Apparatus and method for translating and sending digital information to different types of receiving devices

• US 7,072,056 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2000
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Greaves, Warren J., Holmstead, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Garcia, Gabriel
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, THIERRY L
• Application Number:
  US09/571,948
• Time in Patent Office: 2,241 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.13, 358/1.14, 358/1.16, 358/1.1, 358/1.9, 358/1.11, 382/245, 709/230
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• 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 1/00312 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 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0065 Converting image data to a format usable by the connected apparatus or vice versa

Abstract

A digital information translation and sending device is provided for sending data to a targeted destination device. The translation and sending device includes a sending device and a gateway device. The sending device includes memory and a communication port. The communication port is operative to send digital data in a first data format compatible with the sending device via a first communications protocol. The gateway device includes processing circuitry, memory, and a communication port. The communication port and processing circuitry are operative to convert the digital data from the first data format to a second data format that is compatible with a destination device and sends the data using a second communications protocol. A method is also provided.

Claims

1. A digital information translation and sending device for sending data to a targeted destination device, comprising:

a sending device including memory and a communication port, the communication port operative to send digital data in a first data format compatible with the sending device via a first communications protocol; and

a gateway device including processing circuitry, memory, and a communication port, the communication port and processing circuitry operative to convert the digital data from the first data format to a second data format compatible with a destination device and send the data using a second communications protocol, the existence of the targeted destination device is determined by broadcasting a message to at least one associated destination device through the gateway device, wherein the sending device is configured to send the digital data in the first data format to the gateway device after receiving an indication of the availability of the targeted destination device from the gateway device, wherein the sending device comprises a look-up table comprising a plurality of destination addresses and destination device types, the existence of the targeted destination device being determined by using the look-up table, wherein the data is received by the gateway from the sending device and the data is converted to the destination format compatible with an identified destination device type.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the sending device comprises a JetSend device, and the gateway device comprises a JetSend gateway device.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the sending device sends digital data in a JetSend data format to the gateway device, the gateway device translates the data from a JetSend data format to the second data format, and the gateway device receives JetSend data via a JetSend communications protocol and sends the JetSend data in the second data format via a destination communications protocol.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the first communications protocol comprises a JetSend protocol, and the second communications protocol comprises a facsimile protocol.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the first data format comprises a JetSend format, and the second data format comprises a facsimile format.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the first data format comprises a JetSend format, and the second data format comprises a portable document format (PDF).

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the gateway comprises a JetSend facsimile gateway operative to convert a pixelated image from a first image resolution to a second image resolution.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the second communications protocol comprises a simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP).

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the second communications protocol comprises a facsimile protocol, the second data format comprises a facsimile format, and the destination device comprises a facsimile machine.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the second communications protocol comprises a simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP), the second data format comprises a portable document format (PDF), and the destination device comprises an e-mail server.