Facsimile to E-mail communication system with local interface

• US 6,707,580 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2000
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OpenPrint LLC (IPValuation Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: E-mate Enterprises, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Bloomfield, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pokrzywa, Joseph R.
• Application Number:
  US09/717,193
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 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 51/00 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: 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 1/32406 in connection with routing or relaying, e.g. using a fax-server or a store-and-forward facility stored and forward data switching systems H04L12/54
• 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 found originally as an image on paper, said system comprising:

a public switched telephone network (“

PSN”

);

a computer network;

a server being in communication with said PSN and being in communication with said computer network;

a facsimile for generating facsimile information from information found originally as an image on paper, said facsimile communicating with said PSN along a communications link;

an interface being responsive to signals received at said interface to function in an e-mail mode, during which said interface initiates communication between said server and said facsimile, transmits to the server a sender entered destination address associated with said computer network, and cooperates with said facsimile to accomplish transmission of facsimile information from said facsimile to said server using a facsimile protocol via said PSN,

wherein said facsimile and said server engage in facsimile protocol handshake with one another.

29. The communication system of claim 1 or 28, further comprising at least one email mailbox, said mailbox being the destination identified with said destination address associated with said computer network, the contents of said mailbox being accessible by a system subscriber.

30. The communication system of claim 1 or 28, further comprising

means associated with said server for receiving facsimile information via said PSN using a facsimile protocol and for communicating data representative of said facsimile information to a destination via said computer network.

31. The communication system of claim 1 or 28, said interface being positioned along the same said communication link by which said facsimile communicates with said PSN.

2. A communication system for communicating, with the assistance of a public communication network (“

PN”

) and a computer communications network, information found originally as an image on paper, said system comprising;

a server being in communication with said PN and being in communication with said computer communications network;

a facsimile for generating facsimile information from information found originally as an image on paper, said facsimile communicating with said PN;

an interface being responsive to signals received at said interface to function in an e-mail mode, during which said interface initiates communication between said server and said facsimile, transmits a sender entered alphanumeric e-mail address to the server, and cooperates with said facsimile to accomplish transmission of facsimile information from said facsimile to said server using a facsimile protocol via said PN,

wherein said facsimile and said server engage in facsimile protocol handshake with one another.

33. The communication system of claim 2 or 32, further comprising:

means associated with said server for receiving facsimile information via said PN using a facsimile protocol and for communicating data representative of said facsimile information to a destination via said global computer communications network.

34. The communication system of claim 2 or 32, said interface being positioned along the same said communications link by which said facsimile communicates with said PN.

35. The system of claim 2 or 32, further comprising:

conversion software associated with said server, said conversion software converting facsimile information generated by said facsimile into image data in a second format;

an electronic mailbox associated with said computer network; and

an e-mail device configured to access information stored in said electronic mailbox, said e-mail device being operable to receive and display on a computer screen data formatted in said second format.

36. The system of claim 35, further comprising encoding means associated with said server for encoding said image data in said second format, said e-mail device being configured to automatically decode said image data in said second format upon receipt thereof from said electronic mailbox.

37. The system of claim 2 or 32, said interface including a display screen constructed and arranged for displaying alphanumeric characters.

38. The system of claim 2 or 32, said interface including, at least, a standard telephone keypad.

39. The system of claim 2 or 32, and said PN comprising a public telephone network.

40. The system of claim 2 or 32, said interface being incorporated as part of said facsimile.

41. The system of claim 2 or 32, and said computer communications network comprising a global computer network.

42. The system of claim 41, and said global computer network including, at least in part, an internet.

43. The system of claim 2 or 32, and said PN comprising a combination of a switched telephone network and an internet.

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

receiving dial tone at a fax device and at a fax interface from a common, first communication line associated with a first network;

receiving at the fax interface an address associated with an electronic mailbox located on a second network and accessible by a desired recipient;

conveying the address via the first communication line from the fax interface to a remote server; and

transmitting a fax image from the fax device to the remote server along the first communication line, using a fax protocol.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

converting at the remote server the fax image from a facsimile protocol format to image data in a second format; and

transmitting the image data in the second format to an electronic mailbox on a computer data network, being that mailbox with which the address is associated.

5. The Method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

accessing using an e-mail browser the electronic mailbox of the desired recipient in a manner intended to download electronic mail in the mailbox;

downloading from the mailbox the image data in the second format; and

displaying on a computer screen, using the e-mail browser, the image data in the second format,

whereby an image representative of a hard copy image originally placed in the fax device is displayed.

