MXPA99003462A - Fascimile to e-mail communication system with local interface - Google Patents

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.

Description

FACSIMILE EMAIL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITH LOCAL INTERFACE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to the field of communications associated with the communication of messages by facsimile and associated with the union of traditionally different message delivery systems such as facsimile delivery and e-mail delivery . The popularity of the fast and easy delivery of messages by facsimile and the popularity and low cost of the supply of messages by the e-mail messaging system (also called "E-mail") have generated for quite some time attempts to mix the two technologies and Efforts have intensified further after the recent explosive increase in the use of the global computerized data network known as "the Internet". A first attempt to mix facsimile and email technologies for message delivery is represented by the Facsimile Transmission System of US Pat. No. 4,941,170 (Herbst). Herbst seems to show a system that uses an email system to route a facsimile file between controllers associated with the email network to achieve, as a final result, a P1258 / 99 X facsimile input and one facsimile output. U.S. Patent 4,837,798 (Cohen, et al.) Discloses a system whose established goal is to provide a unique "unified" electronic mailbox, to store either the messages or the notification of the existence of messages of different types. Cohen, et al. it mentions the integration of electronic messages by facsimile, although it does not seem to clearly address how the system could handle fax messages. U.S. Patent 4,339,156 (Ishii) discloses a system in which a data communication center and a facsimile mail center are linked in such a way that the delivery of the e-mail messages is achieved by facsimile, but not in the opposite direction. At the same time, the facsimile industry has seen growth in the use of interactive communication with remote storage and means of delivery ("SAFF") for storage in a "fax mailbox" in the form of a digital image and the handling of message delivery by facsimile, as exemplified by U.S. Patent 5,291,203 (Gordon et al.); and further, the art field includes the use of devices added locally to the faxing device to intercept the orders and route the messages by facsimile, in the form of a facsimile, to a remote SAFF for the subsequent supply to a facsimile device. of destiny, P1258 / 99MX as exemplified in U.S. Patent 5,555,100 Bloo field, et al. Each of the aforementioned references seems to be dedicated to the final delivery of the message to a destination fax machine or to a device capable of functioning as a fax machine as a personal computer equipped ("PC").

STJMARIQ PE THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present invention comprises a fax-to-email system and the related method by which a facsimile transmission is sent to its recipient via electronic mail (for example via "Internet") rather than through another facsimile machine and is provided in such a way that it can be retrieved by the recipient in its electronic mail device, in the ordinary manner in which the electronic mail is retrieved and displayed on the screen of the electronic mail device. The invention provides and achieves the provision of a document, which begins as a printed document, as an electronic file retrieved through a terminal of the electronic mail receiver and which is read on the terminal screen of the electronic mail receiver. The system of the present invention includes, in its method modalities and preferred apparatuses,f.

P1258 / 99MX among other elements, a "local interface" and a remotely located Facsimile / email server system (FEM-GATEWAY) which cooperates to provide a Facsimile / email service by means of which the printed document information, which includes textual and / or graphic parts, is communicated between a facsimile device and an electronic mail device, while conventional operation of the facsimile device is still permitted. More specifically, the present invention comprises the apparatuses and methods for the local entry of an email address in a fax machine; to direct the transmission of the image to a remotely located FEM-GATEWAY, to receive and convert the representative data of a digitized image by the facsimile device (hereinafter referred to as "facsimile information") to a computer readable data file formatted in an image data file format, to create a message addressed by e-mail to which the computer-readable data file is attached and for provide the email and the annex to the desired recipient by a data network such as a global computer network, for example "Internet". In its preferred embodiments, the interface device of the present invention in an unusual manner P1258 / 99MX receives an alphanumeric email address, which displays the address to be verified by the user, is specially configured to order the FEM-GATEWAY to transmit a fax document via email and to carry an email address and a message fax (via the attached fax device) to the FEM-GATEWAY. The interface device allows any pre-existing fax machine to function as a machine for sending the invented system, without modification to the fax machine. The handling of the fax message of the present invention by converting the message to a computer readable image file and coupling it to an email message generated by the system and the cooperative interaction of the system between the interface device and the FEM-GATEWAY in an extraordinary way they allow the present invention to achieve the projected goal of supplying fax messages via the electronic mail system. In at least one embodiment, the functions of the interface device are integrated into a conventional fax device. The present invention establishes a bridge between two networks, which first interact in the telephone network (PTN) to transmit a facsimile message to the FEM-GATEWAY as telephone signals and then interact in the electronic mail network (through "Internet" or from other data networks) to P1258 / 99MX provide an email message to the email address that is intended. An emitter that wishes to send a message by facsimile selectively activates the interface device associated locally with the fax machine which results in the fax being sent differently to normal fax transmission. According to the preferred embodiments, the interface device initiates a connection through the PTN to a server in a remote FEM-GATEWAY and the interface device interacts with that server to generate and supply in the address of the intended recipient a message of e-mail to which the formatted fax document is attached as a computer-readable image file compatible with the recipient's e-mail terminal. The numerous particularities, objects and advantages of the present invention in addition to those mentioned or implied in the foregoing, will be evident with the reading and understanding of this description, read considering the attached drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic mail facsimile communication system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a block diagram of a P1258 / 99MX System Fax Server that is described in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a block diagram of the process and data architecture of the email server that is described in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a representation schematic of an email message according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is an example of a portion of the message displayed by the recipient of an email message generated and forwarded to the recipient according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a block diagram of a system fax interface device that is described in Figure 1. Figure 7 is a block diagram of a facsimile to e-mail communication system according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 is a flow chart describing an overview of a preferred method of the present invention. Figure 9A is a flow chart of the front process describing the facsimile to e-mail communication system awaiting user input.

P1258 / 99MX Figure 9B is a flow chart of the front process describing the facsimile to email communication system in interface with the fax server. Figure 9C is a flowchart of the front-end process that describes the facsimile-to-email communication system that receives a message from the FEM-GATEWAY. Figure 10 is a table showing a column of alphanumeric and other characters with the suffixes commonly found in the e-mail addresses used in the present invention. Figure 10A is a schematic diagram of a user keyboard of the fax interface device. Figure HA is a flow chart of the COMCON process according to the preferred method of the present invention. Figure 11B is a flow chart of the COMCON process according to the preferred method of the present invention that specifically illustrates the process of equalizing the checksum. Figure 11C is a flowchart of the COMCON process according to the preferred method of the present invention that specifically illustrates the end of the signal determination process.

P1258 / 99MX Figure 12 is a flow chart of a SENDMAIL process according to the preferred method of the present invention. Figure 13 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic mail facsimile communication system according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, referred to herein as a series mode. Figure 14 is a schematic block diagram of a system fax interface device that is described in the alternate embodiment of Figure 13. Figure 15 is a schematic block diagram of a facsimile-to-email communication system according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, which includes a combined fax / fax unit to an electronic mail sending device. Figure 16 is a schematic block diagram of a facsimile-to-email communication system according to the modalities of the Figures 1 to 14 and which describes by way of example, an alternate communication link. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now in more detail to the drawings, like numerals represent like components throughout the various views and in which the minor letter suffixes of the numerical references P1258 / 99MX differentiate the similar components referred to collectively without those suffixes. Figure 1 shows a Facsimile-to-email communication system 100 (also referred to herein as a "Fax / Email communication system 100") comprising a facsimile interface device 102 (also referred to herein as " 102"fax interface device), which has a keypad 342 and an E-mail Facsimile server 104 (also referred to herein as a" FEM-GATEWAY 104"). The fax interface device 102 is associated with a fax device 106 and both devices 102, 106 connected to the FEM-GATEWAY 104 through a common communication line 107 (also sometimes referred to herein as "107 fax telephone line" or as "107 fax line") and the telephone network (PTN) 108 According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the common communication line 107 is a telephone line of the central office ("CO") that has a dial tone generated therein and that has ringing and marking capabilities generated and managed. by a local telephone exchange carrying the telephone network 108. Observing that "PTN" is a common designation that is generally considered to be understood by the experts in the telecommunications industry, since it includes any number of central carrier offices.

