SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR AN INTERACTIVE VIRTUAL FAX MACHINE

• US 20190058800A1
• Filed: 10/23/2018
• Published: 02/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Open Text Holdings, Inc. (Open Text Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Open Text Holdings, Inc. (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Toscano, Francis
• Granted Patent: US 10,277,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1296 Printer job scheduling or printer resource handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00206 Transmitting or receiving computer data via an image communication device, e.g. a facsimile transceiver H04N1/00236 takes precedence
• 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 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00392 Other manual input means, e.g. digitisers or writing tablets
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00464 using browsers, i.e. interfaces based on mark-up languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0067 Converting to still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus for a virtual fax machine are provided. In one embodiment, a system for a virtual fax machine is provided including a computer configured to display a virtual fax machine based on a script, a server configured to receive at least one electronic document associated with a fax to be sent using the virtual fax machine, and a traditional facsimile machine configured to receive the fax to be sent. In another embodiment, an apparatus for a virtual fax machine is provided including a computer configured to locate and execute a script associated with a virtual fax machine, display the virtual fax machine, associate at least one electronic document with a fax to be sent, encode the at least one electronic document to a form suitable for communication over a network, and transmit the encoded electronic document over the network as the fax to be sent.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

displaying, by a computer to a user, an interactive virtual fax machine that resembles a physical fax machine, the interactive virtual fax machine having a send paper tray, a numeric keypad, a document attachment button, and a send button, the interactive virtual fax machine embodied at least as web pages and scripts stored at a server communicatively connected to the computer, as web pages and scripts stored at the computer, or as a program stored at the computer;

receiving, by the computer from the user, a fax number for sending a fax to a recipient, the fax number received through the numeric keypad of the interactive virtual fax machine or an input device of the computer;

attaching, by the computer responsive to an instruction from the user, an electronic document to the fax, the instruction received through the send paper tray or the document attachment button;

responsive to the user selecting the send button, transmitting, by the computer, the fax to the recipient using the fax number; and

responsive to completion of the fax, flashing a message displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine by the computer or generating a sound through a speaker connected to the computer.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the user selecting an address or contact button displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine, displaying a dialog box on the computer, the dialog box having an import button for importing contacts from a file or an address book.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the user selecting a cover page button displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine, displaying a dialog box on the computer for adding a cover page to the fax.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the user selecting a log button displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine, displaying a dialog box on the computer for searching a log of faxes sent using the interactive virtual fax machine over a period of time.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the user selecting an entry in the log for a previously sent fax, resending the previously sent fax or displaying the previously sent fax on the computer.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the user selecting a received fax button displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine, displaying a dialog box on the computer for searching a log of faxes received by the interactive virtual fax machine over a period of time.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the user selecting a settings button displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine, displaying a dialog box on the computer for prompting the user to enter a login and a password; and

storing the login and the password at the computer, the server, or both the computer and the server.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and

stored instructions translatable by the processor for performing;

displaying, to a user, an interactive virtual fax machine that resembles a physical fax machine, the interactive virtual fax machine having a send paper tray, a numeric keypad, a document attachment button, and a send button, the interactive virtual fax machine embodied at least as web pages and scripts stored at a server communicatively connected to the apparatus, as web pages and scripts stored at the apparatus, or as a program stored at the apparatus;

receiving, from the user, a fax number for sending a fax to a recipient, the fax number received through the numeric keypad of the interactive virtual fax machine or an input device of the apparatus;

attaching, responsive to an instruction from the user, an electronic document to the fax, the instruction received through the send paper tray or the document attachment button;

responsive to the user selecting the send button, transmitting the fax to the recipient using the fax number; and

responsive to completion of the fax, flashing a message displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine or generating a sound through a speaker connected to the apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the stored instructions are further translatable by the processor for performing:

responsive to the user selecting an address or contact button displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine, displaying a dialog box on the apparatus, the dialog box having an import button for importing contacts from a file or an address book.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the stored instructions are further translatable by the processor for performing:

responsive to the user selecting a cover page button displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine, displaying a dialog box on the apparatus for adding a cover page to the fax.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the stored instructions are further translatable by the processor for performing:

responsive to the user selecting a log button displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine, displaying a dialog box on the apparatus for searching a log of faxes sent using the interactive virtual fax machine over a period of time.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the stored instructions are further translatable by the processor for performing:

responsive to the user selecting an entry in the log for a previously sent fax, resending the previously sent fax or displaying the previously sent fax on the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the stored instructions are further translatable by the processor for performing:

responsive to the user selecting a received fax button displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine, displaying a dialog box on the apparatus for searching a log of faxes received by the interactive virtual fax machine over a period of time.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the stored instructions are further translatable by the processor for performing:

responsive to the user selecting a settings button displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine, displaying a dialog box on the apparatus for prompting the user to enter a login and a password; and

storing the login and the password at the apparatus, the server, or both the apparatus and the server.

15. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions translatable by a computer for performing:

displaying, to a user, an interactive virtual fax machine that resembles a physical fax machine, the virtual fax machine having a send paper tray, a numeric keypad, a document attachment button, and a send button, the interactive virtual fax machine embodied at least as web pages and scripts stored at a server communicatively connected to the computer, as web pages and scripts stored at the computer, or as a program stored at the computer;

receiving, from the user, a fax number for sending a fax to a recipient, the fax number received through the numeric keypad of the interactive virtual fax machine or an input device of the computer;

attaching, responsive to an instruction from the user, an electronic document to the fax, the instruction received through the send paper tray or the document attachment button;

responsive to the user selecting the send button, transmitting the fax to the recipient using the fax number; and

responsive to completion of the fax, flashing a message displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine or generating a sound through a speaker connected to the computer.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions are further translatable by the computer for performing:

responsive to the user selecting an address or contact button displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine, displaying a dialog box on the computer, the dialog box having an import button for importing contacts from a file or an address book.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions are further translatable by the computer for performing:

responsive to the user selecting a cover page button displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine, displaying a dialog box on the computer for adding a cover page to the fax.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions are further translatable by the computer for performing:

responsive to the user selecting a log button displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine, displaying a dialog box on the computer for searching a log of faxes sent using the interactive virtual fax machine over a period of time; and

responsive to the user selecting an entry in the log for a previously sent fax, resending the previously sent fax or displaying the previously sent fax on the computer.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions are further translatable by the computer for performing:

responsive to the user selecting a received fax button displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine, displaying a dialog box on the computer for searching a log of faxes received by the interactive virtual fax machine over a period of time.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions are further translatable by the computer for performing:

responsive to the user selecting a settings button displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine, displaying a dialog box on the computer for prompting the user to enter a login and a password; and

storing the login and the password at the computer, the server, or both the computer and the server.