6. The Method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of

encoding at the remote server the image data in the second format, whereby the image data transmitted to the mailbox is encoded;

and

automatically decoding, using the e-mail browser, the image data in the second format upon downloading from the mailbox.

7. The Method of claim 4, wherein the step of transmitting the image data in the second format comprises the step of creating at the remote server an e-mail message, addressed to the received address, including the image data in the second format.

8. The Method of claim 7, wherein the step includes the steps of:

creating an information portion including, at least, delivery information and a comment to the recipient; and

associating the image data in the second format with the information portion as an attachment.

9. The Method of claim 4, wherein the step of transmitting the image data in a second format comprises the step of appending at the remote server the image data in the second format to an information portion indicating the sender and the destination address.

10. A method of communicating information, comprising the step of delivering facsimile information from a facsimile generating device to a recipient e-mail box associated with an e-mail address entered by the sender at a local interface device, wherein such delivery involves at least in part a facsimile protocol handshake across and facsimile protocol transmission over a circuit switched telephone network, and such delivery being accomplished without entering of a telephone number at the facsimile generating device, and wherein at least the facsimile generating device is engaged as a party to the facsimile protocol handshake and the facsimile protocol transmission.

11. A communication system for communicating information found originally as an image on paper, said system comprising:

a first communication network, at least a portion of the first communication network including a circuit switched telephone network;

a computer network;

a server being in communication with said first communication network and being in communication with said computer network;

a facsimile for generating facsimile information from information found originally as an image on paper, said facsimile communicating with said first communication network along a communications link;

an interface being responsive to signals received at said interface to function in an e-mail mode, during which said interface initiates communication between said server and said facsimile, transmits to the server a sender entered destination address of a destination on said computer network, and cooperates with said facsimile to accomplish transmission of facsimile information from said facsimile to said server using a facsimile protocol via at least said circuit switched telephone network,

wherein said facsimile and said server engage in facsimile protocol handshake with one another.

12. The communication system of claim 11, further comprising at least one email mailbox, said mailbox being the destination identified with said destination address associated with said computer network, the contents of said mailbox being accessible by a system subscriber.

45. The communication system of claim 11 or 44, further comprising

means associated with said server for receiving facsimile information via said first communication network using a facsimile protocol and for communicating data representative of said facsimile information to a destination via said computer network.

46. The communication system of claim 11 or 44, said interface being positioned along the same said communication link by which said facsimile communicates with said first communication network.

47. The system of claim 11 or 44, further comprising:

conversion software associate with said server, said conversion software converting facsimile information generated by said facsimile into image data in a second format;

an electronic mailbox associated with said computer network; and

an e-mail device configured to access information stored in said electronic mailbox, said e-mail device being operable to receive and display on a computer screen data formatted in said second format.

48. The system of claim 47, further comprising encoding means associated with said server for encoding said image data in said second format, said e-mail device being configured to automatically decode said image data in said second format upon receipt thereof from said electronic mailbox.

49. The system of claim 11 or 44, said interface including a display screen constructed and arranged for displaying alphanumeric characters.

50. The system of claim 11 or 44, said interface including, at least, a standard telephone keypad.

51. The system of claim 11 or 44, said interface being incorporated as part of said facsimile.

52. The system of claim 11 or 44, and said computer communications network comprising a global computer network.

53. The system of claim 52, and said global computer network including, at least in part, the internet.

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

receiving dial tone at a fax interface from a first communication line associated with a first network, the interface being connected to a fax device;

receiving at the fax interface an address associated with an electronic mailbox located on a second network and accessible by a desired recipient;

conveying the address via the first communication line from the fax interface to a remote server; and

transmitting a fax image from the fax device to the remote server along at least the first communication line, wherein transmission along the first communication line uses a fax protocol, and

wherein said facsimile and said server engage in facsimile protocol handshake with one another.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

converting at the remote server the fax image from a facsimile protocol format to image data in a second format; and

transmitting the image data in the second format to an electronic mailbox on a computer data network, being that mailbox with which the address is associated.

15. The Method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

accessing using an e-mail browser the electronic mailbox of the desired recipient in a manner intended to download electronic mail within the mailbox;

downloading from the mailbox the image data in the second format; and

displaying on a computer screen, using the aforementioned e-mail browser, the image data in the second format,

whereby an image representative of a hard copy image originally placed in the fax device is displayed.

16. The Method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of

encoding at the remote server the image data in the second format, whereby the image data transmitted to the mailbox is encoded;

and

automatically decoding, using the e-mail browser, the image data in the second format upon downloading from the mailbox.

17. The Method of claim 14, wherein the step of transmitting the image data in the second format comprises the step of creating at the remote server an e-mail message addressed to the received address, including the image data in the second format.

