Fax messaging for new users
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- operating, by a first service provider, a computer system to provide send and receive services that send and receive fax messages, respectively, via fax protocols; and
providing, by the first service provider to a second service provider the capability of transmitting a message to each of a plurality of new customers of the second service provider, wherein the message identifies a predetermined amount of the send service, receive service, or both, free of charge to the new customer, as part of a group of services that includes one of Internet access, Web, and Internet telephony services provided by the second service provider, wherein the first and second service providers are distinct entities and the message is to be transmitted to each new customer by the second service provider to promote the services of the first service provider.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Send and receive services are operated that send and receive fax messages, respectively, via fax protocols. Each new customer is offered a predetermined amount of the receive service, and a more limited amount of the send service, both free of charge to the customer, as part of a group of services that includes Internet access, Web services, or Internet telephony. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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operating, by a first service provider, a computer system to provide send and receive services that send and receive fax messages, respectively, via fax protocols; and providing, by the first service provider to a second service provider the capability of transmitting a message to each of a plurality of new customers of the second service provider, wherein the message identifies a predetermined amount of the send service, receive service, or both, free of charge to the new customer, as part of a group of services that includes one of Internet access, Web, and Internet telephony services provided by the second service provider, wherein the first and second service providers are distinct entities and the message is to be transmitted to each new customer by the second service provider to promote the services of the first service provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A machine-implemented method of operating a fax processor, comprising:
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transmitting a fax message by a first service provider on behalf of a user, in response to receiving within an internal packet data network a request from the user from an external packet data network; receiving a fax message by the first service provider on behalf of the user into the internal packet data network, and enabling the user to view the received fax message from the external packet data network; and initializing in the internal packet data network a data structure by the first service provider that is associated with a new user to indicate that a predetermined number of fax pages can be transmitted, a predetermined number of fax pages can be received, or both, as free services of the first service provider for the new user where the new user is also a new subscriber to one of an Internet access service, a Web service, and an Internet telephony service provided by a second service provider, wherein the first and second service providers are distinct entities and the first service provider provides the capability to the second service provider to transmit a message to the new user to promote the services of the first service provider. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer system for providing fax messaging, comprising:
a plurality of programmed computer components administered by a first service provider that send and receive fax messages via fax protocols to provide send and receive services to a user, and in which is stored a data structure that is associated with a new user of the send and receive services, wherein the data structure indicates that a predetermined number of fax pages can be transmitted, a predetermined number of fax pages can be received, or both, as a free service to the new user where the new user is also a new subscriber of one of an Internet access service, a Web service and an Internet telephony service provided by a second service provider, wherein the first and second service providers are distinct entities and the first service provider provides the capability to the second service provider to transmit a message to the new user to promote the services of the first service provider. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
Specification