P1258 / 99MX local exchange, cascade access, long-distance inter-urban offices and other telecommunication switching systems. In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fax interface device 102 is connected by an accessory line 109 (which, in the preferred embodiment is a standard telephone cable) to the receptacle 113 of the standard "telephone out" RJ- 11 (also sometimes referred to as "accessory receptacle" 113) of a standard 106 fax device (e.g., the conventional single fax machine or the multifunction machine with fax capabilities). Alternatively, the accessory line 109 deviates from the accessory receptacle 113 and is connected, for example, to a separator line 117, directly to the common communication line 107. As would be understood by one skilled in the art, this puts the fax interface device 102"in line" with the fax device 106 such that both the fax interface device 102 and the fax device 106 are maintained in what could be called a "parallel relationship" by the same communication line 107 to the public network 108. The FEM-GATEWAY 104 comprises a Fax Server 110, a Web Server 111, an email server 112 and a data network 114. The Fax Server 110 is connected to the server of email P1258 / 99MX 112 and the data network 114. The Fax Server 110 is connected to the data network 114 which includes according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the use of a TCP / IP protocol running on Ethernet hardware and includes, but not exclusively, routers, signal controllers, cabling and other hardware and software necessary for the proper connection to the email network and the email server). It is to be understood that the scope of the present invention includes other data networks 114, which include local and remote area data networks which use other network protocols and network hardware. The email server 112 connects to an email network 116 (for example, a network such as the Internet, a satellite network, a cable network, a telephony network, a wireless network or other data networks) that allows the communication of the electronic mail (referred to herein as "electronic mail") to an electronic mail device 118. An electronic mail interface device 120 (including, for example, non-exclusively, hardware and software systems known as servers of email) (hereinafter also referred to as email server 120) connects the electronic mail device 118 to the email network 116 and therefore to the gateway of the email server.

P1258 / 99MX email 112 through the email network 116. The Web Server 111 connects to the Fax Server 110, to the gateway of the email server 112 and to the data network 114 and consequently to the network of email 116. It should be understood that the connection lines shown in Figure 1 represent many types of communication links, including standard telephone lines, data communication networks, wireless communication networks, communication networks by cable and other networks. As will be understood by experts in this field, a user of the email network 116 is provided with an "email address" which corresponds to an electronic "mailbox" associated with the user and which resides on the server of email 120 or on another site in the email network. Although only one fax device 106 and only one fax interface device 102 are shown in Figure 1, the fax device 106 and the fax interface device 102 are respectively representative of a plurality of fax devices 106 and a plurality of fax interface devices 102 wherein each fax device 106 of the plurality of fax devices 106 is associated with a single fax interface device 102 of the plurality of fax interface devices 102.

P1258 / 99MX It should be understood that the plurality of fax devices 106 includes a device capable of functioning as a fax, including, for example, non-exclusively conventional facsimile machines, multi-function machines that can function as fax machines or Image digitizers that can function as fax sending devices. It should be noted that although only one e-mail device 118 and only one e-mail server 120 are shown in Figure 1, the e-mail device 118 and the e-mail server 120 are respectively representative of a plurality of e-mail devices. email 118 and a plurality of email servers 120 wherein each email device 118 of the plurality of email devices 118 is associated with a single email server 120 of the plurality of email servers 120. According to In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, electronic mail devices 118 comprise personal computers running software programs (including, for example, non-exclusively, software programs known in the industry as "browsers" (browsers). ) and "email readers" sometimes referred to s in the present in form Collective P1258 / 99MX as "e-mail browsers") that allow an e-mail receiver to receive e-mail supplied to the recipient via the e-mail network 116, display e-mail messages and image data files and optionally print the messages of email and image data files on a connected printer. It should be understood that electronic mail devices 118 include all kinds of computer-related, stationary and portable, local and network devices that run software programs that provide email communication and display capabilities. It should also be understood that email servers 120 include, for example, non-exclusively, hardware, software, communication programs, analog communication interfaces, digital communication interfaces, optical communication interfaces, communication interfaces with wires and wireless, cable communication interfaces, various modems and other hardware adapters that allow communication by email and software programs located either on the user's site or located on the network or both. Furthermore, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention includes email servers 120 consisting of units P1258 / 99MX separated from its associated email devices 118 and from email servers 120 which are incorporated into their associated electronic mail devices 118. Figure 2 shows, with a block diagram representation, the Fax Server 110 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. He Fax Server 110 comprises a plurality of fax / data communication interfaces 130 which are connected to PN 108 via a PN communication link and a bus 134 for the exchange of signals with other components of Fax Server 110. Preferably, the communication link PN 132 is a standard digital communication link Tl which provides a coded multiplexing bearer service. Alternatively, the communication link PN 132 includes a link or network system (see, for example, that the communication link 132"is described and analyzed with respect to Figure 16, below). The fax / data communication interfaces 130 provide a plurality of fax and data communication channels for data communication between the Fax Server 110 and the fax interface devices 102. Each fax / data communication interface 130 is capable of to perform a variety of functions in each fax communication channel, including, for example: answering a line P1258 / 99MX telephone; hang a telephone line; dial a phone number; send fax data; send data signals; receive data signals; generate DTMF tones (double tone multi-frequency); detect DTMF tones; receive information via ANI (automatic identification of number - the number from which a call is initiated) and DNIS (identification service of the dialed number - the number dialed by the caller), preferably, for example, Group of Particularities D; play voice messages; and convert voice signals into analog and digital formats. An example of a fax / data communication interface 130, acceptable according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is a voice / fax / modem communication interface model VFX40ESC available from Dialogic Parssipany,. It should be understood that the connection lines shown in Figure 2 represent many types of communication links, including direct links defined by direct contact between the components and indirect links defined by various cables, wires, etc. Other components of the Fax Server 110 shown in Figure 2 include: a central processing unit (CPU) 136 with random access memory (RAM); an auxiliary storage medium 140 that provides storage of data and programs (which includes the storage of image data of P1258 / 99MX fax and information received from a fax device 106 connected to the Fax Server 110 and in communication therewith; a video screen 146, keyboard 150 and power source 152 - all the aforementioned components configured and operating together in a way that will be easily understood by one skilled in the art. The Fax Server 110, as seen in Figure 2, also includes a data network interface 154 by which the FX 110 exchanges data with the data network 114, by means of the cable 156, to allow data communication between the Fax Server 110 and the Email Server 112. The data network interface 154 performs the signal conditioning and format conversions that are necessary to communicate the data through the data network 114. A Data network interface 154, acceptable according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is the SCM9332DST model available from Standard Microsystems Corporation of Hauppauge, NY, which is compliant with the lOOBase T Ethernet standard and the TCP / IP protocol. It should be understood that the scope of the present invention includes other data network interfaces 154, including, for example, non-exclusively, wired and wireless data network interfaces, data network interfaces P1258 / 99MX analog, digital data network interfaces, optical data network interfaces and data network interfaces compatible with other hardware and software standards and protocols. The Fax Server 110 monitors its fax / data communication channels of a call from an interface device 102. Upon receiving that call on its fax / data communication channel, the Fax Server 110 handles the call, among other tasks, by means: verifying (against the stored list of valid identification codes of the fax interface devices 102) that the call is processed; receiving from the fax interface device 102, an email address associated with the desired recipient of a document; optionally receiving the fax image data representative of the document communicated to the desired recipient; optionally prepare and send a confirmation (for example, a fax document comprising a single page with a text indicating that the recipient's email address and the fax image data that the document represents were received by Fax Server 110) to the fax device 106; and preparing and forwarding an email message 270 (see Figure 4), which has a portion of the email message 272 and attached an image data file 274 that includes P1258 / 99 X the representative data of the document, to the Email Server 