WO1991001606A1

WO1991001606A1 - A method for routing fax transmissions

Info

Publication number: WO1991001606A1
Application number: PCT/US1990/003988
Authority: WO
Inventors: David M. Geshwind
Original assignee: Geshwind David M
Priority date: 1989-07-14
Filing date: 1990-07-16
Publication date: 1991-02-07
Also published as: AU6069590A

Abstract

A method is described whereby a machine-readable graphic is incorporated into the cover sheet of a scanned FAX transmission, which grapic permits the automated routing of the transmission. Further, a network of Public FAX stations is described which employ such an automated routing technique, in particular for return FAXs.

Description

A METHOD FOR ROUTING FAX TRANSMISSIONS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The instant invent ion relates to a method for rout ing photo-facs imi le (FAX! transmissions over a computerized communications network.

BACKGROUND

FΔXing (from photo-facsimi le transmission, also cal led tele-copying) is becoming almost as ubiquitous as telephoning; an essential part of doing business. Companies provide their departments with "industrial strength" fuI I-featured FAXs; individuals and smal l businesses use lower cost "personal" FAXs; computers are being outf i tted wi th PC-FAX boards; FAX services are spr inging up to provide automated and broadcast FAXing; almost every copy shop [and many hotel desks] has a FAX where one may send or rece i ve FAXs at exorb i tant rates and at the copy shop's convenience; and there are even portable FAXs that may be moved f rom location to location For use wi th any avai lable phone.

What does not ex i st i s a Publ ic FAX^tm - the equ iva lent of the pay telephone - a convenient. 2-4-hour. aFFordable way to send or receive FAXs when out of the of f ice or on the road, or For use by non- FΔX-equ ipped parties.

A major problem that prevents the implementat ion of such a network i s that, whi l e standard scanning-FAX transmiss ions may be sent to a particular phone number/ I ocat ion. they cannot be tagged For a part icular individua l at that locat ion, or For a part icular ind iv idua l at an unspeci f ied l ocat ion on a network. The present invent ion re lates to a method For automated routing of FAX transmissions.

The present invention also relates to a networked system of automated FAX stations, suitable for unattended operation in publ ic spaces, which may be conveniently used by the general publ ic for sending and receiving FAX documents.

Each Pub l i c FAX Stat i on i s more than a s imp l e FAX mach i ne. I t incorporates a microcomputer and is a gateway to a communications network that can store and forward FAX or electronic mai l messages from/to Publ ic FAXs. standard FAXs. PCs and PC-FAXs, and wi l l interface wi th other communicat ions networks. The same network wi l l be access ibl e to subscr ibers wi th FAXs. PCs. P.C-FAXs. Telex, etc. and the Publ ic FAX Stations would be accessible to those subscribers, when out of the off ice [much as pay phones are used by business people on the road], as we I I as to the general publ ic.

Using such a system for business wi l l al low, for exapmle:

Salesmen to immediately send complex order forms back to the off ice, af ter each sa l es ca l l , w i thout the t ime, i nconven i ence or inaccuracies of finding the right person and reading the order over the phone;

Maintenance or inspecting engineers to receive complex itinerary and technical information without returning to the off ice; and

Travel ing executives to receive and return voluminous wr i tten informat ion from/to the off ice. even after closing t ime, at the airport or hotel.

And. the general publ ic wi l l , no doubt. f ind many ways to make such a system an indispensable part of every day l ife, just as the publ ic phone has become.

PRIOR ART

Very recent advances in computer technology, and in desk-top personal computer technology in particular, are changing the way FAX is used.

FAX is i tsel f a technology that has only recently become common and widespread, due to signif icantly lower cost equipment. I t al lows for the scanning and transmission, over a voice-grade telephone l ine, of documents which are then decoded and printed by the receiving section of a simi lar dev i ce.

Many individuals and businesses of al l sizes now possess FAX machines, and many photocopying shops now provide both sending and receiving services to the non-equipped user. Having reached an instal led "critical mass", the FAXing of letters, contracts, advertising f lyers, orders and legal documents, etc. is now de rigueur (if not necessari ly welcome] as a business accessory. Original ly. the advantage of FAX was that i t could send graphic information (e.g.. drawings, handwriting and signatures] as there were already technologies, l ike TELEX and other electronic mai l services, which could send text "instantly". Even when (as wi th most business documents these days) the document has been created using a computer wordprocessor. images of the printed documents are sent by FAX instead of sending the typewri tten data Fi le, which would be quicker and less expensive. This is because, as FAX has become very widespread and accessible, these other technologies do not now offer a comparable user base and, therefore. FAX has become the common way to send typewritten matter. Further, the B.5" × 11" printed page is a "data standard" that is easy to conform to. whi le communicating between different computers and wordprocessor s can be problematic.

