Method and system for entry of electronic data via fax-to-email communication

• US 7,940,411 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Messaging Technologies, Inc. (J2 Global, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mongonet
• Inventors: Henry, Matthew K., Fortescue, Christopher L., Warnock, John E., Crovo, Derek
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Kimberly A
• Application Number:
  US11/694,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20070237314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 358/402, 358/407, 358/440, 358/448, 358/1.15, 358/468, 382/317, 379/100.01, 379/100.06, 379/100.07, 379/100.08, 379/100.15, 379/100.17, 709/204, 709/224, 709/225, 709/206, 709/217, 709/227
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/16 Payments settled via telecommunication systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• 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 1/00214 details of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0022 involving facsimile protocols or a combination of facsimile protocols and computer data transmission protocols
• 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 1/0036 Alphanumeric symbols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00363 Bar codes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00366 Marks in boxes or the like, e.g. crosses or blacking out H04N1/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00371 : on a separate sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00374 : on the same page as at least a part of the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00376 : Means for identifying a mark sheet or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00968 : by scanning marks on a sheet mark-sheet input means H04N1/00355; sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32026 : Changing the receiver mode of operation, e.g. paper reception to memory reception or vice versa H04N1/32673 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32032 : Polling of transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32042 : with reading of job-marks on a page
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32048 : Auto-dialling or Auto-calling H04N1/32053 - H04N1/32074 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32064 : Multi-address calling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32069 : simultaneously to a plurality of destinations, e.g. multi-casting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32112 : in a separate computer file, document page or paper sheet, e.g. a fax cover sheet H04N1/32122 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 : attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32422 : Reprocessing messages, e.g. in case the intended destination is busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32496 : Changing the task performed, e.g. reading and transmitting, receiving and reproducing, copying facsimile mode changing H04N1/333
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 : in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32776 : using an interactive, user-operated device, e.g. a computer terminal, mobile telephone H04N1/32782, H04N1/32784 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0017 : Notifying a communication result
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 : Converting from still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 : Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3208 : of an e-mail or network address
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3218 : of a confirmation, acknowledgement or receipt
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3222 : of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3261 : of multimedia information, e.g. a sound signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 : of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 : Printing or stamping
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 : Transmission

Abstract

A method for a computer system for transmitting a facsimile to an e-mail destination, comprises receiving a facsimile transmission comprising an instruction page and a document page, wherein the instruction page includes an optical representation of an e-mail address, using an optical character recognition process to determine the e-mail address from the optical representation of the e-mail address, wherein the e-mail address need not be known to the computer system before receiving the facsimile transmission, converting the facsimile transmission into an e-mail attachment, and sending an e-mail message including the additional service provider data and the e-mail attachment to the e-mail address, wherein the additional service provider data is selected from a group consisting of: a service provider identifier, a service sponsor identifier.

Claims

1. A method for a computer system for transmitting a facsimile to an e-mail destination, comprises:

receiving a facsimile transmission comprising an instruction page and a document page, wherein the instruction page includes an optical representation of an e-mail address;

using an optical character recognition process to determine the e-mail address from the optical representation of the e-mail address, wherein the e-mail address need not be known to the computer system before receiving the facsimile transmission;

converting the facsimile transmission into an e-mail attachment; and

sending an e-mail message including service provider data and the e-mail attachment to the e-mail address;

wherein the service provider data is selected from a group consisting of;

a service provider identifier, a service sponsor identifier.

2. The method of claim 1

wherein the document page comprises a business card;

and

wherein the method further comprises;

using an optical character recognition process to determine a plurality of text data from the business card; and

determining another e-mail attachment comprising the plurality of text data formatted in a personal data interchange format; and

wherein the e-mail message also includes the other e-mail attachment.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the personal data interchange format comprises a vCard format.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein determining the other e-mail attachment comprises:

determining text data from the plurality of text data for a plurality of data fields appropriate for the personal data interchange format; and

determining the other e-mail attachment in response to the text data for the plurality of data fields.

