Method for generating a fax cover page

• US 7,245,392 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Quach, Tony T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon; King Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/093,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20030169458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,957 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/401, 358/403, 358/407, 358/434, 358/438, 358/440, 358/468
• 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 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00416 Multi-level menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00957 Compiling jobs, e.g. for batch processing H04N1/3208 takes precedence; program code compilation G06F8/41
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32053 Delayed transmission, e.g. to make use of reduced connection rates H04N1/32074 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32112 in a separate computer file, document page or paper sheet, e.g. a fax cover sheet H04N1/32122 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 Converting from still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3207 of an address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3209 of a telephone number
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3211 of a company logo or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3221 of a job number or identification, e.g. communication number

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for generating a cover page for a fax job. The method comprises the steps of sending a fax job with cover page information to a DID for fax generation and transmittal. The fax job and cover page are suitably separated into two separate jobs prior to submission to the DID. The fax job is then preferably sent to the raster image processor of the DID before the cover page job so that when the cover page job is generated, the number of generated pages has already been determined. After bitmap images are created of both the fax job and cover page job, the fax job and cover page job are suitably swapped and combined into one job such that the cover page job bitmaps precede the fax job bitmaps. After combining the two jobs, the single fax job is suitably sent to a recipient.

Claims

1. A system for generating a network facsimile cover page comprising:

a facsimile driver on an associated workstation, the facsimile driver including,

means adapted for receiving electronic document data associated with a facsimile output;

means adapted for receiving a cover sheet request, which cover sheet request is associated with a facsimile output;

means adapted for communicating the electronic document, via an associated network, to an document output controller;

means adapted for communicating cover sheet document data corresponding to a received cover sheet request via the associated network to the document output controller;

a document output controller including,

means adapted for receiving from the facsimile driver, via the associated network, the electronic document data;

means adapted for receiving, from the facsimile driver and via the associated network, the cover sheet document data associated with received electronic document data;

means adapted for rendering the electronic document data;

means adapted for rendering the cover sheet document data;

means adapted for generating page count data in accordance with at least rendered electronic document data;

means adapted for appending page count data into rendered cover sheet document data such that a page count is reflected therein;

combining means adapted for combining received electronic document data with received cover sheet document data into a facsimile output file; and

means adapted for communicating the facsimile output file to at least one destination such that a cover sheet corresponding to the cover sheet document data precedes document data corresponding to the electronic document data in a rendering therefrom.

2. The system for generating a network facsimile cover page of claim 1 wherein the page count data is inserted into the cover sheet document data prior to communicating the facsimile output file to at least one destination.

3. The system for generating a network facsimile cover page of claim 1 wherein the facsimile driver further includes means adapted for receiving parameters for the facsimile output.

4. The system for generating a network facsimile cover page of claim 3 wherein the parameters include recipient address data, resolution, paper size, paper orientation, and delivery time data.

5. A method for generating a network facsimile cover page comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a facsimile driver, electronic document data associated with a facsimile output;

receiving, at the facsimile driver, a cover sheet request, which cover sheet request is associated with a facsimile output;

communicating the electronic document data from the facsimile driver via an associated network to a document output controller;

communicating cover sheet document data corresponding to a received cover sheet request from the facsimile driver via the associated network to the document output controller;

rendering, at the document output controller, the electronic document;

rendering, at the document output controller, the cover sheet document data;

generating, at the document output controller, page count data in accordance with at least rendered electronic document data;

appending page count data, at the document output controller, into rendered cover sheet data such that a page count is reflected therein;

combining, at the document output controller, received electronic document data with received cover sheet document data into a facsimile output file; and

communicating the facsimile output file from the document output controller to at least one destination such that a cover sheet corresponding to the cover sheet document data precedes document data corresponding to the electronic document data in a rendering therefrom.

6. The method for generating a network facsimile cover page of claim 5 wherein the page count data is inserted into the cover sheet document data prior to communicating the facsimile output file to at least one destination.

7. The method for generating a network facsimile cover page of claim 5 wherein the facsimile driver further includes means adapted for receiving parameters for the facsimile output.

8. The method for generating a network facsimile cover page of claim 7 wherein the parameters include recipient address data, resolution, paper size, paper orientation, and delivery time data.