The "paper document transmission advantage" of FAX is now a problem. FAXing requires that a paper copy of every page of every document be produced and. Further, that each page be Fed into the FAX machine, mul t ipl e t imes For mu l t ip le transmi ss ions. Whi le computers, word processors and the l i ke are moving businesses toward of f ice automation and the "paperless society", FAXing requires paper and mechanical work. A Further problem is that, whi le businesses move toward more sophisticated looking documents [by using laser printing, desk-top publ ishing and the l ike], the del ivered qual i ty of documents that have been scanned, transmi tted and printed at the local FAX is of ten qui te poor .

A new technology, al luded to at the start of this document, has been developed to address these problems. PC-FAX cards are now avai lable which can be instal led in standard desk-top personal computers to provide the electronics for FAX transmission and reception, but not scanning and printing. When integrated with a document scanner and suitable printer, the entire system can emulate a standard FAX machine.

However, the more interesting use of these devices is for the automated and paperless FAX transmission of computer ized or wordprocessed documents. These PC-FAX cards (with appropriate software] have the capabi l ity o f taking a document fi le, where letters are represented by digital codes, and constructing a FAX compatible image o f the document. by drawing individual letters as patterns o f pixels [picture elements] in computer memory. This image of the document may then be transmitted, just as if it had been created by scanning a printed paper version of the document. Incoming FAX images are captured by the PC-FAX board and stored in the computer for viewing on the video screen or printing on a graphiccapab l e printer.

The great advantage is that, this allows for the automatic and unattended FAXing o f wordprocessed documents. Because o f the programabiI ity inherent in PCs. FAX transmissions may be queued and scheduled for reasons of convenience or to take advantage of discount phone rates, and busy numbers may be automatical ly re-tried. Also, the same document may be automatical ly transmitted to a number of FAXs (in a procedure known as broadcast FAX] saving tremendous time and effort when compared to broadcast FAXing by conventional means.

In addition, FAXs provide a tremendous customer base to which high qual ity printed material may be del ivered. However, in the scanning of original documents, the qual ity may suffer substantial ly. for computer generated material, the qual ity o f such documents as received [if produced by the proper PC-FAX software] is superior to the qual ity of the same document if it were First printed and scanned/ transmitted/re-printed by conventional FAX means.

Services are now being establ ished to provide automated del ivery o f computerized messages and documents (first sent to the service from the customer by modem) to any FAX machine or many FAX machines in broadcast mode. Such services prove advantageous in that they: provide FAX capabil ity to those who do not have FAX machines or PC- FAX equipment; permit automated and programmable transmissions from PCs; provide better delivered document quality than if the same documents were printed and FAXed conventionally; and provide easy broadcast FAX. and quick broadcast FAX due to the fact that many PC-FAX boards and phone lines are used simultaneously by such service bureaus.

PC-FAX boards, and the services employing fleets of such boards, may also receive FAX transmissions. This creates a new problem which is the substance of the present disclosure.

SCOPE OF INVENTION

The instant invention relates to:

1. The construction of automated FAX stations, suitable for unattended operation in public spaces:

2. The integration of these machines into a store and forward communications network that wi ll permit the transmission and reception of FAXs to/from any of a number o f locations and also, in a well defined manner, interface to the large user base of standard FAX machines, PC-FAXs and FAX service bureaus: and

3. The incorporation of routing and identification information into FAX transmissions, which wi l l permit automatic document tracking and routing, flexible delivery, and security and payment schemes, when implementing this, or any other, communications network. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

When FAX machine standards were being developed, machine-readable addressee-identif Ication information was not anticipated. Incoming FAXs to a particular phone number were general ly directed to a single physical machine, to be printed and distributed by human hand.

However. PC-FAX systems and services now accept incoming FAXs on a network, for many individuals. The problem then is that, whi le PC-FAX systems and services provide completely automated transmission of text f i les, incoming FAXs must sti l l be handled manual ly. This is because FAX text is in graphic form, not digital ly coded form, and therefore cannot be di rectly read by computer. Computer software, even wi th art i f icial intel l igence, does not yet exist that can handle genera l text in arbitrary contexts. Therefore, the machine cannot reasonably determine for whom the FAX is intended, by accessing the contents of the FAX image.