112. The Fax Server 110 processes the received fax image data from a fax device 106, together with the information received from the fax interface device 102 and converts the fax image data to image data (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "formatted image data") formatted in any of the various industry standard formats for bit-mapped images or graphic images, among the which include "GIF" "PCX", "DCX", "TIFF" and "BMP", "JPEG", "PNG", "AWD". According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the Fax Server 110 is programmed to convert the received fax image data from the plurality of fax devices 106 which are supplied to the Fax Server in the same pre-selected industrial standard format. , as selected by the administrator of the FEM-GATEWAY 104. It is intended as part of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, that the selected format in which the Fax Server 110 is preferably programmed to convert the fax image data , is a format that will automatically be compatible with most readers and email browsers available in the market in a certain period of time. So, at the time of writing this P1258 / 99MX exposure, the preferred format is the "TIFF format". According to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the selected format in which the fax image data is to be converted is periodically changed (and the Fax Server 110 processes suitably modified) by the administrator to be compatible with the software automatic decoder and re-assembler used, for example, by a majority (or select plurality) of browsers and e-mail readers of the "market of the moment" for electronic mail devices 118. Thus, according to the preferred methods of the present invention , the Fax Server 104, upon receiving the fax message supplied from a fax device 106, automatically converts the received fax image data to a forged TIFF file, calling the TIFF file with the appropriate file extension "TIFF" Figure 3 shows, with a block diagram representation, the Email Server 112 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The Email Server comprises an email network interface 200 which connects to the email network 116 through a communication link 202 and a bus 204 for the exchange of signals with other P1258 / 99MX components of the Email Server 112. Preferably, the communication link 202 is a standard Ethernet communication link that provides high speed TCP / IP communication bearer services. The email network interface 200 is capable of exchanging encrypted, multiplexing communication with the email network. The Email Server 112 is considered to be easily understood by experts in this field of the art and performs, which is critical to the present invention, the functions of receiving the email addressed with the attachment (the email message 270) and routes the e-mail message to the appropriate network address throughout the e-mail network 116, using e.g. TCP / IP and the appropriate domain addressing and domain name services. Figure 3 further schematically describes other Toasic components of a standard e-mail Server that includes a data network interface 224 through which the E-mail Server interacts with the data network 114, a central bus 204, CPU with RAM 206, auxiliary storage 210, video screen 216, keyboard 220 and power source 222 - all the aforementioned components are configured P1258 / 99MX interoperate in a way that will be clearly understood by someone skilled in the art field. Although considered unnecessary from the point of view of the relevant experience in the field of technology, the following is given as an example of the acceptable components of the E-mail Server 112: E-mail network interface 200 according to a model modem 1400FXSA available from Practical Pheripherals, Inc. of Thousand Oaks, California; data network interface 224 according to a model SMC9332DST available from Standard Microsystems Corporation of Hauppauge, New York which is compatible with the lOOBase T Ethernet standard and the TCP / IP protocol; and "Microsoft Exchange Mail" or "UNIX SENDMAIL" operating on the CPU 206. In the alternate embodiments of the present invention, all or some of the email functions of the email Server Gateway 112 are incorporated as parts of the Fax Server 110 and are made through it. In addition, in the alternate modes, the data network 114 is simply the bus of a single PC that hosts the appropriate hardware and software of both the Fax Server 110 and the Email Server 112 and the CPU / RAM, storage, video, keyboard and power source are common, as will be understood by someone expert in this field. It is considered that no further explanation is necessary for the Email Server P1258 / 99MX 112 since the appropriate hardware and software and the operation thereof are considered to be well known to those skilled in the art. Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of an email message 270 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The email message 270 comprises a portion of the message 272, which is described below and an image data file 274. The attached image data file 274 includes the representative image data of the document to be communicated, via mail, from the fax machine of the sender 106 to the electronic mail device of the receiver 118 via the communication system FAX / Email 100. The image data stored in the attached image data file 274 is preferably in the formatted image data mentioned previously and as mentioned, preferably, in a selected format of wide compatibility with current e-mail readers and browsers. The message portion 272, of the email message 270, is generated by the Fax Server 110 and forwarded to the Email Server 112 for delivery to the email network 116. The message portion 272 comprises a plurality of information which corresponds to the P1258 / 99MX same information displayed in the message portion 272 that is described in Figure 5. The portion of the message 272 'described in Figure 5 is a form that exemplifies how it would appear on the user's screen in the electronic mail device 118 and to which reference will be made herein, sometimes as a portion of the message displayed by the receiver 272 ', to distinguish it from the portion of the message 272 generated by the Fax Server 110. The portion of the message displayed by the receiver to exemplify 272 ', comprises a header portion 276, a body portion 280 and an attached portion 284. The header portion 276 of the portion of the message displayed by the receiver 272' includes a plurality of descriptive text labels and associated fields. A "TO" field 282, adjacent to a descriptive text label "To" 283, indicating the email address of the recipient to whom the email message 270 is intended as input by the sender using the keypad 342 of the email device. fax interface 102. The portion of the message displayed by receiver 272 'includes a field "FROM" 286, adjacent to "From": descriptive text label 288, which indicates generically, the identity of the transmitter as known by the communication system Fax / email 100. (For example, the name of the entity where the fax device is located P1258 / 99MX of transmitter 106 and the fax interface device 102). A preferred alternative modality that is optional for the sender as it uses to enter the keypad 342 of the fax interface device 102, is to include next to the generic identity of the sender in the text field 286, the name of the individual sender as the communication system is known Fax / email 100. A field "REPLY TO" 290, adjacent to "Reply to": descriptive text label 292 that provides an email address of the FEM-GATEWAY 104 and an associated transaction code with the fax interface device of the sender 102 this code is generated by the FEM-GATEWAY system for the tracking and reporting of problems. The portion of the message displayed by the receiver 272 'also includes a field "SUBJECT" 294 adjacent to "Subject:" descriptive text label 296, which contains a note to the recipient that the email message 270 includes a fax that it enters as an attached image file. The portion of the body 280 of the portion of the message displayed by the receiver to exemplify 272 ', as seen in Figure 5, includes a text 300 that provides advertising and instructions to the recipient of the email message 270 regarding how to view the attached image data file 274 (that is, the document). The text P1258 / 99MX 300, also instructs the receiver on how to access additional information about the services that are provided through the communication system 100, including, if required, how to receive a capable compatible display software program to display the attached image data file 274. The body portion 280 includes, in this shown embodiment, a link 297, for a location in the email network 116, such as an HTML link or link 297 which refers to and allows access to an Internet web page in which information and access to viewing software are available to the recipient. The use of an "HTML link" as a reference to a used interface protocol to Internet web pages is considered to be well known to those skilled in the art. The use of a "web page" as a reference to media associated with the global Internet computer network is considered to be well known to those skilled in the art field. The attached portion 284 of the portion of the message displayed by the receiver to exemplify 272 ', as seen in Figure 5, includes a "handle" 298 which refers to and allows access to the attached image data file 274 to the message portion 272. The handle (handle) 298 is the P1258 / 99 X that assigns the browser of the electronic mail device 118 at the moment that the attached element is loaded in the electronic mail device and stored therein. It is considered that the use of a "handle" as a reference to a file is well known to those skilled in the art. The image data file 274, as noted, includes a representation of the document sent by the sender to be received by the recipient of the email message 270. A descriptive text portion 299, adjacent to the handle portion 298, provides informative data to the receiver considering the type, coding scheme, description and other information relating to the attached element 274. The information data used to fill the "fields" 282, 286, 290, of the header portion 276, as well as the text 300 and the data of the link or link 297 of the body portion 280, as well as the informational data found in the textual portion 299 is all the information and data received by the Fax Server 110 during steps 1034 and 1036 of the process described below (see Figure HA) and / or generated in step 1074 of the process (see Figure 11C) and it is this information and these data that constitute the message portion 272 of the message email 270 described in Figure 4.

P1258 / 99MX Figure 6 shows a block diagram representation of a fax interface device 102 according to the apparatus of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The device performs a variety of functions including accepting inputs on the keyboard 342, displaying information on Screen 344, interfacing with communication line 107, and establishing interactive communications with the FEM-GATEWAY 104. The fax interface device 102 comprises telephone circuitry 320 which connects and interacts with the DSP circuitry 322 and the Codee 321 circuitry to provide telephone interface support. The Telephone Circuitry is connected through a protector of the telephone line against variations of current 326, a telephone line coupler 332 and the accessory telephone line 109 to the communication line 107, which is also connected to a fax device 106. As mentioned above, the fax interface device 102 is preferably connected (in a "parallel relationship" with the fax device 106) to the common communication line 107 through the connection to the RJ-11 receptacle. accessory 113 of a standard fax machine or a fax modem and alternatively, by connecting an accessory telephone line 109 via splitter 117 to a communication line 107.

P1258 / 99MX The Codee 321 circuitry is connected to the telephone circuitry 320 and to the DSP 322 circuitry, performing analog and digital conversions for tone generation and detection. An example of Codee is Texas Instruments TCM29C16 available from Texas Instruments, located in Houston Texas. The DSP 322 library, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprises a Digital Signal Processor with integrated flash memory for storing program, RAM for temporary data storage, a Codee interface for audio input and output and an expansion bus for connect other peripherals that are needed. An example of this DSP is the Texas Instruments TMS320F206 available from Texas Instruments in Houston, Texas. The DSP circuitry 322 is connected to serial non-volatile memory, NVRam 323, to Screen 344, consisting for example of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) with integrated controller and keyboard (Figure 10a) 342 comprising a type DTMF keyboard standard telephony and the usual control buttons. NVRam 323 performs memory functions such as storing e-mail addresses and serial number information with respect to interface device 102. An example of this type of NVRAM is 24c65 / sm-ND available from Microchip Technology located in Chandler Arizona . An example of P1258 / 99MX Display is the DMC-24277NYU available from Optrex, located in Torrence, California. The telephone circuitry 320 is connected to the Codee 321, the microphone 346 and the current protection circuitry 326. The telephone circuitry 320 performs a variety of functions including, ring detection, circuit current and hanging control and off-hook An example of this circuitry is the TS117 available from CP Clare, located in Wakefield Massachusetts. The Microphone 346 provides line monitoring and audio feedback for program control. An example of the 346 Microphone as an amplifier is the LM380 available from National Semiconductor located in Santa Clara, California. The telephone line coupler 332 is connected to the Current Variation Protector 326 and provides a telephone receptacle for interfacing with the telephone line 109 that is connected to the fax device 106. An example of this suitable coupler is AMP Incorporated 555979-1. , located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. A power source 341 is connected through an adapter 340 to an AC power source and supplies the necessary power to the components of the interface device 102. In a configuration and form of operation that could be understood by experts in this field , the P1258 / 99MX telephone circuitry 320, the Codee 321 and DSP 322 circuitry cooperate and interact to perform functions that include, but are not limited to, those mentioned above. By way of example, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention: the Codee 321 connects and communicates with the DSP 322 via a Codee 316 signal bus; the signal bus 318 transports analog signals originating from a central office of the telephone company (ie, part of PTN 108) and which are received by the fax interface device 102 through the accessory telephone line 109; the Codee 321 demodulates the analog signals and produces digital representations of the analog signals that are communicated, through the Codee 316 signal bus, for analysis by means of the DSP 322; analog signals usually include, for example, non-exclusively, dial tone signals, DTMF signals and fax tone signals; after the digital representations of the analog signals are analyzed and identified by the DSP (according to the programming stored in the ROM memory of the DSP circuitry), the DSP determines if a response is necessary and if so, determines the appropriate response to the analog signal; the DSP 322, to respond, generates suitable digital signals that are modulated by the Codee 321 to produce analog signals that are sent by the signal bus 318 to P1258 / 99MX the telephone circuitry 320 and eventually to the fax line 107; according to the preferred embodiment, the Codee 321 can modulate to demodulate the analog signals in the Bell 202 communication format (which is an AT & T standard for the frequency scroll key communication scheme) and in the communication format V.21 (which is a CCIT Group 3 standard for fax negotiation and control procedure). As an example of the interaction between Codee 321 and the DSP circuitry 322, consider an issuer that wishes to communicate a document to a desired recipient via fax / email, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Reference will be made here to the process diagrams and descriptions related to Figures 9A-9C. In response to the input of the "GO" instruction on the fax interface 102 by the sender, the fax interface device 102 and therefore the DSP circuitry 322 (according to step 924 (Figure 9B) of the preferred method described below) a telephone connection is established with the Fax Server 110 by calling the Fax Server over the telephone line 107. By doing this, the DSP 322 circuitry should monitor the signal bus 318 (which reflects the activity on the line accessory telephone 109, which is the extension of the fax line 107) to detect the presence of a dial tone signal Analog P1258 / 99MX analyzing the digital representations (produced by the Codee 321 and communicated to the DSP 322 circuitry through the Codee 316 signal bus) of the analog signals. Upon receiving and identifying the dial tone signal, the DSP circuitry 322 responds according to the programming residing in the memory portions of the DSP circuitry to generate DTMF digits corresponding to the telephone number of the Fax Server 110. After receiving the representations digital digits of the telephone number of the DSP 322 through the Codee 316 signal bus, the Codee 321 modulates the digital data to produce the DTMF digits suitable for the output, through the signal bus 318, to the telephone circuitry 320 and finally to the telephone line 107. Note that the Codee 321 and DSP 322 circuitry cooperate in many other cases, using similar mutual recognition methods, to communicate the signals to and from PTN 118 over the telephone line 107 (and accessory line 109) to provide the necessary functionality for the fax interface device 102 and consequently, for the system c Fax / email communication, to communicate the documents to the recipients of electronic mail. According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 7, a device P1258 / 99 X of fax interface 102 'and a fax device 106' are connected to a private branch exchange (PBX) 115 before connecting to Public Network 108 '. It will be understood that the common communication line 107, in this alternate mode, is a PBX line which provides the dial tone generated in the PBX 115 and which functions, for purposes of the present invention, in a manner similar to the CO 107 line. Figure 1. It should be understood that the scope of this alternate embodiment of the present invention includes a fax interface device 102 'incorporated into the PBX 115. It should also be understood that the alternate embodiment of Figure 7 in a form in essence similar to the preferred embodiment, it comprises fax devices 106 ', which include any device that functions as a fax, including, for example, non-exclusively, conventional facsimile machines, multi-function machines that can function as machines of fax or image digitizers that can function as devices for faxing. According to another alternative embodiment of the present invention, the Public Telephone Network 108 and the electronic mail server 116 are replaced by any of a variety of different interconnection networks, including any combination of public, private, switched, non-switched networks. , wired, wireless, digital, analog, P1258 / 99MX signaling in band, signaling out of band, voice, data, local or extended area. In addition, although signaling and transfer of DTMF information through DTMF and data signaling formats are disclosed in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, other alternate embodiments of the present invention include methods and apparatus which provide signaling and transfer of information through alternate signaling networks and formats, including modem communications, integrated services digital networks (ISDN) and other in-band and out-band signaling methods, by means of which signals and information is communicated between a FEM-GATEWAY 104 and a fax interface device 102. According to another alternative embodiment of the present invention, the Fax / E-mail communication system apparatus 100 comprises an FEM-GATEWAY 104 employing only one computer that includes the necessary hardware and that executes the necessary programs present in the Servid Fax 110 and on the Email Server 112 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In yet another of the alternate embodiments of the present invention, the Fax / Email 100 communication system apparatus comprises multiple computers, which include the necessary hardware and software present in P1258 / 99MX Fax Server 110 of the preferred embodiment and multiple computers including the necessary hardware and software present in Email Server 112 of the preferred embodiment. It should be understood that it is within the scope of the present invention that the indicated subsystems (servers 110, 112, 111) of the FEM-GATEWAY 104 are, acceptably, either geographically separated or geographically co-located. It is represented in Figures 1 and 11, a Web server 111, 111 '. The Web Server 111, 111 'is an optional computer (or computer program) that provides the user with access to information regarding transactions processed through the Fax / email 100 communication system. The Web Server communicates with Fax Server 110 and Email Server 112 over data network 114. As will be understood by experts in this field of technology, a Web Server provides access to users using computers connected to a data network (such as Internet) in order to access information from it and interacting with computers connected directly or indirectly to the Web Server. By way of example, the Web Server 111, 111 'allows a user of the communication system 100 to access information on his own account, for example information of P1258 / 99 X accounting, billing information, service information as well as current and historical data on Fax-to-email transactions generated from the user's fax device 102. In addition, the Web Server allows a user to interact with the communication system 100 to add, cancel or change user preferences. As an example, a user could change an access code or the priority of a Fax message to pending e-mail. Figure 8 shows an overview of a preferred method of the present invention and illustrates a plurality of steps that are necessary to communicate a printed document (also referred to herein as "document" and includes any point that may be communicated by a device of fax 106 or an equivalent thereof) to a desired recipient using the Fax / email communication system 100 set forth herein. The individual steps of the method are carried out by various elements and combinations of elements, of the system 100 that functions according to the figures that follow in which it is detailed. After starting at step 800, the method follows step 802 wherein the system 100 receives, from the issuer of the document, an email address that has previously been associated with or assigned to the desired recipient of the document and P1258 / 99MX optionally stores the recipient's email address for future use. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the e-mail address of the receiver is entered or called from the memory store, to the system 100, by the document issuer through the interaction with a telephone-type keyboard 342 of the interface device. fax 102 of the sender connected to the PTN 108. Continuing in step 804, the system 100 receives and saves the fax image data that is generated by the sender's fax device 106 and which represent the document to be communicated to the desired recipient via email. The fax image data is typically created by a truss process performed on the user's fax device 106 by hardware, software or by hardware and software cooperation and is typically communicated in what is known as the "G3 protocol". , all of which is well known to those skilled in the art field. Upon receiving and storing the fax image data, the system 100, in step 806, provides an optional confirmation (eligible by the issuer) to the issuer indicating that the email address and the fax image data have been received. by the system 100. The confirmation is, for example, in the form of a single page that is transmitted by the FEM-GATEWAY 104 so that it is received by the P1258 / 99MX transmitter 106 fax device as if the confirmation was a conventional fax document received in the sender's fax device 106. An alternative way to provide confirmation to the issuer is to update the Web Server 111 in such a way as to allow the original fax issuer (who is a registered user of communication system 100) to access information in the Web Server which will indicate the status of the user. the facsimile messages to email that that sender has sent through the system. Still other alternative methods of sending confirmation are acceptable, such as providing a successful delivery note to the registered sender's email address. In advance to step 808, the system 100 creates an email message 270, addressed to the recipient at the previously received email address, which includes a portion of the message 272 and an attached image data file 274 containing the data Received fax image files stored in an industry standard format for graphic data storage. According to the preferred embodiment, the coding of the attached element 274 is also performed in this step (as well as, optionally, the image processing mentioned above). The processes for attaching an image data file 274 to a message of P1258 / 99MX e-mail 270 (for example, according to MIME coding), for storing graphic data in industry standard formats and for encoding the file is considered to be well known to those skilled in the art. In step 810, the system 100 delivers the e-mail message 270 to an e-mail network 116, with its associated image data, in an attached image data file 274, preferably coded, to be supplied to the e-mail address. e-mail associated with the recipient and included in the message portion 272. Once the recipient receives the e-mail message 270, the recipient, in step 812, displays the e-mail message 270, which includes its message portion 272. The display of the attached document (represented by the data of the fax image of the attached image data file 274), through the conventional use of 'an appropriate computer program known as a "browser", "viewer" or "e-mail reader" is achieved, at least, by "clicking" on the attachment located in the handle portion (handle) 298 located in the attached portion 284 of the message portion 272. (See the analysis above considering Figure 5). After the email message 270 is displayed by the receiver, the method ends in step 814. According to the P1258 / 99MX preferred embodiment of the present invention, because the attached element 274 has become a very popular image format (e.g., TIFF), which is convenient, compatible with most browsers and mail readers In the current market, and because the image data file is appropriately coded, then according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the display is achieved simply by "clicking" on the handle portion of the file attachment 298 which is located in the attached portion 284 of the message portion 272 of the email message 270). When the electronic mail device 118 is operating a browser or an email reader that is not immediately compatible with the format / encoding of the image data in which the attached item has been converted / encoded, it is understood that the additional interaction of the user to decode the attached element appropriately, before its visualization. To enable the Fax to E-mail service by performing some of the various steps of the plurality of steps described above with respect to Figure 8, the fax interface device 102 of the present invention executes a front-end process 830 and the Fax Server 110 executes a 1020 process, to which P1258 / 99MX will be referred to herein as the COMCON process 1020. Figures 9 and 11, respectively, show the front process 830 and the COMCON process 1020 according to the preferred method of the present invention. Now with reference to Figure 9A, the front process 830 starts at step 832 and proceeds to step 834 where the fax interface device 102 displays an idle time message on its display 344 while the fax interface device 102 It expects an issuer to want to communicate a document to a receiver via email. (The idle time message may include, for example, information identifying the manufacturer of the fax interface device 102, information that instructs the user on how to send a document to a recipient via email, advertising information about other available services, etc. .). In step 836, the fax interface device 102 monitors the input activity keypad 342 to detect inputs from a user and a potential sender of a Fax to e-mail document. Preferably, the Fax to e-mail order includes DTMF digits entered in the keyboard 342 of the fax device; for example, keystrokes "A" or "Qdial". (Please refer to Figure 10A for other keyboard details). Then, in step 838, the fax interface device 102 determines whether a P1258 / 99MX keyboard input 342. If the input has not been received by the fax interface device 102, the front process 830 returns to step 834 and again displays an idle time message. If the input has been received by the fax interface device 102, the fax interface device 102, in step 840, asks the sender for an e-mail address associated with the desired recipient of a document by displaying a text on the screen 344, which instructs the sender to enter an e-mail address for the recipient or call an e-mail address previously stored from the memory of the fax interface device 102. After requesting the sender to enter an e-mail address , the fax interface device 102 (in step 842) receives the characters of the e-mail address entered by the sender, displays the characters, as they are received, on the screen 344 and keeps the e-mail address for future use (stored in memory). According to the preferred method of the present invention and as previously noted, an e-mail address associated with a desired receiver is input by the sender (in step 842) using a telephone-type keyboard 342 of the fax interface device 102 of the sender, after P1258 / 99MX that the recipient's e-mail address was requested in the first row (or line) (e.g., bottom line 334a) of screen 344. Because of the standard telephone keypad as represented by the keyboard 342 is restricted to 12 input keys 342a, multiple alphanumeric characters must be associated with each of the 12 available keys 342a to provide all the characters that are required to create a valid e-mail address. This is achieved by associating characters with the keys 342a either in numerical, alphabetical or common treatment commands such that a sender can "spell" an email address using the reduced configuration keyboard 342, without limitation of the required character set. . According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sender enters the recipient's email address using the keyboard of the fax interface device 342 (Figure 10A) and using the character association table of Figure 10 as a guide. Figure 10 shows an association and sequence table showing the available characters (Col.l), the associated keys (Col. 2) and the sequence of entries to reach the desired character (Col. 3). In addition to the unique characters that are associated with a particular key 342a, character groups commonly used in the creation of P1258 / 99MX email addresses are also associated with particular keys to simplify the steps required for user input and in addition, other specific groups of characters, such as the email suffixes .com, .net, .gov,. org, .edu are stored in memory and associated with the EXT 342g key. The domains that are marked frequently, for example, aol.com. prodigy.com. netcom.com worldnwt.com are stored in memory and associated with the DOM key 342e. To advance through the available characters associated with a particular key, the emitter will repeatedly press the desired key, without pause (time out). The character in the sequence associated with the key will be displayed on a second line (e.g., top line 344b) of screen 344. When a timeout occurs, the fax interface device 102 will be placed in the character or group of selected characters and will display the selected character and move to the next cursor position. This process allows multiple characters associated with the same key to be selected by simply pausing momentarily between pressing the keys for longer than the time-out period allows. For example, to enter an "A", the sender presses the "ABC1" key once. To enter the "C" key the sender presses the "ABCl" key three times. To enter "AC" the sender presses the "ABCl" key P1258 / 99MX once, pause a second and press the "ABCl" key three times. The continuous pressure of a character key cycles through the characters in an endless loop mode. The BACK / CLR 342b is a character shredding key and cancels the last character entry (or group of characters) and returns to the cursor one position in sequence for each time the button is pressed. Pressing the BACK / CLR button 342b for a long time (2 seconds or more) cancels a complete entry and returns the user to the status of inactive or can be used to cancel characters or groups of characters stored in memory. The QDIAL 342c button is used to store email addresses which can be easily called from memory and eliminate the repetitive introduction of commonly used email addresses during the addressing process. With the cursor in the first position on the display 344 of the fax interface device 102, the fax interface device begins by accepting the keyboard inputs and each time the sender waits more than the preset time (for example, one second), the interface device registers a "time out". If the sender presses a single key 342a repeatedly before there is a time out, then the fax interface device will select the respective character or group of characters from the table of Figure 10 which corresponds P1258 / 99MX to the number of times the key was pressed. The fax interface will consider that the address entry is complete when the sender has pressed the "GO" button 342d. Upon completion of the introduction of the email address, the sender presses the "GO" button 342d on the keyboard 342 to begin a process by which the interface device 106 interacts with the Fax Server 110 of the FEM-GATEWAY 104 to send the e-mail address received and preconditioning the FEM-GATEWAY system for the supply of the fax image data from the fax device 106. With additional reference to Figures 9A-9C, once the instruction "GO" is received (see step 846), the interface device 102 is picked up and marked to the FEM-GATEWAY 104 (step 924). To facilitate the interaction between the Fax Server 110 and the fax interface device 102, a process (see COMCON process 1020 of Figure 11) is executed on the Fax Server 110 which is complementary to the following execution processes in the interface device, fax 102 and the two processes communicate via the fax line 107 (and accessory line 109), the public network 108, the communication link 132 and a communication interface 130, as described below , to supply the Fax Server 110 with the P1258 / 99MX email address associated with the desired recipient. For this purpose, it can be seen that steps 924 to 950 of Figure 9B-9C are complementary to steps 1026 to 1057 of Figure 11 and intercommunicate therewith. The fax interface device 102 continues its processing in step 926 wherein the fax interface device monitors communication with the Fax Server 110 to determine if an "ACK" acknowledgment has been received from the Fax Server 110. If not, process 830 branches to step 928 where the fax interface device 102 determines whether a "time out" condition exists (i.e., the fax interface device 102 has been waiting for an "ACK" during an excessive period of time). If the fax interface device 102 has determined that the time out condition exists, the fax interface device 102 hangs up, in step 930, without communicating the receiver's email address or the fax image data to the Fax Server 110. If the fax interface device 102 determines, in step 928, that there is no time out condition, the front process 830 cycles back to step 926. If in step 926, the interface device of fax 102 detects an "ACK", process 830 proceeds to step 932 where the fax interface device 102 sends P1258 / 99MX a Fax to E-mail order to the Fax Server 110. Then, the fax interface device 102 sends, in step 934, its unique identification code (ID) to the Fax Server 110. Going forward to the steps 936 and 938 of the front processing 830, the fax interface device 102 sends the recipient's email address, previously received from the sender, optionally, the issuer ID and a checksum to the Fax Server 110. In step 940 , the fax interface device 102 determines whether or not an "error-free ACK" has been received from the Fax Server 110 on the fax line 107. If so, the front process 830 proceeds to step 948 described below. If not, process 830 branches to step 942 where the fax interface device 102 determines whether or not an "ACK error" has been received from Fax Server 110 on fax line 107 instead of an "ACK". error free ". If the fax interface device 102 determines that an "ACK error" has been received (i.e., it indicates that the Fax Server 110 is requesting that the fax interface device 102 resend the Fax to e-mail order, its identification, the recipient's email address and an associated checksum, the front process 830 cycles back to step 932. If the fax interface device 102 determines that an "ACK error" has not been received, then the process 830 advances to step 944 P1258 / 99MX wherein the fax interface device 102 determines whether or not a time out condition has occurred. If not, process 830, cycles back to step 940 to continue waiting for an "ACK". In the positive case, the fax interface device 102 hangs up and the front 830 process returns to its "idle time". According to the preferred method of the present invention, and as observed in Figure 9C, the fax interface device 102, in step 948, receives a message from the FEM-GATEWAY 104 to display the message "PRESS SEND TO THE DEVICE DE FAX NOW "and the message is displayed (see step 950) on screen 344 of the fax interface device. Then, in step 952, the front process 830 determines whether there is a drop or absence of current in the CO line. For example, in the preferred embodiment in which the fax interface device 102 is connected via line 109 to the accessory telephone receptacle RJ-11 in the fax device 106, then, according to the standard operating procedures, the connection of the fax line 107 to the accessory line 109 will "close" and the accessory line 109 will "die" - ie the "absence of current in the CO line" will be determined in step 952. If no current is detected in the CO line, the process returns to "idle time". Alternatively, for example, in P1258 / 99MX a mode in which the connection between the accessory line 109 and the fax line 107 is not automatically closed by activation of the SEND command (SEND) to the fax device 106 (for example, connection of accessory line 109 ' in the dividing line 117), then step 952, for example, is replaced by the decision step of "detect fax tones?" and if the fax tones are detected, the fax device 102 is placed on hook and the process 830 returns to the "idle time" in step 834. As mentioned above, a process referred to herein as the COMCON 1020 process (see Figure 11) is executed on the Fax Server 110 and according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, a separate COMCON process 1020 attends each fax communication channel of a fax communication interface 130 (see Figure 2) of the Fax Server 110 by communication, in the form of a greeting, with a front-end process 830 (see Figures 9B, 9C) of a fax interface device 102 when an issuer attempts to communicate a document via email to a recipient. Figures 11A-11C show a COMCON process 1020 according to the preferred method of the present invention. The COMCON process 1020 begins at step 1022. After starting, the COMCON process 1020 advances to step 1024 wherein the fax communication interface 130 and the communication channel of P1258 / 99MX fax associated with the COMCON 1020 process are initialized. Then, in step 1026 of the COMCON process 1020, the Fax Server 110 determines whether or not an incoming telephone call has been received from the public telephone network (PTN) 108 in the fax communication channel served by the COMCON 1020 process. If the Fax Server 110 determines that there is no incoming call, the COMCON process 1020 cycles back to step 1026 to continue waiting for an incoming call. If the Fax Server 110 determines that there is an incoming call, the COMCON process 1020 proceeds to step 1028 where the Fax Server 110 answers the incoming telephone call from a fax interface device 102. Then, in step 1030, the Fax Server 110 sends an "ACK" acknowledgment to the fax interface device 102 through the communication interface 130, the public telephone network 108 and the fax line 107 (and accessory line 109). The "ACK" informs the fax interface device 102 that the Fax Server 110 has received its telephone call and that the Fax Server 110 is ready to interact with the front process 830 of the fax interface device 102. Once the communication has been established