME compliant electronic mail agent includes means for converting said received native facsimile image data to a displayable form for display on a remotely located printer.

41. The apparatus of claim 33 further including a receiving device coupled to said MIME complaint electronic mail agent for receiving an electronic mail message carrying native facsimile image data from said computer network, wherein said MIME compliant electronic mail agent includes means for converting said received native facsimile image data to a displayable form for display on a computer display screen.