Device, method and system for facsimile transmission over a computer network

• US 6,603,569 B1
• Filed: 05/15/1998
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tac Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tac Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Andrew, Conklin, Steve, Johnson, Howard K. Jr., Ayala, Luis
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Madeleine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pokrzywa, Joseph R.
• Application Number:
  US09/079,433
• Time in Patent Office: 1,908 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/402, 358/403, 358/407, 358/434, 358/442, 358/443, 358/468, 358/438, 709/239, 709/240, 709/238, 709/242, 370/352, 370/401, 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.05, 379/93.07, 379/93.09, 379/93.14, 379/93.24, 379/100.01, 379/100.09, 379/100.12, 379/100.13, 379/100.15
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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 1/00312 with a digital transmission apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, SMS or ISDN device transmitting or receiving via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network or the internet H04N1/00214; transmission of digital information H04L
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3209 according to the called number
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32427 Optimising routing, e.g. for minimum cost
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/002 Selecting or switching between an image communication channel and a non-image communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0034 Details of the connection, e.g. connector, interface
• 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 fax interface unit provides a novel way of sending and receiving a fax over a global computer network such as the internet. The fax interface unit is coupled to a legacy fax machine on one side and to both a local area network and the telephone network on the other side. When a first location transmits a fax document to a second location having an email address capable of receiving the fax document, the telephone network is bypassed and the transmitted fax document arrives as email at the second location, thereby reducing telephone cost and providing the second location with an archived document.

Claims

1. A method of communicating information from a local fax machine, comprising the steps of:

coupling said local fax machine to a fax interface unit, where said fax interface unit comprises a single modem, a hardware switch and a memory, said hardware switch having a first connection to a first communications network and a second connection to a second communications network;

storing a plurality of email addresses in said memory;

initiating a fax call at said local fax machine;

generating a fax signal, including a preassigned identifier associated with said fax call;

receiving, at said fax interface unit, said preassigned identifier;

determining whether said preassigned identifier corresponds to one of said email addresses;

controlling a state of said hardware switch in order to direct said signal through said single modem to either said first or said second communications networks;

converting said fax signal to an email signal, if said one email address corresponds to said preassigned identifier;

sending said email signal to said corresponding one of said email addresses through said first connection and across said first communications network; and

routing said fax signal through said second connection and across said second communications network, if said one email address does not correspond to said preassigned identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said preassigned identifier is a telephone number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of converting said fax signal to an email signal comprises the steps of:

demodulating said fax signal;

converting said demodulated fax signal to a TIFF-image; and

mail encoding said TIFF-image, thereby generating said email signal.

4. A fax interface apparatus for communicating information from a local fax machine, comprising:

a single modem;

a hardware switch adapted to selectively route a signal from said local fax machine to either a first communications network or a second communications network;

memory for storing a plurality of email addresses; and

logic configured to receive, from said local fax machine, a preassigned identifier associated with said signal, said logic configured to determine whether said preassigned identifier corresponds to at least one of said email addresses, said logic further configured to control said hardware switch such that said signal is routed through said single modem and across said first communications network if said logic identifies a corresponding email address;

wherein said single modem is configured to demodulate said signal into a demodulated signal, and wherein said logic is configured to convert said demodulated signal into an email signal and to send said email signal to said corresponding email address.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said preassigned identifier is a telephone number.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said logic controls said hardware switch such that said signal is routed through said single modem and across said second communications network if said logic fails to identify a corresponding email address.

7. A fax interface apparatus, comprising:

a hardware switch;

a first connection coupled to a local fax machine;

a second connection coupled to a first communications network and to said hardware switch;

a third connection coupled to a second communications network and to said hardware switch;

memory for storing a plurality of email addresses; and

logic configured to receive a preassigned identifier transmitted across said first connection from said local fax machine, said logic further configured to determine whether said received preassigned identifier corresponds to one of said plurality of email addresses, said logic further configured to convert a signal from said local fax machine into an email signal if said logic identifies a corresponding email address and to route said email signal through said hardware switch and across said second connection to said first communications network, said logic still further configured to control said hardware switch such that said signal is routed through said hardware switch and across said third connection to said second communications network if said logic fails to identify a corresponding email address.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said logic is further configured to send said email signal over said first communications network to said corresponding email address.

9. A fax interface apparatus, comprising:

a hardware switch;

a first connection coupled to a local fax machine;

a second connection coupled to a first communications network and to said hardware switch;

a third connection coupled to a second communications network and to said hardware switch;

memory for storing a plurality of email addresses; and

logic configured to receive a preassigned identifier transmitted across said first connection from said local fax machine, said received preassigned identifier identifying a communications device of an intended recipient of a signal transmitted from said local fax machine, said logic further configured to determine whether said received preassigned identifier corresponds to one of said plurality of email addresses, said logic further configured to convert said signal into an email signal and to transmit said email signal to said communications device of said intended recipient by way of said corresponding email address through said single modem and said second connection and across said first communications network if said logic identifies such a correspondence between said received preassigned identifier and said one of said email addresses, said logic still further configured to control said hardware switch such that said signal is routed through said single modem and said third connection and across said second communications network if said logic fails to convert said signal into an email signal.

10. A fax interface method, comprising the steps of:

providing a hardware switch and a plurality of connections, said hardware switch coupled to said plurality of connections;

storing a plurality of email addresses;

receiving a preassigned identifier from a local fax machine;

determining whether said received preassigned identifier corresponds to one of said plurality of email addresses;

receiving, via one of said plurality of connections, a signal from said local fax machine;

converting said signal into an email signal if a correspondence between said received preassigned identifier and said one of said email addresses is determined; and

controlling said hardware switch based on said determination;

wherein said hardware switch, when open, enables said email signal to be communicated across a first of said plurality of connections to a first communications network, and when said hardware switch is closed, enables said signal to be communicated across a second of said plurality of connections to a second communications network.

11. A fax interface method for communicating information from a local fax machine, comprising the steps of:

providing a fax interface apparatus having a single modem and a hardware switch;

transmitting a signal from said local fax machine to said fax interface apparatus, said signal associated with a preassigned identifier;

storing a plurality of email addresses;

determining whether said preassigned identifier corresponds to at least one of said email addresses;

selectively routing, via said hardware switch, said signal between said local fax machine and either a first communications network or a second communications network based on said correspondence determination;

demodulating said signal, via said single modem, into a demodulated signal if said signal is routed to said first communications network in the selective routing step;

converting said demodulated signal into an email signal; and

sending said email signal to said one of said email addresses that corresponds to said preassigned identifier.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said preassigned identifier is a telephone number.