18. The Method of claim 17, wherein the creating step includes the steps of:

creating an information portion including, at least, delivery information and a comment to the recipient; and

associating the image data in the second format with the information portion as an attachment.

19. The Method of claim 14, wherein the step of transmitting the image data in a second format comprises the step of appending at the remote server the image data in the second format to information portion indicating the sender and the destination address.

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

receiving dial tone at a fax device and at a fax interface from a common, first communication line connected to a first network;

receiving at the fax interface an address associated with an electronic mailbox located on a second network and accessible by a desired recipient;

conveying the address via the fist communication line from the fax interface to a remote server; and

receiving a fax image at the remote server via fax protocol from the fax device along the first communication line.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

converting at the remote server the fax image from a facsimile protocol format to image data in a second format; and

transmitting the image data in the second format to an electronic mailbox on a computer data network, being that mailbox with which the address is associated.

22. The Method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

accessing using an e-mail browser the electronic mailbox of the desired recipient in a manner intended to download electronic mail within the mailbox;

downloading from the mailbox the image data in the second format; and

displaying on a computer screen, using the aforementioned e-mail browser, the image data in the second format,

whereby an image representative of a hard copy image originally placed in the fax device is displayed.

23. The Method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of

encoding at the remote server the image data in the second format, whereby the image data transmitted to the mailbox is encoded;

and

automatically decoding, using the e-mail browser, the image data in the second format upon downloading from the mailbox.

24. The Method of claim 21, wherein the step of transmitting the image data in the second format comprises the step of creating at the remote server an e-mail message addressed to the received address, including the image data in the second format.

25. The Method of claim 24, wherein the creating step includes the steps of:

creating an information portion including, at least, delivery information and a comment to the recipient; and

associating the image data in the second format with the information portion as an attachment.

26. A method of communicating information, comprising the steps of:

receiving fax information in G3 facsimile format at a network server over a circuit switched telephone network from a sender'"'"'s fax device; and

delivering the facsimile information from the network server to a recipient email box associated with an e-mail address inputted electronically by the sender at an interface local to the sender'"'"'s fax device, and such delivery being accomplished without the sender entering any telephone number at the sender'"'"'s fax device.

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

receiving, at a first node on a first communication network, electronic input of an email address of an e-mail destination, the first communication network being a network at least a portion of which includes a circuit switched telephone network;

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

after the establishing step, receiving the address at the second node from the first node using a non-facsimile protocol; and

after the establishing step, receiving at the second node a facsimile image transmitted from the first node along at least the switched telephone network using a facsimile protocol;

converting the facsimile image at the second node to an industry-standard computer readable format; and

routing the computer readable image from the second node to the e-mail destination associated with the previously received address via a second communication network.

28. A communication system for communicating information found originally as an image on paper, said system comprising:

a public switched telephone network (“

PSN”

);

a computer network;

a server being in communication with said PSN and being in communication with said computer network;

a facsimile for generating facsimile information from information found originally as an image on paper, said facsimile communicating with said PSN along a communications link;

an interface being responsive to signals received at said interface to function in an e-mail mode, during which said interface initiates communication between said server and said facsimile, transmits to the server a sender entered destination address associated with said computer network, and cooperates with said facsimile to accomplish transmission of facsimile information from said facsimile direct to said server using a facsimile protocol via said PSN.

32. A communication system for communicating, with the assistance of a public communication network (“

PN”

) and a computer communications network, information found originally as an image on paper, said system comprising;

a server being in communication with said PN and being in communication with said computer communications network;

a facsimile for generating facsimile information from information found originally as an image on paper, said facsimile communicating with said PN;

an interface being responsive to signals received at said interface to function in an e-mail mode, during which said interface initiates communication between said server and said facsimile, transmits a sender entered alphanumeric e-mail address to the server, and cooperates with said facsimile to accomplish transmission of facsimile information from said facsimile direct to said server using a facsimile protocol via said PN.

44. A communication system for communicating information found originally as an image on paper, said system comprising:

a first communication network, at least a portion of the first communication network including a circuit switched telephone network;

a computer network;

a server being in communication with said first communication network and being in communication with said computer network;

a facsimile for generating facsimile information from information found originally as an image on paper, said facsimile communicating with said first communication network along a communications link;

an interface being responsive to signals received at said interface to function in an e-mail mode, during which said interface initiates communication between said server and said facsimile, transmits to the server a sender entered destination address of a destination on said computer network, and cooperates with said facsimile to accomplish transmission of facsimile information direct from said facsimile to said server using a facsimile protocol via at least said circuit switched telephone network.