5. The method of claim 2

wherein the instruction page includes an optical representation of a user selection of one or more options;

determining the one or more selected options in response to the optical representation of the user selection of one or more options; and

wherein using the optical character recognition process to determine the plurality of text data from the business card is in response to the one or more selected options.

6. The method of claim 1

wherein the document page comprises text data associated with a plurality of fields arranged in a known arrangement;

and

wherein the method further comprises;

using an optical character recognition process to determine text data associated with each of the plurality of fields; and

creating another e-mail attachment comprising the text data associated with each of the plurality of fields;

wherein the e-mail message also includes the other e-mail attachment.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the document page is selected from a group consisting of:

a business card, a form, a receipt.

8. A system for transmitting a facsimile to an e-mail destination, comprises:

a receiving portion configured to receive a facsimile transmission comprising an instruction page and a document page, wherein the instruction page includes an optical representation of an e-mail address;

a recognition portion coupled to the receiving portion, wherein the recognition portion is configured to optically recognize the e-mail address from the optical representation of the e-mail address, wherein the e-mail address need not be known to the system before receiving the facsimile transmission;

a converting portion coupled to the receiving portion, wherein the converting portion is configured to converting the facsimile transmission into an e-mail attachment; and

a transmission portion coupled to the recognition portion and to the converting portion, wherein the transmission portion is configured to send an e-mail message including service provider data and the e-mail attachment to the e-mail address;

wherein the service provider data is selected from a group consisting of;

a service provider identifier, a service sponsor identifier.

9. The system of claim 8

wherein the document page comprises a business card;

and

wherein the recognition portion is also configured to optically recognize a plurality of text data from the business card; and

wherein the converting portion is also configured to determine another e-mail attachment comprising the plurality of text data formatted in a personal data interchange format; and

wherein the e-mail message also includes the other e-mail attachment.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the personal data interchange format comprises a vCard format.

11. The system of claim 9

wherein the converting portion is also configured to determine text data from the plurality of text data for a plurality of data fields appropriate for the personal data interchange format.

12. The system of claim 9

wherein the instruction page includes an optical representation of a user selection of one or more options;

wherein the recognition portion is also configured to determining the one or more selected options in response to the optical representation of the user selection of one or more options; and

wherein the converting portion is also configured to determine the other e-mail attachment in response to the one or more selected options.

13. The system of claim 8

wherein the document page comprises text data associated with a plurality of fields arranged in a pre-determined arrangement;

wherein the recognition portion is also configured to optically recognize text data associated with each of the plurality of fields; and

wherein the converting portion is also configured to determine another e-mail attachment comprising the text data associated with each of the plurality of fields; and

wherein the e-mail message also includes the other e-mail attachment.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the document page is selected from a group consisting of:

a business card, a form, a receipt.

15. A method for sending a facsimile to an e-mail destination, comprises:

receiving a transmission cover page;

entering a plurality of text entries on the transmission cover page to form a filled- in transmission cover page, wherein the plurality of text entries includes a representation of the e-mail destination;

sending a facsimile to a transmission server comprising the transmission cover page and a document;

wherein the document includes a plurality of text data;

wherein an e-mail message is sent by the transmission server to the e-mail destination;

wherein the e-mail destination is optically determined from the plurality of text entries on the filled-in transmission cover page of the facsimile;

wherein the e-mail message includes server-provided data, and e-mail attachments;

wherein the e-mail attachments include the document stored in a storage format, and the plurality of text data included on the document;

wherein the plurality of text data are optically determined from the document; and

wherein the transmission server need not know the e-mail destination address prior to receiving the facsimile.

16. The method of claim 15

wherein the document comprises a business card;

and

wherein the plurality of text data are organized by fields in a personal data interchange format.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the personal data interchange format comprises a vCard format.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein entering the plurality of text entries comprises entering the plurality of text entries on the transmission cover page in a manner selected from the group consisting of:

hand-printing, computer-printing.

19. The method of claim 15

wherein the document comprises a form;

and

wherein the plurality of text data are organized by form entries.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the storage format is selected from a group consisting of:

.pdf, .jpg, .tiff, .bmp, X-Docs, XML.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein the document is selected from a group consisting of:

a business card, a form, a receipt.