with a call from the fax interface device 102, the COMCON process 1020 proceeds to step 1032 in which, as seen in Figure HA, the Fax Server P1258 / 99MX 110 receives a fax-to-email order from the fax interface device 102. Then, in step 1034, the Fax Server 110 receives the call identification code from the fax interface device 102, which it proceeds to step 1036, upon receipt of the e-mail address and optionally the issuer ID as it is introduced in the fax interface device 102. Continuing in step 1038, the Fax Server 110 receives a sum check from the fax interface device 102. Moving on to step 1040 (Figure 11B) of the COMCON process 1020, the Fax Server 110 determines whether the checksum is equalized (i.e., is OK) to a checksum that has been computed based on the data received during steps 1032 to 1038. If the Fax Server 110 determines that the checksum is not good (i.e., there is an error- during communication with the fax interface device 102) , the COMCON process 1020 branches to step 1042 where the Fax Server 110 determines whether or not there is a time out condition (i.e., determines whether the maximum number of forwarded requests has been exceeded or not). If the time out condition does not exist, the Fax Server 110, in step 1044, sends an "ERROR ACK" command to the fax interface device 102 to request that the fax interface device 102 forward the data referred to in FIG. the P1258 / 99MX steps 1032 to 1038 that were described above. The COMCON process 1020 then cycles back to step 1032. If the Fax Server 110 determines, in step 1042, that a time out condition exists, the COMCON process 1020 causes the fax communication interface 130 to hang, suspending for the telephone call from the fax interface device 102, before it cycles back to step 1026. With reference to the backward step 1040, if the Fax Server 110 determines that the checksum is good (ie not there is an error during communication with the fax interface device 102), the Fax Server 110 determines, in step 1048, whether the identification code received from the fax interface device 102 is OK or not by comparison of the ID received with a list of identification codes of the fax interface device which are stored in a database of the Fax Server 110. If the Fax Server 110 determines that the code or received identification is not valid for any fax interface device 102, the COMCON process 1020 branches to step 1050 where the Fax Server 110 determines whether or not there is a time out condition (i.e., determines whether or not exceeded the maximum number of forwarding requests). If there is no time out condition, Fax Server 110, in step 1052, P1258 / 99MX sends an "ERROR ACK" command to the fax interface device 102 to request that the fax interface device 102 forwards the information received in steps 1032 to 1038. The COMCON process 1020 then cycles back to step 1032. If the Fax Server 110 determines, in step 1050, that a time out condition exists, the COMCON process 1020 causes the fax communication interface 130 to hang, thereby suspending the telephone call from the fax interface device 102, before returning in cycle to step 1026. If in step 1048, the Fax Server 110 determines that the identification code of the fax interface device 102 is OK, the COMCON process 1020 proceeds to step 1056 wherein the Fax 110 sends an "ERROR-FREE ACK" to the fax interface device 102 to indicate to the fax interface device 102 that it has received an order from fax to email, a device identification code. valid fax interface and an email address associated with a desired email recipient. The Fax Server 110, then in step 1057, sends an order to the fax interface device 102 to display the message "Press Send to the Fax Device Now" on the screen 344, which instructs the sender to initiate the communications with the P1258 / 99MX Fax Server by pressing the "SEND" (or "START", etc.) button on the fax device 106. The Fax Server 110, then, in step 1058, sends out fax tones. fax on the fax line 107 to the fax device 106 and receive the fax data from the fax device 106 in step 1060. Continuing in step 1062 (Figure 11C), the Fax Server 110, according to the COMCON 1020 process , determines whether or not an end-of-fax signal has been received from the fax device 106 connected to the communication channel 132 supported by the COMCON process 1020. If an end-of-fax signal has not been received, the Fax Server 110 continues to store the fax data, in its native format (G3) as fax image data in a database on the Fax Server 110, until such time as either an error or end signal has been received. of fax. The COMCON process 1020 then cycles back to step 1060 where the Fax Server 110 continues to receive the fax data from the fax device 106. If the Fax Server 110 determines, in step 1062, that a fax has been received fax end signal, the COMCON process 1020 proceeds to step 1066 where the Fax Server 110 recognizes that it received the fax end signal from the fax device 106. According to the preferred method of the present invention, the COMCON 1020 process , as seen in Figure 11C, continues at step 1068 where the P1258 / 99MX COMCON process 1020 of the Fax Server 110 suspends the fax communication interface 130 and therefore terminates the call with the fax device 106. The process 1020 continues in step 1070 where the Fax Server 110 stores the address e-mail sent by the sender of the fax interface device 106 to a database on the Fax Server 110. Then in step 1072 the Fax Server 110 processes the stored fax images received from the fax device 106 converting the images to the formatted image data, which will be, as mentioned above, in a standard image data format for viewing on a terminal e-mail screen. Copies of the converted fax image (the formatted image data) are stored in their respective database on the Fax Server 110. Then in step 1074, the Fax Server 110 generates and stores in a Server database. Fax a portion of the email message 272 to accompany the fax image data. The process 1020 proceeds to step 1076 where Fax Server 110 retrieves the message portion 272 and the fax image data of the respective databases on the Fax Server 110. Then in step 1078, the Fax Server 110 Attaches the formatted fax image data file 274 to the email message portion 272 and preferably encodes the P1258 / 99MX e-mail message packed 270 an acceptable coding technique for the e-mail network 116 projected. For example, but not exclusively, the packaged message 270 with the message portion 272 and the attached portion 274 is encoded using Internet MIME formatting, by which a MIME 270 or Multi-purpose Internet Mail Extensions e-mail message is created. (Multi-Purpose Internet Mail Extensions), which defines the protocol for the Interexchange (interchange) of text and multi-media electronic mail via the Internet (global computer network) and which is considered well known by reasonably experts in this field . Continuing in step 1080, the Fax Server 110 sends the email message 270 to the email server 112 and the SENDMAIL process 1120 (Figure 12), via the data network 114. After sending the email message 270 to the SENDMAIL process 1120 through interprocess communication, the COMCON process 1020 invokes the SENDMAIL process 1120 on the email server 112 and then the process 1020 ends in step 1084. Figure 12 shows a SENDMAIL 1120 process running in the Email server 112 according to the preferred method of the present invention. When invoked by the COMCON process 1020 in step P1258 / 99MX 1082 (Figure 11) being step 1122 of Figure 12, the SENDMAIL process 1120 proceeds to step 1124 where it receives the email message 270 from the COMCON process 1020 via interprocess communication. Continuing in step 1126, the SENDMAIL process 1120 is directed to the gateway of the Email Server 112 to communicate the email message 270 to the email network 116. Then in step 1128, the SENDMAIL process 1120 ends. By way of example, but not exclusively, in the preferred embodiment, steps 1076-1084 of the COMCON process 1020 are performed according to what is commonly known as the UNIX METAMAIL process and the SENDMAIL process 1120 of Figure 12 is performed according to what is commonly known as UNIX SENDMAIL process. The UNIX METAMAIL and UNIX SENDMAIL processes are considered well known to those skilled in the art and are considered to require no further explanation herein. Once sent to the email network 116, the email message 270 is transported according to the management process of the email network (such as the Internet World Computer Network) to, for example, the "mailbox" associated with the address of the receiver 282. The message 270 is retrieved and displayed as discussed above with P1258 / 99MX with respect to step 812 of Figure 8. As mentioned previously, Figure 5 is a portion of message displayed by the receiver as example 272 ', as would be displayed on an electronic mail device 118, with the fields filled in with the information and data that was collected, generated and reported according to the process described above. According to a preferred alternate embodiment of the present invention, as described in Figure 13, the 'fax interface device' 102 'is placed in the form that could be called "serial relationship" in the communication link 107 between the device of fax 106 and public network 108 (as opposed to the configuration of the modalities described above for which we have used the term "parallel relationship"). A fax interface device 102"for exemplification used in accordance with this series embodiment of Figure 13 is depicted in Figure 14 schematically. The telephone circuitry 320"of this fax interface device 102" is connected through a surge protector of the telephone line and a telephone line coupler to the public network 108 by the telephone line 107 and is connected through a fax telephone line coupler to the fax device 106 over the telephone line 107. The DSP 322"circuitry is provided with enhanced processing capabilities by means of the P1258 / 99MX which the fax interface device receives and processes the signals generated by the key-in input made on the keyboard of the fax device 105 (thus eliminating the need for a separate keyboard in the fax interface device) and whereby the fax interface device 102"functions as an intermediary between the fax device 106 and the public network 108 to separately