Computer implemented method and apparatus for receiving facsimile messages using an indentifier appended to a shared telephone number

• US 6,240,445 B1
• Filed: 04/24/1998
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unwired Planet LLC (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Openwave Systems Incorporated (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Kumar, Siva V., Choksi, Himanshu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Krisna
• Application Number:
  US09/066,268
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 370/389, 370/390, 370/432, 379/90.01
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• 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 1/00302 with a telephonic apparatus, e.g. telephone answering machine or videotex terminal H04N1/00307 takes precedence; telephonic communication H04M
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/324 intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32438 Informing the addressee of reception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0018 via a non-image communication channel, e.g. via a computer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 Image display device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence

Abstract

Integration of telecommunication message services and other communication services is achieved by notifying a first user of a shared telephone number of a received message (e.g., a facsimile message) by sending a notification message to the first user, e.g., using e-mail, voice and/or data communications. The user may be identified by a unique identifier appended to the shared telephone number. The notification message may comprise an attachment which includes the received message, or the notification message may comprise a computer network address of a location where the received message may be accessed. For the latter case, the computer network address is preferably a universal resource locator (URL) associated with a web page at which the received message may be accessed. The received message may be accessed by allowing the user to view the message, or it may be accessed by allowing an user to down-load the message in any of a number of forms. For example, the message may be down-loaded to hard copy output device, e.g., a receiving facsimile machine or printer, or it may be down-loaded to a storage medium for later retrieval by the user. In still further embodiments, the notification message may comprise the received message itself, e.g., where the received message is relatively small.

Claims

1. A method of providing notification to an intended recipient of a message, the method comprising:

determining that a first message has been transmitted for delivery to a first user of a plurality of users of a shared telephone number, the first user being identified by a unique identifier appended to the shared telephone number; and

sending a second message to the first user to notify the first user of the first message.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second message is sent to the first user via e-mail.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second message is sent to the first user as a voice message.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second message is sent to the first user as an alpha-numeric message.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second message is sent to the first user via telephone.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second message is sent to the first user via cellular telephone.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second message is sent to the first user via pager.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second message comprises an attachment which includes the first message.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second message comprises a computer network address of a location where the first message may be accessed.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the computer network address comprises a universal resource locator (URL).

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the first message may be accessed by viewing the first message only.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second message comprises the first message.

13. A method of providing notification to an intended recipient of a facsimile message, the method implemented in a shared computer-based facsimile system, wherein a common connection is used to couple the system to a network, the method comprising:

receiving the facsimile message at a computer, the facsimile message having been transmitted to a telephone number of the facsimile system, wherein the telephone number is shared by a plurality of users of the facsimile system;

in response to receiving the facsimile message, recognizing at the computer a unique identifier appended to the telephone number;

identifying a communication address of the intended recipient of the facsimile message using the unique identifier; and

transmitting a notification message to the intended recipient of the facsimile message at the communication address.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the notification message is sent to the intended recipient via e-mail.

15. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the notification message is sent to the intended recipient as a voice message.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the notification message is sent to the intended recipient as an alpha-numeric message.

17. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the notification message is sent to the intended recipient via telephone.

18. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the notification message is sent to the intended recipient via cellular telephone.

19. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the notification message is sent to the intended recipient via pager.

20. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the notification message comprises an attachment which includes the facsimile message.

21. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the notification message comprises a computer network address of a location where the received facsimile message may be accessed.

22. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the computer network address comprises a universal resource locator (URL).

23. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the received facsimile message may be accessed by viewing the facsimile message only.

24. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the notification message comprises the facsimile message.

25. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said identifying is accomplished using a lookup table which associates each unique identifier of each user of the facsimile system with that user'"'"'s corresponding communication address.

26. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein the communication address comprises an e-mail address.

27. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein the communication address comprises a telephone number.

28. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein the communication address comprises a cellular telephone number.

29. A method as recited in claim 25, wherein the communication address comprises a pager account number.

30. An apparatus for providing notification to an intended recipient of a message, the apparatus comprising:

means for determining that a first message has been transmitted for delivery to a first user of a plurality of users of a shared telephone number, the first user being identified by a unique identifier appended to the shared telephone number; and

means for sending a second message to the first user to notify the first user of the first message.

31. A computer in a facsimile system shared by a plurality of users, the computer comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device including instructions which configure the computer to provide notification to an intended recipient of a facsimile message, the instructions including instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the computer to;

recognize, in response to receiving the facsimile message, a unique identifier appended to a telephone number shared by a plurality of users of the facsimile system;

identify a communication address of the intended recipient using the unique identifier; and

transmit a notification message to the intended recipient at the communication address.