Multipurpose computer accessory for facilitating facsimile communication
DCFirst Claim
1. A computer accessory comprising a fax port for receiving fax messages, a second port adapted to be connected to at least one microcomputer for communication of messages to and from said microcomputer, controlling means for receiving fax messages from said fax port and applying corresponding messages to said second port and for receiving fax messages from said second port and applying corresponding messages to said fax port, means responsive to the receipt of a fax message at said fax port for identifying an intended recipient of said fax message, and means for providing a notification signal indicating the receipt of said fax message.
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Abstract
A computer accessory for interfacing a microcomputer with a fax line includes facility for converting fax signals to Ascii form for application to a PC port, and for converting signals of Ascii form received at the PC port to image for conversion to fax signals. The accessory, which preferably is incorporated in a laser printer or copier scanner, also includes a facility for notifying an intended recipient of the reception of a fax message.
259 Citations
21 Claims
- 1. A computer accessory comprising a fax port for receiving fax messages, a second port adapted to be connected to at least one microcomputer for communication of messages to and from said microcomputer, controlling means for receiving fax messages from said fax port and applying corresponding messages to said second port and for receiving fax messages from said second port and applying corresponding messages to said fax port, means responsive to the receipt of a fax message at said fax port for identifying an intended recipient of said fax message, and means for providing a notification signal indicating the receipt of said fax message.
- 9. A computer accessory comprising a fax port for receiving fax messages, a second port adapted to be connected to at least one microcomputer for communication of messages to and from said microcomputer, and controlling means for receiving fax messages from said fax port and applying corresponding messages to said second port and for receiving fax messages from said second port and applying corresponding messages to said fax port, said controlling means comprising character recognition means for converting images of characters corresponding to received fax signals to coded form, and means applying said signals of coded form to said second port.
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11. A computer accessory comprising a fax port for receiving and transmitting fax messages, a second port adapted to be connected to at least one microcomputer for communication of messages to and from said microprocessor, and controlling means for receiving fax messages from said fax port and applying corresponding messages to said second port and for receiving fax messages from said second port and applying corresponding messages to said fax port, said controlling means comprising font memory means responsive to the receipt of Ascii coded signals at said second port for converting said Ascii coded signals to image signals for fax transmission.
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12. A computer accessory comprising a fax port for receiving and transmitting fax messages, a second port adapted to be connected to at least one microcomputer, or communication of messages to and from said microcomputer, and controlling means for receiving fax messages from said fax port and applying corresponding messages to said second port and for receiving fax messages from said second port and applying corresponding messages to said fax port, said controlling means comprising means for decrypting received fax signals for application to said second port, and means for encrypting signals at said second port for application to said fax port.
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13. A computer accessory comprising a fax port for receiving and transmitting fax messages, wherein said fax messages correspond in part to text and in part to graphic images, a second port adapted to be connected to at least one microcomputer for communication of messages to and from said microcomputer, and controlling means for receiving fax messages from said fax port and applying corresponding corresponding messages to said second port and for receiving fax messages from said second port and applying corresponding messages to said fax port, said controlling means comprising means for converting signals corresponding to text to Ascii form for application to said second port and for converting signals corresponding to graphics to graphic form for application to said second port adapted to be connected to at least one microcomputer, for communication of messages to and from said microcomputer, controlling means for receiving fax messages from said fax port and applying corresponding messages to said fax port and applying corresponding messages to said second port and for receiving fax messages from said second port and applying corresponding messages to said fax port, said ontrolling means further comprising a printer output, a memory, means for storing data from said second port for application to said printer output, and means for storing fax messages from said fax port in said memory.
- 14. A computer accessory comprising a fax port for receiving fax messages, a second port adapted to be connected to at least one microcomputer, controlling means for receiving fax messages from said fax port and applying corresponding messages to said second port and for receiving fax messages from said second port and applying corresponding messages to said fax port, said controlling means further comprising a printer output, a memory, means for storing data from said second port for application to said printer output, and means for storing fax messages from said fax port in said memory.
- 17. A computer accessory comprising a fax port for receiving fax messages, a second port adapted to be connected to at least one microcomputer for communication of messages to and from said microcomputer, controlling means for receiving fax messages from said fax port and applying corresponding messages to said second port and for receiving fax messages from said second port and applying corresponding messages to said fax port, said controller means comprising memory means for storing a fax message received at said fax port, means converting a fax message stored in said memory means to signals for application to said second port whereby the display of a microcomputer connected to said second port may display said fax message, means for receiving a modified signal from said second port, and means for converting said modified signal to a fax signal for application to said fax port.
Specification