Not even human intel l igence can handle the problem easi ly. Particularly for service bureaus or in large companies receiving FAXs for many individuals, it takes some effort to determine to whom the FAX is to be directed. I t is therefore almost universal that FAX transmi ss ions are proceeded by a cover sheet, which clearly spel ls out to whom the FAX is going, from whom i t comes, subject of the document, the return FAX number, etc.

Unfortunately, as described above, the computer cannot reasonably extract such information from a FAX image of the cover sheet. Therefore, at PC-FAX service bureaus, an image of the FAX. or at least the cover sheet, must be brought up on a computer screen, read by an operator, and tagged with a machine readable digital code for computer routing and del ivery.

Because of the economics of human vs. machine labor, incoming FAX is therefore much more expens ive, due to even this smal l amount of human intervent ion. Further, having a person other than for whom the FAX was intended read the incoming FAX, adds a potential security problem for sensitive documents.

The invention described below relates to the process of automatically routing and delivering FAX transmissions at the receiving end.

Similarly, the implementation of a network of fully automated Public FAX stations is not now practical because, although anyone could transmit a FAX From such an automated station, such a Public FAX station could not now determine in an automated Fashion for whom an incoming FAX was intended. An embodiment o f the automated FAX routing process will permit the Fully automated operation o f such a Public FAX station for both transmission and reception.

DETAILED DISCRIPTION

As described above, the received image o f a FAX will generally contain information about for whom it is intended. But, even if this information is clearly organized on a cover sheet and easily identified by a human, the nonspecific graphic nature of this information makes it unsuitable for extraction by the kinds o f computers and so ftware in common commercial use at this time.

Rather than relying on advances to computer and so ftware technology, the present invention relates to techniques for specifying and restricting the routing and delivery information to a format that can be utilized by the current technology.

One embodiment employs an approach which strongly restricts the form of this information so that it may be extracted by the computer even if its position is unknown. Utilizing a very strict form standard [such as the Universal Product Code [UPC] bar-code] numeric or other types of data may be conveyed in graphic form, and with little or no restriction on pos i t ion, but may st i l l be mach ine-readabIe w i th known sof tware techniques. [See Figure 1. ]

Therefore, i f a bar-code label were appl ied to or pr i nted on the cover sheet of a FAX. pr i or to t ransm i ss i on, i t wou l d be w i th i n the capabi l ities of current technology For a computer to automatical ly "scan" an incoming FAX image for rout ing informat ion. By scanning rows and columns, the distinctive bar-code-type pattern would be recognizable to the computer in ei ther vertical or horizontal [or even skewed] posi t ion. Supermarket laser scanning systems take advantage of this technique. The pattern i s than scanned forwards and backwards, l ook ing for a "start pattern" to determine polar i ty. Final ly, informat ion patterns are recogni zed and standard dig i ta l codes (e.g., ASCI I text codes] are constructed for further standard computer interpretat ion and act ion.

The UPC bar-code i s only used here as an example. Any eas i l y machi ne-recogn i zab l e/ readab l e graph i c cod i ng structure may be used. I n pa r t i cu l a r , s i ne re as an examp l e. Any eas i l y mach i ne-recogn i zab l e/ readab I e graph i c cod i ng structure may be used. I n particular, since the vast majori ty of incoming FAXs to a service bureau wi l l be rece ived in response to a FAX del ivered by the service, the fol lowing technique may be used wi th any pattern the service chooses to establ ish as their standard.

When FAXs are del ivered by the service, a cover sheet is usual ly sent (or certa inly can be] just pr ior to the document. The cover sheet usua l ly identif ies the service, and certainly ident if ies the sender and intended recipient. In the preferred embodiment, a bar-code-l ike graphic would be embedded into the cover sheet, along wi th a message to. "Pl ease Re-Use Th i s Cover Sheet f i rst When Responding to Thi s FAX". Al so, a sma I I box would be provided to be optional ly darkened by penci l or pen that would indicate that. "Please check this box for human intervent ion. Otherwise, the return FAX wi l l be automat ical ly del ivered by computer to the original sending party." Space would be provided for the re-sender to put hi s "cover sheet" informat ion, inc luding speci a l instruct ions, i f thi s "intervention" box had been selected.

Al l incoming FAXs would then be scanned by the network or service computer to locate and extract iπformation from the returned "bar-code". The bar-code would either contain an identif ication of who sent the original correspondence [and to whom the response is therefore presumably intended) or would uniquely identify the correspondence itself with a serial number. If the correspondence was identified, the computer would then look up who sent that document and automatical ly route the response to that person, or some other person to whom returns were to be routed. Incoming FAXs without bar-codes, or those which had been selected for "human intervention", would be routed "by hand" as before.

This method is quicker [far the humans involved, at least] and less expensive than having al I incoming FAXs scanned by human eyes for routing. further, it is more secure in that the incoming messages are untouched and unseen by anyone but the recipient.

If a transaction or document number is represented in the bar code or other machine-readable graphic, it can functions as both an address and a postage stamp (i.e., transmission authorization]. Besides destination, the document/ transact i on number could authorize a pre-paid return, and further l imit the number of returned documents, the period for val id return, the length of the returned document or other l imitation. Particularly with a "broadcast FAX", each item could have a machine- readable cover sheet that specif ied a uniform return destination, but which also uniquely identif ied each recipient. In that case, each recipient might be al lowed to reply [automatical ly or pre-paid] under unique circumstances.

In one particular embodiment the bar-code information would be preprinted up one side and repeated down the other. In this way, the bar- code would be in an expected position and orientation whether the cover sheet were re-transmitted head first or tail first. (See Figure 1.) Knowing. and entering via the telephone keypad, a person's telephone extension at a large company, can often get you through to that person more easi ly and quickly than going through the human operated switchboard. It is now fairly common to print both one's business phone number and extension on business cards. Similarly it is common to print one's FAX number on one's business cards and business letterhead. However, if that FAX number belongs to an outside service or company-wide PC-FAX network, the phone number does not convey the Ful l information needed to specify an individual recipient.

It may soon become useful and common to print not only a FAX number, but a routing code or account number as wel l. That routing information or account number could be entered onto a FAX cover sheet by any of the techniques described herein. However, it would be particularly useful if the FAX extension (as wel I as the basic phone number for automatic dial ing] were printed in machine readable (e.g., bar-code) form on the back o f one's business card. In this way, giving someone your business card would not only provide the FAX phone number, but provide a machine-readable "swatch" that could be photocopied onto the corner o f a FAX cover sheet for automated routing and delivery.

Simi larly, such a machine-readable device could be incorporated into company letterhead. However, while it is routine for each individual to have their own business cards, companies usually have one, or very Few, distinct letterheads. Therefore, whi le having a company-wide FAX phone number in the letterhead is practical, individual routing extensions would likely not be. It is therefore intended that one embodiment of the instant invention would consist of a pad or sheet of smaI I bar-code printed labels that cαuld be affixed to a letterhead, signature l ine. FAX cover sheet. Someone could then send an automatical ly routable FAX by photocopying the bar-code pattern from a previously received letter onto the FAX cover sheet. Alternately, a supply of original return-IabeIs could be supplied to someone with whom it was expected to be exchanging a significant number of FAXs. Individual sets of bar-code labels would be printed [most l ikely with the individuals name as wel l] For each employee on a company-wide network, or For each customer account subscribing to a service bureau. Such printing may be done on an individual demand basis since quick, custom bar-code printing may now be done on desk-top computer systems equipped with the proper printer and software.

In the previous example, the Farm of the graphic code was tightly specif ied and. thus, i ts position was virtual ly unrestricted. At the other end of the scale is a technique where the Form of the graphic is trivial , and may even be hand drawn, but where position is everything. Particularly useful where FAXs wi l l be coming in unbidden, rather than in di rect response to a previous FAX. a pre-printed cover sheet may distributed to a community of users expected to send scanned FAXs via a computer receiving service. This sheet would include a section consisting of raws [or columns] of numbers and/or letters. Like in standardized test answer sheets, one number or letter is darkened [by hand, wi th a pen or penci l] in each row, and the rows taken in order would indicate the name or account number of the addressee. Such a matrix is eas i ly handled by currently known computer scanning techniques, but the locat ion of the matrix, and posit ion of the marks placed thereon, must be strictly speci f ied. Al ternately, for computer generated FAX transmissions, the f i I led-in matrix may be easi ly synthesized in the same manner that the text of the document would be.

A midway alternative, that places rigid restrictions on neither position nor on graphic form, would work as fol lows. Computer software now exists that can read optical ly scanned characters [cal led Opt ical Character Recognition or OCR] so long as the letters are clear, of proper size and spacing, and printed in one of a few wel l-understood type faces.

By adopting a fairly loose standard for addressee routing information, a corporate network, PC-FAX service or the ent ire industry, can permi t avai lable, inexpensive computer sof tware to decode the i ntended destination and automatical ly route incoming FAXs. An example of such a standard would be: reserve the upper-lef t corner box 2" wide by 1" high for addressee information;

put nothing else within this area;

print in courier or pica type:

pr i nt in al l cap i ta I s;

print at 10 or 12 pitch:

print a top l ine consisting of "DESTINATION"; and

print a second I ine containing the addressee's name or account number, as required at the receiving end.

Such information could be typed or computer printed, onto a separate cover sheet or at the top of the document. Or. it could be integrated directly into a computer generated FAX image. (I t is even possible [al though not yet widely avai lable] to hand wri te such informat ion for reading by a handwriting recognition program. However, this requires that the writing be very careful ly printed, spaced and sized, onto a form with guide boxes provided for each letter. and is st i l l not ent i rely reI iabIe.]

EMBODIMENT IN A PUBLIC FAX STATION

With respect to the problem of constructing a suitable publ ic-space FAX station, many of the system components are now in use or adaptable from other commercial devices, and the disclosure wi l l di rect one who is ski l led in computer system integration to the appropr iate component technologies. However, the part icular juxtaposi t ion of the components. and the use to which they are being appl ied in the instant invention, is novel in many respects.

The Publ ic FAX Station wi l l comprise system components borrowed from the fol lowing existing devices: teIephone:

microcomputer:

video dispIay;

optional touch screen:

credit/bank card reader;

computer or FAX document scanner;

computer or FAX document printer:

FAX machine or PC-FAX encoding/decoding electronics:

paper feeding mechanism from photocopier or laser printer;

ruggedized keypad/keyboard and housing from a bank Automatic Teller Machine (ATM).

The Public FAX Station will resemble a bank ATM in that it will comprise a keypad/board, video/touch screen, document drop, document disgorger, card reader and telephone handset. Al l these components wi l l be integrated into a ruggedized, vandaI-resistant housing, suitable for unattended operation in a pubI ic space such as an airport, bus depot or train station, hotel or office bui lding lobby, or even outside, in a stand alone booth or projecting from a building wall.

Normal ly, the machanisms would al l be enclosed in a rugged housing; unaccessible except for the keypad/board, video screen and telephone handset. The credit card and documents would be inserted and disgorged by tight sl ides or through double trap doors. For added security, these exposed components and access ports [except card reader] would also be unaccessible, behind metal slide(s), and would only open for access after a valid credit card is inserted into (and held hostage by] the machine.

The operation and general construction of the Public FAX Stations and the operation and general organization of the Public FAX Network will be made clear from the fol lowing narrative description of how the system will be used. I n Gene ra I :

Although the Publ ic FAX Station is. in some ways, analogous to the publ ic pay phone, most embodiments will not accept cash. Therefore, the first thing that a user wi l l do is to insert a major credit card or bank ATM card, issued by a financial institution listed on the outside of the machine. for example, in the NYC area VISA. Master Card, American Express, Citibank and NYCE might comprise the list of approved cards.

Only after the card has been successfully read, and confirmed as valid and not stolen, will the user gain access to the machine functions. for additional security, the keypad/board, video screen, etc., may be hidden behind a metal shield unti l the card is verified, and the card would be retained within the machine until completion of the session.

The credit card wi l l be used as both the method o f payment and for identification for most general users. However, in some instances. Publ ic FAX Network accounts may be established and. in that case, a FAX card and/or secret identification code could be used instead.

Once val idity. identification and security have been establ ished (by checking the credit card number over a phone line network, in the same way credit card usage is val idated by stores and other commercial establishments), security shields are lifted and access to the system is permitted.

Al l interaction with the user is accomplished by text output printed on the video screen and, for input, a touch screen over the video screen, buttons next to the screen and registered against menu options printed on the screen, or a keypad and/or ful l alphanumeric keyboard, al l of which are wel l-known technologies. (A telephone handset wil l connect the user to an operator in the event of trouble.] Send a FAX from a Public FAX Station:

To send a FAX, the document is inserted into a document feed slot. As the document is accepted by the Public FAX Station, via a variation of a photocopier paper Feeding mechanism, the pages are scanned and counted. The machine queries if any pages are double sided.

It then asks where the FAX is to be del ivered. Options are: to a phone where a standard FAX or PC-FAX system is located; to another specific Public FAX location. for a recipient who will have to identify himself to the sys tern; to a specific "manned" Publ ic FAX location [in a hotel lobby, perhaps] where an attendant will receive the FAX and deliver it to the recipient: to the Publ ic FAX Network for later del ivery to any Publ ic FAX location, upon proper identification by the recipient: to forward to an "in-house" subscriber to this [or another] communications network; broadcasting the FAX to a number o f locations; etc.

