Facsimile to E-mail communication system with local interface

• US 6,693,729 B1
• Filed: 01/22/1999
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OpenPrint LLC (IPValuation Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bloomfield Enterprises, LLC
• Inventors: Bloomfield, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pokrzywa, Joseph R.
• Application Number:
  US09/235,566
• Time in Patent Office: 1,852 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/402, 358/403, 358/407, 358/434, 358/440, 358/442, 358/468, 709/206, 709/238, 709/239, 709/240, 709/242, 379/93.24, 379/100.01, 379/100.08, 379/100.09, 379/100.13
• US Class Current: 358/402
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• 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 1/00312 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 1/33392 Details of handshaking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 Converting from still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence

Abstract

A fax to E-mail system and related method are shown, whereby a hardcopy document is sent via a fax device to its recipient via electronic mail through a data network (such as the Internet), and is delivered in such a manner that it can be retrieved by the recipient at an E-mail device, in the ordinary course of retrieving the E-mail, and displayed on the screen of the E-mail device. The invention provides for and accomplishes the delivery of a document, which begins as a hardcopy, as an electronic file retrieved through E-mail recipient'"'"'s terminal and displayed on the computer screen of the E-mail recipient'"'"'s terminal. The system and method also provides for an interface device which connects to a conventional fax device for communicating E-mail addresses and routing hardcopy documents to the E-mail network. The invention provides a means for embedding the functions of the interface device into conventional fax devices. The system can also be used in cooperation with Internet Web service for reporting, accounting, information services., and user interaction.

Claims

1. A communication system for communicating information, said system comprising:

a first communication network;

a first node communicating with said first network, said first node including;

a facsimile generating and sending function and

an electronic mail address receiving and sending function,

said electronic mail address receiving and sending function including memory and being programmed to receive an electronic mail address into said memory;

a computer network; and

a second node in communication with said first communication network and in communication with said computer network and providing a communication link therebetween;

said second node selectively operating in a fax-to-data mode in which said second node receives from said first node via said first communication network facsimile information generated at said first node and communicates data representative of said information to a destination via said computer network,

said second node being responsive to commands received from said first node to initiate operation of said fax-to-data mode, and

said second node being programmed to interact with said first node to receive the electronic mail address sent out of said memory of said first node.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said facsimile generating and sending function comprises fax device circuitry, and said E-mail address receiving and sending function comprises E-mail address receiving and sending device circuitry separate from said fax device circuitry.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said facsimile generating and sending function and said E-mail address receiving and sending function share at least some common circuitry.

4. A method of communicating information, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving at a first node on a first communication network an electronic mail address;

after the receiving step, establishing a line of open communication between the first node on the first communication network and a second node on the first communication network;

transmitting the previously received electronic mail address from the first node to the second node along the open communication line;

holding open the line of open communication;

issuing a prompt from the second node to the first node prompting for the transmission of a facsimile; and

transmitting facsimile information from the first node to the second node along the open communication line.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the receiving step includes the step of receiving an electronic mail address at an interface device within the first node;

and

wherein the first transmitting step includes the step of transmitting the received electronic mail address from the interface device to the second node; and

wherein the second transmitting step includes the steps of;

generating an electronic fax image file from a hard copy image at a fax device within the first node; and

transmitting the image file from the fax device to the second node.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

converting at the second node the facsimile information from a first format to re-formatted data in a second format; and

transmitting the reformatted data to an electronic mailbox on a second communication network, being the mailbox with which the e-mail address is associated.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the receiving step includes the step of receiving an electronic mail address into a memory at the first node;

and

wherein the first transmitting step includes the step of transmitting the electronic email address from the memory of the first node to the second node.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of receiving an electronic mail address into a memory of the first node includes the steps of:

prompting a user to input an electronic mail address at the first node or to recall previously stored electronic mail address from memory; and

storing the input or recalled electronic mail address in memory from which the address will be transmitted to the second node.

9. A communication system for communicating information, said system comprising:

a first communication network;

a first node communicating with said first network, said first node including;

a facsimile generating and sending function and

an electronic mail address receiving and sending function,

said electronic mail receiving and sending function including memory and being programmed to receive an electronic mail address into said memory;

a computer network; and

a second node in communication with said first communication network and in communication with said computer network and providing a communication link therebetween;

said second node selectively operating in a fax-to-data mode in which said second node receives from said first node via said first communication network facsimile information generated at said first node and communicates data representative of said information to a destination via said computer network,

said second node being programmed to issue a prompt to said first node prompting for the transmission of facsimile information, and

said second node being programmed to interact with said first node to receive the electronic mail address sent out of said memory of said first node.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said facsimile generating and sending function comprises fax device circuitry, and said electronic mail address receiving and sending function comprises E-mail address receiving and sending device circuitry separate from said fax device circuitry.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said facsimile generating and sending function and said E-mail address receiving and sending function share at least some common circuitry.