Internet global area networks fax system

• US 7,898,675 B1
• Filed: 11/13/1995
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Netfax Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Netfax Development LLC
• Inventors: Murphy, Frederick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rogers; Scott A
• Application Number:
  US08/555,911
• Time in Patent Office: 5,587 Days
• Field of Search: 358/442, 358/407, 358/402, 358/440, 358/468, 358/434, 358/1.15, 358/1.13, 379/100, 379/93, 379/94, 379/93.05, 379/93.08, 379/93.14, 379/93.15, 379/93.24, 379/100.01, 379/100.02, 379/100.08, 379/100.09, 379/100.13, 379/100.15, 379/100.16, 379/100.17, 395/200.04, 395/200.18, 709/200, 709/206, 709227-231, 709/238, 709245-247
• US Class Current: 358/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/10 Text processing natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30; processing or translation of natural language G06F40/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• 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: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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 1/00238 using an image reproducing device as a local output from a computer output via network, e.g. network printing H04N1/00233
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32411 Handling instructions for routing or relaying
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32416 Storage of instructions or retrieval of prestored instructions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0067 Converting to still picture data
• 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 method and apparatus for transmitting class 1, 2, or 3 fax image data streams over Internet Global Area Networks is shown. A first device converts local fax image data streams into electronic data streams, transmits the data stream over the network, to a second device at the remote fax machine which reconverts the electronic data to fax image data and prints it out on said remote fax machine.

Claims

1. An apparatus for receiving facsimile data from a Class 2 or 3 facsimile machine and packaging said facsimile data for delivery to an intended recipient over a computer network, said apparatus comprising:

a self contained facsimile data receiver which generates a dial tone for said facsimile machine, wherein said facsimile data receiver is adapted to be connected to said facsimile machine and receives from said facsimile machine said facsimile data and the telephone number of said intended recipient of said facsimile data;

a delivery address device coupled to said facsimile data receiver for deriving delivery address information from said telephone number;

an image data restore device coupled to said facsimile data receiver for restoring said facsimile data to native facsimile image data;

an electronic mail agent coupled to said delivery address device and to said image data restore device for converting said delivery address information and said native facsimile image data to an electronic mail compatible format; and

a transmission device coupled to said electronic mail agent for transmitting an electronic mail message carrying said native facsimile image data to said computer network for delivery to the intended recipient.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a compression device coupled to the said image data restore for compressing said native facsimile image data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electronic mail agent includes password means for providing a password for said computer network.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electronic mail agent includes user ID means for providing a user ID for said computer network.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said facsimile data receiver includes a telephone connection device for establishing a telephone connection with said facsimile machine.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transmission device includes a telephone connection device for establishing a telephone connection with said computer network.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a receiving device coupled to said electronic mail agent for receiving an electronic mail message carrying native facsimile image data from said computer network.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said compression device compresses said native facsimile image data received from said computer network in a format compatible with a class 1, 2, or 3 facsimile machine.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said apparatus further includes a facsimile data transmitter adapted for coupling to said facsimile machine to transmit said facsimile image data to said fax machine.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said electronic mail agent includes means for converting said received native facsimile native facsimile image data to a displayable form for display on an output device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said output device is the print mechanism of a facsimile machine.

12. A method for transmitting and receiving facsimile image data over a computer network comprising the steps of:

emulating a public switched telephone network connection to a facsimile machine;

transmitting to or receiving from said facsimile machine over said emulated connection, image data in a facsimile transmission format;

transmitting to or receiving from a computer network over a standard public switched telephone network connection, image data attached to electronic mail format data;

converting between image data in a facsimile transmission format and image data attached to electronic mail format data; and

controlling communication of image data in a facsimile transmission format to or from said facsimile machine over said emulated connection and image data attached to electronic mail format data over said standard connection.