Systems and methods for communicating documents
First Claim
1. A method for communicating documents, comprising:
- receiving a user identifier and a destination facsimile number including public-switched telephone network information;
capturing an image by a multiple-function peripheral emulating a facsimile mode;
generating an e-mail message comprising the captured image as an attachment to the e-mail message and an encoded command including a coversheet command indicating whether to add a coversheet for delivery of the attachment;
generating a destination address for the e-mail message, the destination address being compatible with a data network and comprising the destination facsimile number;
communicating the e-mail message to the destination address for delivery of the attachment as a facsimile formatted message to the destination facsimile number; and
receiving a confirmation of fax delivery based on the encoded command, the confirmation being routed based on the user identifier.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes telephone and packet-switched network interfaces and a translator. The translator receives messages. Outgoing messages originate from a multiple-function peripheral (MFP) and are received via a transfer agent (TA). Outgoing e-mail messages include an attached file in an image file format. The translator removes and delivers the attachment in facsimile format. Incoming fax messages are attached to an e-mail message. The TA receives and relays the e-mail message to an identified MFP, which discards the e-mail message and prints the attachment. A method for processing fax messages includes associating an identifier with a MFP, receiving a fax intended for the MFP, generating an e-mail message with an attachment representing the fax and communicating the e-mail message to a transfer agent that relays the e-mail to the MFP, which discards the e-mail body and prints the attachment.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for communicating documents, comprising:
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receiving a user identifier and a destination facsimile number including public-switched telephone network information; capturing an image by a multiple-function peripheral emulating a facsimile mode; generating an e-mail message comprising the captured image as an attachment to the e-mail message and an encoded command including a coversheet command indicating whether to add a coversheet for delivery of the attachment; generating a destination address for the e-mail message, the destination address being compatible with a data network and comprising the destination facsimile number; communicating the e-mail message to the destination address for delivery of the attachment as a facsimile formatted message to the destination facsimile number; and receiving a confirmation of fax delivery based on the encoded command, the confirmation being routed based on the user identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system, comprising:
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a public-switched telephone network (PSTN) interface in communication with the PSTN; a message transfer agent communicatively coupled to the PSTN interface; a packet-switched network interface communicatively coupled to a simple mail transfer protocol server via the message transfer agent; and a multiple-function peripheral that emulates a facsimile mode, and, in the facsimile mode, receives a user identifier and a destination facsimile number and captures an image, the message transfer agent being configured to receive the captured image and the destination facsimile number from the multiple-function peripheral, generate an outgoing e-mail message comprising the captured image as an attachment and an encoded command including a coversheet command indicating whether to add a coversheet for delivery of the attachment, generate a destination address for the e-mail message, the destination address being compatible with a data network and comprising the destination facsimile number, communicate the e-mail message to the destination address for delivery of the attachment as a facsimile format message to the destination facsimile number, and receive a confirmation of fax delivery based on the encoded command, the confirmation being routed based on the user identifier. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A message transfer apparatus for communicating documents, comprising:
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a receiver configured to receive a destination facsimile number, a user identifier, and an image for delivery as a facsimile formatted message; and relay logic configured to generate an e-mail message comprising the captured image as an attachment to the e-mail message and an encoded command including a coversheet command indicating whether to add a coversheet for delivery of the attachment, generate a destination address for the e-mail message, the destination address being compatible with a data network and comprising the destination facsimile number, communicate the e-mail message to the destination address for delivery of the attachment as a facsimile formatted message to the destination facsimile number, and receive a confirmation of fax delivery based on the encoded command, the confirmation being routed based on the user identifier. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification