Fax routing system and method using standard fax machine and personal computer

• US 20030026400A1
• Filed: 04/29/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OpenPrint LLC (IPValuation Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Infotrieve Inc. (Copyright Clearance Center, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bashoura, Joseph Elias, Coudsi, Charles J., Derycz, Peter Victor, Garabet, Fady Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 6,639,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/100.14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4555 Directories for electronic mail or instant messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/002 : Selecting or switching between an image communication channel and a non-image communication channel
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3208 : of an e-mail or network address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3209 : of a telephone number
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 : Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information

Abstract

A fax routing system and method using a standard fax machine and personal computer. The telephone number is decoded from the telephone number dialing which is generated by the fax machine. This number is looked up in a table. If a corresponding Internet-address is found, the fax is downloaded from the fax machine, converted into a computer file, and sent to the recipient via his Internet address. If a corresponding Internet address is not found, the decoded number is dialed on a telephone line and, thereafter, the telephone line is connected to the fax machine for normal fax delivery.

Claims

1. A fax routing system comprising:

(a) a local fax machine for;

(1) receiving a document to be faxed over a telephone line;

(2) receiving a telephone number to which the document should be faxed over the telephone line;

(3) dialing the telephone number; and

(4) transmitting the document over the telephone line after dialing the telephone number as a fax;

(b) a local computer containing a table of telephone numbers and corresponding Internet addresses, said local computer for;

(1) receiving a telephone number;

(2) looking the telephone number up in the table; and

(3) delivering the Internet address corresponding to a telephone number in the table;

(c) a fax director connected to said fax machine, said computer and to a telephone line, said fax director including;

(1) an off-hook sensor for sensing when said local fax machine goes off hook;

(2) a dial tone provider for delivering a dial tone to said local fax machine;

(3) a telephone number decoder for decoding the telephone number dialed by said local fax machine;

(4) a telephone number dialer connectable to the telephone line for dialing the telephone number;

(5) a handshaker for handshaking with said fax machine;

(6) a fax converter for converting the fax to be sent by said local fax machine into a computer file;

(7) a processor connected to said off-hook sensor, dial tone provider, telephone number decoder, telephone number dialer, handshaker and fax converter for;

a. causing said dial tone provider to provide a dial tone after said off-hook sensor senses said fax machine going off hook;

b. causing said telephone number decoder to decode the telephone number dialed by said local fax machine after causing said dial tone provider to provide a dial tone;

c. if an Internet address corresponding to the telephone number is in said telephone number table;

causing said handshaker to handshake with said fax machine;

causing said fax converter to convert the fax being sent by said local fax machine into a computer file;

directing said fax sender to send the computer file to the Internet address corresponding to the telephone number in the table; and

d. if an Internet address corresponding to the telephone number is not in said telephone number table, for;

causing said telephone number dialer to dial the telephone number; and

connecting said local fax machine to the telephone line; and

(d) a fax sender connectable to the Internet and to either said fax director or said computer for sending the computer file containing the fax over the Internet to the Internet address if the telephone number is in said table.

2. The fax routing system of claim 1 wherein said Internet address includes an e-mail address, wherein said local computer includes an e-mail software package, and wherein said e-mail software package sends the computer file to be sent over the Internet by said fax sender as an attachment to e-mail addressed to the e-mail address.

3. The fax routing system of claim 1 wherein said Internet address includes an IP address, wherein said local computer includes an FTP software package, and wherein said FTP software package sends the computer file to be sent over the Internet by said fax sender using FTP to said IP address.

4. The fax routing system of claim 1 wherein said Internet address includes an e-mail or an IP address, wherein said local computer includes an e-mail and an FTP software package, wherein said e-mail software package sends the computer file to be sent over the Internet by said fax sender as an attachment to an e-mail addressed to the e-mail address if an e-mail address exists, and wherein said FTP software package sends the computer file to be sent over the Internet by said fax sender using FTP to the IP address if an IP address exists.

5. The fax routing system of claim 1 wherein said dial tone provider generates the dial tone by ceasing the telephone line and transferring the dial tone generated by the telephone line to said fax machine.

6. The fax routing system of claim 1 wherein said telephone number dialer dials the number before said fax machine times out.

7. The fax routing system of claim 1 wherein said computer includes a fax storage area and wherein the computer file is stored in said fax storage area prior to delivery to said fax sender.

8. A method for routing a fax over the most economical route using a local fax machine, a local computer containing a table of telephone numbers and corresponding Internet addresses, a fax director and a fax sender, comprising the steps of:

(a) the local fax machine receiving a document to be faxed over a telephone line;

(b) the local fax machine receiving a telephones number to which the document should be faxed over the telephone line;

(c) the local fax modem going off hook;

(d) the fax director sensing when the local fax machine goes off hook;

(e) the fax director delivering a dial tone to the local fax machine after sensing the local fax machine going off hook;

(f) the local fax machine dialing the telephone number;

(g) the fax director decoding the telephone number;

(h) the fax director delivering the decoded telephone number to the computer;

(i) the computer looking the telephone number up in a table;

(k) if the telephone number is in the table;

(1) the fax director handshaking with the local fax machine;

(2) the local fax machine sending the fax to the fax director;

(3) the fax director converting the fax being sent by the local fax machine into a computer file;

(4) the local computer delivering the Internet address corresponding to the telephone number in the table to the sender;

(5) the fax sender sending the computer file containing the fax over the Internet to the Internet address; and

(1) if the telephone number is in not the table;

(1) the fax director dials the telephone number;

(2) the fax director connects the local fax machine to the telephone line; and

(3) the local fax machine transmitting the document over the telephone line as a fax.

9. A fax director for routing a fax over the most economical route to a desired telephone number received from a local fax machine, for interfacing with a local computer containing a table of telephone numbers and corresponding Internet addresses, and for connecting to a telephone line, said fax director comprising:

(a) an off-hook sensor for sensing when the local fax machine goes off hook;

(b) a dial tone provider for delivering a dial tone to the local fax machine;

(c) a telephone number decoder for decoding the telephone number dialed by the local fax machine;

(d) a telephone number dialer connectable to the telephone line for dialing the telephone number;

(e) a handshaker for handshaking with the fax machine;

(f) a fax converter for converting the fax to be sent by the local fax machine into a computer file;

(g) a processor connected Lo said off-hook sensor, dial tone provider, telephone number decoder, telephone number dialer, handshaker and fax converter for;

(1) causing said dial tone provider to provide a dial tone after said off-hook sensor senses the fax machine going off hook;

(2) causing said telephone number decoder to decode the telephone number dialed by the local fax machine after causing said dial tone provider to provide a dial tone;

(3) if an Internet address corresponding to the telephone number is in the telephone number table;

a. causing said handshaker to handshake with the fax machine;

b. causing said fax converter to convert the fax being sent by the local fax machine into a computer file;

c. causing the computer file be delivered to the Internet to the corresponding address contained within the table; and

(4) if an Internet address corresponding to the telephone number is not in the telephone number table, for;

a. causing said telephone number dialer to dial the telephone number; and

b. connecting the local fax machine to the telephone line.

10. A fax director for routing a fax over the most economical route to a desired telephone number received from a local fax machine and for connecting to a telephone line, said fax director comprising:

(a) an off-hook sensor for sensing when the local fax machine goes off hook;

(b) a dial tone provider for delivering a dial tone to the local fax machine;

(c) a telephone number decoder for decoding the telephone number dialed by the local fax machine;

(d) a telephone number dialer connectable to the telephone line for dialing the telephone number;

(e) a handshaker for handshaking with the fax machine;

(f) a fax converter for converting the fax to be sent by the local fax machine into a computer file;

(g) a table of telephone numbers and corresponding Internet addresses;

(h) a fax sender connectable to the Internet for sending the computer file containing the fax over the Internet to the Internet address if the telephone number is in said table;

(i) a processor connected to said table, fax sender, off-hook sensor, dial tone provider, telephone number decoder, telephone number dialer, handshaker and fax converter for;

(1) causing said dial tone provider to provide a dial tone after said off-hook sensor senses the fax machine going off hook;

(2) causing said telephone number decoder to decode the telephone number dialed by the local fax machine after causing said dial tone provider to provide a dial tone;

(3) looking up the decoded telephone number in said table;

(4) if an Internet address corresponding to the telephone number is in thee telephone number table;

a. causing said handshaker to handshake with the fax machine;

b. causing said fax converter to convert the fax being sent by the local fax machine into a computer file;

c. causing said fax sender to send the computer file to the Internet address; and

(4) if an Internet address corresponding to the telephone number is not in the telephone number table, for;

a. causing said telephone number dialer to dial the telephone number; and

b. connecting the local fax machine to the telephone line.