Facsimile to E-mail communication system with local interface

• US 7,446,906 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2004
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OpenPrint LLC (IPValuation Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Catch Curve, Inc.
• Inventors: Bloomfield, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Safaipour, Houshang
• Application Number:
  US10/795,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20050012965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,702 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/402, 358/403, 358/407, 358/434, 358/442, 358/468, 358/440, 358/100.02, 709/206, 709/238, 379/100.02
• US Class Current: 358/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• 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 1/00312 with a digital transmission apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, SMS or ISDN device transmitting or receiving via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network or the internet H04N1/00214; transmission of digital information H04L
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32406 in connection with routing or relaying, e.g. using a fax-server or a store-and-forward facility stored and forward data switching systems H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33392 Details of handshaking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 Converting from still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence

Abstract

A fax to E-mail system and related method are shown, whereby a hardcopy document is sent via a fax device to its recipient via electronic mail through a data network (such as the Internet), and is delivered in such a manner that it can be retrieved by the recipient at an E-mail device, in the ordinary course of retrieving the E-mail, and displayed on the screen of the E-mail device. The invention provides for and accomplishes the delivery of a document, which begins as a hardcopy, as an electronic file retrieved through E-mail recipient'"'"'s terminal and displayed on the computer screen of the E-mail recipient'"'"'s terminal. The system and method also provides for an interface device which connects to a conventional fax device for communicating E-mail addresses and routing hardcopy documents to the E-mail network. The invention provides a means for embedding the functions of the interface device into conventional fax devices. The system can also be used in cooperation with Internet Web service for reporting, accounting, information services, and user interaction.

Claims

1. A method of communicating information by a facsimile/e-mail server system, the method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving an electronic mail address from an interface device;

b) receiving facsimile information from a scanning portion of a facsimile machine;

c) converting the received facsimile information into a computer readable image file;

d) composing an e-mail message with the computer readable image file as an attachment;

e) transmitting the composed e-mail message to an electronic mail server associated with the received electronic mail address;

f) receiving a report request from a user;

g) generating a report based upon the received report request; and

h) outputting the generated report.

2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising the step of introducing a hardcopy document into the scanning portion of the facsimile machine.

3. The method of claim 1, and further comprising the step of entering the e-mail address using the interface device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the composing step comprises selecting text for inclusion in the composed e-mail message and including the selected text in the composed e-mail message.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the selecting text step comprises selecting an advertisement for inclusion in the composed e-mail message.

6. One or more computer readable media storing instructions that upon execution cause one or more computing platforms to perform the method of claim 4.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the composing step comprises adding advertisement text in the composed e-mail message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the composing step comprises adding a set of attachment viewing instructions in the composed e-mail message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated report contains information selected from the group consisting of accounting information, billing information, service information, current usage information, and historical usage information.

10. The method of claim 1, and further comprising the step of providing a confirmation to a user of receipt of the e-mail address and receipt of the facsimile information.

11. One or more computer readable media storing instructions that upon execution cause one or more computing platforms to perform the method of claim 1.

12. A facsimile/e-mail server system, the system comprising:

a) a communication interface capable of receiving an electronic mail address from a facsimile interface device and of receiving facsimile information from a scanning portion of a facsimile machine;

b) a system processor comprising one or more processing elements, wherein the system processor is in communication with the communication interface and is programmed or adapted to;

i) receive an electronic mail address via the communication interface;

ii) receiving facsimile information via the communication interface;

iii) converting the received facsimile information into a computer readable image file;

iv) composing an e-mail message with the computer readable image file as an attachment;

v) transmitting the composed e-mail message to an electronic mail server associated with the received electronic mail address;

vi) receiving a report request from a user;

vii) generating a report based upon the received report request; and

viii) outputting the generated report.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the communication interface comprises connections to one or more communication networks.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more communication networks comprise a switched telephone network, a bus network, or a packet switched network.

15. The system of claim 12, and further comprising the interface device, wherein the interface device communicates with the system processor via the communication interface.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the interface device comprises an alpha-numeric keypad.

17. A method of communicating information by a facsimile/e-mail server system, the method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving an electronic mail address from an interface device;

b) receiving facsimile information from a scanning portion of a facsimile machine;

c) converting the received facsimile information into a computer readable image file;

d) composing an e-mail message with the computer readable image file as an attachment, wherein composing the e-mail message comprises adding a set of attachment viewing instructions in the composed e-mail message; and

e) transmitting the composed e-mail message to an electronic mail server associated with the received electronic mail address.

18. One or more computer readable media storing instructions that upon execution cause one or more computing platforms to perform the method of claim 17.

19. The method of claim 17, and further comprising the step of entering the e-mail address using the interface device.

20. The method of claim 17, and further comprising the step of providing a confirmation to a user of receipt of the e-mail address and receipt of the facsimile information.