IF the FAX is to be del ivered to another Publ ic FAX. the method o f identification of the recipient must be specified and would include: by name and. perhaps, phone number (low level of security); by the FAX transaction number supplied by the machine (and phoned to the recipient by the sender); by a "secret" code suppl ied by the sender to the machine and. presumably, also known to the recipient: by the sender entering the network account number of the recipient (if the recipient has an account on this, or some other, communications network] or the credit/bank card number of the recipient.

Additional options are for: immediate delivery vs. delay for schedule or off-hour discount: how often and how long to re-try on a busy signal; whether the user will be supplying a cover sheet or wants the FAX service to provide one: whether the user wishes the recipient to be able to return a FAX to him on the Publ ic FAX Network; whether the return wi l l be paid for by the original user and a maximum number of return pages the user authorizes to be charged to him; etc. If a ful l printed cover sheet is to be suppl ied by the machine, name, address or other information would be entered on a ful I alphanumeric keyboard, or via a picture of a keyboard on a touch screen, or (heaven forbid] by cycl ing through letters wi th up/dαwn keys. [This Alphanumeric capabil ity can also be used to enter brief electronic mail messages onto the network, but jotting and faxing a note would likely be more convenient.)

From the page count, delivery location/phone number, and other options, a cost is calculated and the user is asked to authorize the specific transaction.

A receipt is printed and presented to the user, including a sending transaction number and. if a return is authorized, a return transaction number. If the FAX is immediately sent, the receipt includes a delivery confirmation as well. To Receive a FAX at a Public FAX Station:

Once access to the machine is establ ished, the recipient must identify himself. This may simply be via the credit/bank card used for access; by name and. perhaps, phone number [low level of security); by the FAX transaction number supplied by the machine [and phoned to the recipient by the sender); by a "secret" code suppl ied by the sender to the machine and, presumably, also known to the recipient: by the recipient entering his network account number [if the recipient has an account on this, or some other, communications network) or his credit/bank card number, other than the one used for access.

The Publ ic FAX Station then cal ls up the Publ ic FAX me s sage-switch network and queries whether any FAXs or other [e.g.. Telex or other electronic mai l variations] messages are waiting for this recipient. These are l isted on the video screen and the recipient may have any or all printed by the laser 4or other type] printer which is incorporated into the Publ ic FAX Station. Unclaimed messages are periodical ly purged.

Generally, the message delivery costs are pre-paid (or on account] by the sender. However, if sent col lect, or if the recipient wants additional copies, his credit card or network account is billed.

Message reception is noted by the network and, at any Publ ic FAX Station or "in-house" subscriber terminal, message status may be queried and a delivery confirmation receipt printed.

Alternately, at "manned" locations, such as in a hotel lobby, the FAX may be del ivered to the location immediately and received by the attendant. It would then be put in the recipient's mailbox, left under his door, or given by the attendant to the recipient upon proper identification.

Send a Return FAX to a Public FAX Station:

Anyone can return a FAX to the Public FAX Station Network from any FAX machine or scanning-FAX-capable system, so long as they use the cover sheet they received as a cover on their return FAX. The cover sheet del ivered with a Publ ic FAX wi l l have imbedded in it a bar-code [or other special machine-readable information] that identifies the original transaction and. therefore, the recipient for the return message. [This is covered in detail in a related disclosure document).

Normal ly. FAXs consist of an image of a document, rather than a digital ly coded representation of the text (e.g.. ASCI I). Therefore, the machines that handle FAXs have no access to digital codes that would describe the location or identity of the intended recipient. Under usual FAX-to-FAX communication this is not a problem; the one standard FAX connected to a particular phone line is the only available receiver and the cover -sheet directs a human operator to pass the document on to the intended recipient.

However, on the Publ ic FAX Network, a recipient wil l request a Publ ic FAX Station to retrieve and print his document. Without any machine-readable identification, the network could not easi ly find the correct document. The bar-code mentioned above gives the network computer a machine-readable way to identify the return document and to del iver and print it on demand.

Normal ly, the intended recipient of the return document (the sender of the original document) will have pre-authorized payment of the return FAX to his credit card or FAX account; unless the return-sender has a Publ ic FAX account or has made other special arrangements.

Send an Originating FAX to a Publ ic FAX Station:

If one is set up with an "in-house" subscriber PC-FAX terminal into the Publ ic FAX Network, a FAX may be sent to the network to be retrieved by anyone who can properly identify themselves to the queried Publ ic FAX Station. The subscriber can be bi l led or the recipient can pay for a col lect FAX.

The problem is how a non-subscriber can initiate a FAX to a Publ ic FAX Station from a standard scanning FAX machine. Without the machine readable cover sheet, the network wil l not be able to identify the FAX. Several solutions exist:

A cal l to Publ ic FAX Central with a val id credi t card number wi l l alert them to accept a FAX with a standard cover sheet and enter the cover sheet information, by keyboard, into the network computer as if read off a machine-readabIe cover sheet - al l at extra cost, of course, due to the requirement for human intervention. A variation would be for the Public FAX operator to FAX to the non- subscriber a specially computer prepared cover sheet to use; or for the sender to be counseled on how to create a machine-readable cover sheet according to a particular standard (as described in a related disclosure document).

Unsolicited FAXs would be refused or. with the help of a human operator, posted for "collect plus extra cost" retrieval by the recipient.

For non-"in-house"-subscribers. who wanted to routinely contact prearranged recipients From a standard FAX. the service would supply pre-printed cover sheets, or labels [or a graphic printed on the back o f a business card] to affix to the cover sheet, which would automatically route the FAX to a particular user, wherever he was. for non-subscribers, or subscribers with a Public FAX account who had FAX machines, but no PC-FAX capability, the Public Fax Network would accept FAXs based on: pre-printed cover sheets [perhaps with hand, typed or Fill-in matrix entries); labels affixed to the cover sheet with the "bar-code"; a code sent via the touch tone keypad; a code sent by the FAX machine; or by knowledge of the caller's phone number (which is now available in parts of the US].

Query from a Public FAX Station:

Once access has been established, any credit/bank card holder or Public FAX subscriber can query on the status of any messages sent or if any messages are waiting. Whi le the above embodiments could be implemented immediately, others would require that techniques, which are now only laboratory-ready, be made avai lable on a high-volume, low-cast basis, or that existing commercial communications standards be upgraded.

One future commercial embodiment would employ adaptable OCR and Art if icial Intel l igence ( Al ) . which are now demons trab le on laboratory oriented large computer systems, to implement arbi trary-format and context-independent extraction of rout ing informat ion. Such a system would incorporate a number of hardware/software modules, organized into a functional system. I t is depicted in Figure 2 and is described below:

1. Compressed format digital signals (105] are decoded (110) into standard raster image Format (115). as implemented in standard FAXs and PC-FAX boards.

2. An Arti f icial ly Intel l igent format extract ion modu le [120] would analyze the document image and identi fy various sect ions [125] as being: pr inted [further identi fying characteri st ics such as type face, type size, justif ication mode, etc.); machine-readable (e.g., bar-code. F i l l - in matr ix, etc.. and Further identifying the part icular standard and version being used); handwr i t ing (e.g.. Freehand pr inted, guide-box printed, cursive, signature]; and graphic (such as hand sketch or computer generated graphic].

3. for each section identif ied above, the appropriate Optical Character Recogni t ion (OCR) or other graphic decoding module [130] would be cal led up for detai led analysis and conversion of the document image section to a machine-understandable, digi tal code such as ASCI I (135).

.. Another Al module (110) would then analyze the digi tal decoded information for context-dependent content extraction. In particular this module would attempt to identify for whom the document is intended (145), from a machine-readable source, if possible, or from a printed or even a handwritten source, if not. These three software modules wi l l not necessari ly act in a l inear fashion, but feedback [170] and adjustment between these modules wi l l improve the accuracy of each.

5. Once an accurate or "best guess" determination of destination were made (with best guesses passed before a human supervisor, perhaps] a directory module [150] would look up the exact or closest match among entries in an employee or customer l ist (155). Again, if an exact match could not be made, feedback (170) with the previous modules could zero-in on a particular consignee. For example, by checking phone numbers contained in the document against the phone numbers or addresses of the several entries wi th names that are close matches.

6. Once a destination determination of adequate conf idence were made, the FAX image would be digital ly tagged [160. 165] and del ivered to the appropriate account. I f an adequate level of conf idence could not be reached, the f i le would be placed in an "undel iverable" account for review by a human operator.

Other, future commercial embodiments would require the modif ication or upgrading of FAX machine transmission standards. Such standards are periodical ly upgraded, with newer machines usual ly able to communicate with previous versions as wel l. As explained above, machine-readabIe graphic informat ion can be incorporated into the image of a FAX by typewriting, computer printing, perhaps handwriting and by PC-FAX boards. It is intended to be within the scope of the present invention that, when the current FAX standard is upgraded, that the capabi l ity to append such bar-code, character matrix, standardized DESTINATION box. or other standardized graphic containing addressee routing information, be incorporated into that new standard.

