Interactive facsimile system and method of information retrieval
First Claim
1. A FAX server apparatus for interactively providing requested portions of stored information to an inquiring CCITT FAX transceiver by means of a machine readable information selector sheet marked by the requesting party and transmitted by the inquiring FAX transceiver to the FAX server via telephone lines, said FAX server comprising:
- CCITT modem means for communicating with said CCITT FAX transceiver to electronically receive said transmitted selector sheet and to transmit the requested information .Iadd.thereto.Iaddend.;
machine readable means for interpreting the machine readable markings on the selector sheet received by said CCITT modem means;
memory means for storing the information from which the requestor can select; and
retrieval means under the control of said machine readable means for retrieving the information requested by the requesting party from said memory means and coupling the retrieved information to said CCITT modem means.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention allows unmodified CCITT Group 3 and 4 facsimile transceivers to interactively select and retrieve facsimile pages from a shared facsimile data base FAX serve system ("FAX server"). The remote facsimile transceiver user marks a paper selector sheet forms using a pencil or pen. The selector sheet is transmitted via the remote facsimile transmitter, preferably in a turn-around polling mode, to the FAX server unit. The FAX server unit processes the facsimile signal rapidly, interpreting the selector sheet and selecting the pages desired to be retrieved prior to the normal CCITT Recommendation T.30 timeout, which would otherwise abort the line connection. The invention allows the requested information to be returned during the same telephone call. If turn-around polling is not available, then the FAX server initiates alternative strategies culminating in an automatic callback with the information desired. The capability created allows facsimile transceivers to be used as interactive terminals for selective retrieval of text and graphics, without requiring alphanumeric keyboard interaction or the need for manual intervention.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A FAX server apparatus for interactively providing requested portions of stored information to an inquiring CCITT FAX transceiver by means of a machine readable information selector sheet marked by the requesting party and transmitted by the inquiring FAX transceiver to the FAX server via telephone lines, said FAX server comprising:
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CCITT modem means for communicating with said CCITT FAX transceiver to electronically receive said transmitted selector sheet and to transmit the requested information .Iadd.thereto.Iaddend.; machine readable means for interpreting the machine readable markings on the selector sheet received by said CCITT modem means; memory means for storing the information from which the requestor can select; and retrieval means under the control of said machine readable means for retrieving the information requested by the requesting party from said memory means and coupling the retrieved information to said CCITT modem means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17)
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15. 9. A method of information retrieval comprising the steps of:
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a. marking a selector sheet to define the information requested; b. transmitting the selector sheet of step a. via a CCITT FAX transceiver having a turnaround polling capability; c. analyzing the selector sheet transmitted in step b. to determine the information requested; d. transmitting a direction reversal signal to the CCITT FAX transceiver within the timing constraints window allowed by CCITT Recommendation T.30; and e. transmitting the requested information to the FAX transceiver of step b.
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16. Iadd.20. A FAX server apparatus for receiving instructions and data from a CCITT FAX transceiver by means of a machine readable information selector sheet marked by a transmitting party and transmitted by the FAX transceiver to the FAX server via telephone lines to alter information stored by said FAX server by adding data, deleting data or modifying previously stored data, said FAX server comprising:
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CCITT modem means for communicating with said CCITT FAX transceiver to electrically receive said transmitted selector sheet and data; machine readable means for interpreting the machine readable markings on the selector sheet received by said CCITT modem means; and memory means for storing data; and retrieval means under the control of said machine readable means for adding data, deleting data or modifying data in said memory means in accordance with the markings on said selector sheet with said modified data being retrievable in subsequent independent requests from a FAX transceiver.
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18. Iadd.24. A FAX server apparatus for providing requested portions of stored information to an inquiring CCITT FAX transceiver by means of one of a family of machine readable information selector sheet marked by the requesting party and transmitted by the inquiring FAX transceiver to the FAX server via telephone lines, said family of selector sheets being known to said FAX server, said FAX server comprising:
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CCITT modem means for communicating with said CCITT FAX transceiver to electronically receive said transmitted selector sheet and to transmit the requested information thereto; machine readable means for interpreting the machine readable markings on the selector sheet received by said CCITT modem means, said machine readable means including; identifying means for identifying mismarked and selector sheets that are not members of said known family of selector sheets; memory means for storing the information from which the requestor can select; and retrieval means under the control of said machine readable means for retrieving the information requested by the requesting party from said memory means and coupling the retrieved information to said CCITT modem
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19. means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. A FAX server as in claim 24 wherein said identification means causes a starter kit to be sent to said requesting party when said requesting party transmits a blank sheet to said FAX server. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. A FAX server as in claim 24 wherein said identification means causes a message to be transmitted to said requesting party when a mismarked selector sheet or a selector sheet that is not a member of the known family of selector sheets has been received informing the requesting party of the receipt of said mismarked or unknown selector sheet by said FAX server. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. A FAX server as in claim 24 with said selector sheets including at least one fiduciary mark to identify the orientation of said selector sheet, wherein said machine readable means of said FAX server adjusts the reading of said selectors sheets in accordance with said fiduciary marks to properly read the marks placed on said selector sheets by said transmitting party. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. A FAX server as in claim 24 with said selector sheets including at least one machine readable field for entry of the telephone number of said transmitting FAX, wherein:
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said machine readable means of said FAX server also reads the telephone number of the transmitting FAX; said memory means stores the telephone number of said transmitting FAX decoded by said machine readable means; and said FAX server further includes recall means for recalling transmitting FAX telephone numbers from said memory means for later transmitting information to said transmitting FAX. .Iaddend.
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Specification