Alternately, as long as the standard is open to re-def inition, it would also be possible to include digital ly encoded, directly machine-readable addressee routing information, either before or after the transmission of the FAX image i tsel f. Currently digi tal information ident i fying the sender (his phone number. for example), is sent. However, such additional destination information would be meaningless to systems operating under older standards. Such is also intended to be wi thin the scope of the instant invention.

In either of the two instances described above, the addressee routing information would have to be entered into the FAX machine, most l ikely by some sort of typewriter-I ike keyboard, before (or af ter or during] the scanning of the paper document.

Ordinary FAX machines employing such a standard could also have computer software incorporated into them to interpret any of the graphic or digital schemes described above. However, such information wi l l be less useful when employed with a single printing FAX receiver, as opposed to a computer network which comprises one or more PC-FAX boards and a number of possible recipients.

I t wi l l thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the proceeding description, are eff iciently attained and certain changes may be made in carrying out the above method and in the construction set forth. Accordingly, it is intended that al l matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying f igures shal be interpreted as i l lustrative and not in a l imiting sense. Now the the invent ion has been described, what is cla imed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A method for rout ing FAX image transmi ss ions through a communications network by incorporating into the FAX document image informat ion a machine-readabIe graphic comprising identif ication routing information.

Claims

2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein said machine-readable graphic is a bar code.

3. A method as in claim 1. wherein said machine-readable graphic is a fill-in matrix.

4 . A method as in claim 1. wherein said machine-readable graphic comprises OCR-suitable typing.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein said mach i ne- readab I e graphic comprises OCR-suitable writing.

B. A method as in claim 1. wherein said mach i ne- readab I e graphic is incorporated into a return-cover sheet.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein said machine-readable graphic is computer generated.

B. A method as in claim 7, wherein said machine-readable graphic is derived from a computer controlled printer.

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein said machine-readable graphic is derived from a printed label affixed to said cover sheet.

10. A method as in claim 1. wherein said machine-readable graphic is derived from a graphic on a business card, letterhead, or other preprinted document.

11. A method as in claim 1, wherein said machine-readable graphic is readable by the intended reading machine independent of the position or orientation of said machine-readable graphic.

12. A method as in claim 1, wherein said machine-readabIe graphic is readable by the intended reading machine only with the proper position or orientation of said machine-readable graphic.

13. A scanning FAX machine that comprises, in addition to standard FAX transmission mechanisms, means to incorporate a machine-readable graphic into the FAX image, sa id machine-readabl e graphi c comprising identif ication routing information.

11. A scanning FAX machine that comprises, in addition to standard FAX transmission mechanisms, means to incorporate machine-usable non- graphic digi tal information into the transmission, said machine- usable digi tal information comprising ident i f ication rout ing in format ion.

15. A scanning FAX machine as in claim 11, wherein said machine-usable non-graphic digi tal information is der ived f rom a telephone dial/keypad.

16. A scanning FAX machine as in claim 11. wherein said machine-usable non-graphic digital information is derived from a signal comprising the telephone number of the dial/keypad.

17. A system for routing FAX transmissions comprising: a. decoding means to decode an encoded document FAX transmission into a document image in raster format: b. format analysis means, connected to the output of said decoding means, to analyze the document raster image and ident i fy and type at least one image section, and producing a sectioned document image; c. at least one graphic decoding/conversion means, each keyed to a particular type of document image sect ion, connected to the output of said format analysis means, to decode at least one document image sect ion and convert i ts content to a machine- usable coded document sections: d. context-dependent content extraction means, connected to the output of the graphic decoding/conversion means, that wi l l analyze one or more machine-usable coded document sections to identify and extract document/recipient information; e. recipient directory means, connected to the output of said context-dependent content extraction means, for searching and matching said document/recipient information to an intended recipient location far the FAX transmission; and f. route tagging means, connected to the output of said recipient directory means. for placing a machine-usable routing tag onto said FAX transmission.

IB. A system as in claim 17, comprising in addition: g. information feedback means, connecting the outputs of at least one means to the input of at least one previous means, to feedback partial ly processed information into the input of at least one means for further processing.

19. A Publ ic FAX system incorporating a control l ing microcomputer, document scanner, document printer, credi t card reader, display, user input means and communication l ine, of standard construction, and further comprising: means for incorporating a machine-readable graphic comprising identif ication/routing information into the fax transmission to enable the use of an automated routing return cover sheet.