process the signals of each, to selectively pass the signals from one to the other and to interact with each other. separated with the fax device and with the public network. The operation of this alternate modality of Figure 13 is as indicated by the process in relation to Figure 8 of the previous modalities. However, in the detailed processing, the fax interface device 102"controls the interaction between the fax device 106 and the public network 108 to eliminate the need for user monitoring of the" SEND "function. For example, with reference to Figure 9A, the fax interface device 102 '', in step 836, the fax side communication line 107 'to detect activity on the keyboard of the fax device 105, whose activity is , for example, in the form of a preset input that alerts the fax interface device 102 '' that the user in the fax device wishes to send a fax to e-mail (e.g., by the input of keys) P1258 / 99MX "* 4"). In the absence of such a fax-to-email alert input, the fax interface device 102 '' could, for example, simply pass communications between the public network 108 and the fax device 106 directly through its telephone circuitry, for example. , without interfering with communication. Once the fax-to-email entry is received, the fax interface device 102 '' starts with the similar user steps 840 and 842 of Figure 9A. On the other hand, preferred embodiments of the series system 100"maintain control in step 948 (FIG. 9C) such that, rather than receiving a user request from the FEM-GATEWAY in step 948 (step 1057 of FIG. Figure 11B), the FEM-GATEWAY sends and the fax interface device 102 '' receives a recognition signal, in response to the fact that the fax interface device 102 '' connects a communication channel in the telephone circuitry between the telephone line 107 and telephone fax line 107 'and communicate fax tones from fax server 110 through the communication channel to the fax device. By standard greeting delivery techniques, the fax device 106 then supplies its fax data over the communication lines 107 'and 107 through the fax interface device of the telephone circuitry, to the fax server 110. When the fax is has completed, the P1258 / 99MX fax interface device 102 '' detects the fax end signal and communicates the same to the fax server 110, disconnects the communication channel and waits for a future fax to e-mail signal from the fax device 106. While that the present invention has been represented and described in relation to the modalities in which the fax interface device 102 and the fax device 106 are included in separate chassis interconnected by an accessory communication line 109, alternate modes of the Facsimile-to-email communication 100 of the present invention comprises a combined fax / fax-to-email unit of the sending device (hereinafter also referred to as the "combined unit 358") which incorporates within a single chassis the functionality of both of the fax interface device 102 as well as the fax device 106, with the necessary component parts. In a first embodiment of that combined unit 102/106 ', the fax interface device 102 of the embodiment of Figure 1 here, is physically integrated in a simple manner within a single chassis with the fax device 106 of the modality of Figure 1 and the necessary external modifications are made to the chassis to gain access to the keyboards that are needed to effect the operation of the two P1258 / 99MX combined devices within the combined unit. In a preferred embodiment of the combined unit sending device, however, 1 functionality of the fax interface device 102 and the fax device 106 of the embodiment of Figure 1 hereof are integrated within a single chassis and the components that perform duplicate functions are eliminated to provide structure efficiency. With reference to Figure 15, this preferred embodiment of the fax / fax-to-email combined fax-sending unit 358 comprises a single keyboard 360 and a single screen 361, which replace the two keyboards and the two screens of the interface device of fax 102 and of the fax device 106. The keyboard 360 of the combined unit 358 acts as a dual-function keyboard that accepts user inputs and interfaces with the software 364 to alternately perform the functions of a keypad. standard fax device or the functions of a fax interface device keyboard 342. Preferably, the dual function keyboard 342 includes all the necessary function and dialing keys to perform the functions of the fax device 106 and the fax interface 102. A physical button (or command key) 362 which is enabled by the software selectively changes the comb unit sending device inada 358 between a P1258 / 99MX fax mode (during which the device functions as a standard fax machine supplying information from a printed document to a remote receiving fax machine) and a fax to e-mail mode (during which information from a printed document is sent to its recipient via electronic mail, according to the previously commented process of the present invention). When switching to fax mode, the dual-function keyboard 360 and the display 361 receive and display the keyboard inputs as in a standard fax machine and when the device 358 is in the fax-to-email mode, the dual-function keyboard 360 and the display device 361 receive and display the user's keyboard inputs in the manner previously described with respect to the fax interface device 102. In the drawing of Figure 15, the number 366 schematically represents the combined functionality hardware / software of the combined unit sending device 358 schematically divided into a function of the fax interface device 366a and a function of the fax device 366b. These functions are shown in their schematic form to represent their separate functionality but shared in certain operational components. A user who wishes to use the combined unit sending device 358 as a standard fax machine presses the key button P1258 / 99MX of order 362 to put the sending device in the fax mode, after which the user will enter digits on the keyboard 360 which will be interpreted as standard facsimile machine keyboard inputs, resulting in the reception and display of a telephone number to be sent (by operation of the function of the combined-unit fax device 36b) by the communication line 107 to the public telephone network 108 to make a telephone connection with a remote fax machine for fax supply to Fax the information of the printed document placed on the device. Other features and functionalities that are normal to typical machines in the field of the prior art are provided in an acceptable manner. When the user wishes to send a printed document to a recipient via e-mail, the user will press the button of the order key 362 to change the combined unit sending device 358 to the fax to e-mail mode, in this the user inputs in the double-function keyboard 360 are interpreted according to the scheme of the present invention described above for entering and displaying the alphanumeric email addresses. With reference to the above discussion, the sending device of the combined unit 358 operating through its fax interface device functionality 366a is P1258 / 99MX communicates with the FEM-GATEWAY 104 in a manner similar to the process previously described in relation to Figures 9A-9C. Once the "SEND" key is pressed on the keyboard the combined unit sending device 358 in response to the request in step 950 of Figure 9C, the combined unit sending device changes to the fax device functionality 366b for supplying the fax image data over the communication line 107 to the FEM-GATEWAY 104. The structure and functionality of the FEM-GATEWAY 104 is essentially similar to those previously described in relation to Figures 1-12 and the Interactive processes of Figures 11A-11C are essentially as previously described. On the other hand, the remaining components (e-mail network 116, e-mail server 120 and e-mail device 118) of the facsimile-to-e-mail communication system 100 '' are in essence similar to those described in relation to the modality of Figures 1-12. Further explanation of the hardware and software components of this combined fax / fax unit to fax 358 unit shipping device is considered unnecessary, as this will be readily understood by experts in this field with reference to the detailed prior descriptions of this description. It is understood that new and diverse techniques P1258 / 99MX and communication systems are available and the communication techniques and systems that become available are used in an acceptable way to provide the "communication links" (for example, link 132, link 202, link 203, link 205) of the preferred embodiments described previously. For example, Figure 16 schematically represents an acceptable alternative communication link system 132 'used as an acceptable communication link 132 between the PSTN 108 and the FEM-GATEWAY 104. The communication link system 132"includes what commonly referred to as "Internet Telephony Gateway" (Internet Telephony Interconnection Device) 400 and a computer network 116 '(which is acceptably, but not necessarily, the same computer network described herein as an email network 116) . The Internet Telephony Gateway 400 is based, for example, on an interconnection model currently developed by Dialog Corporation of Parsippany, New Jersey and VocalTec Communications. This Internet Telephony Gateway 400 operates, using for example the development protocol known as Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), to bridge the switched PSTN circuit 108 with the network.

P1258 / 99MX of regional or world computers 116 'to which the FEM-SERVER (FEM SERVER) 110 connects (FEM-GATEWAY 104) as a server and whereby real-time communication is provided through the computer network 116 '(for example, Internet) between the local fax (for example, devices 102, 106 represented generically in Figure 16) and the FEM-SERVER (FEM SERVER). In this way, standard fax and telephone signals are communicated via the fax device 106 and / or the fax interface device 102 (according to one or more of the preferred embodiments discussed above) to the PSTN 108, which passes the signals to the Internet Telephony Gateway 400, where it digitizes the telephone signal, compresses it, packs it for the computer network (for example, Internet that uses the Internet Protocol) and routes it to the FEM-SERVER 110 through the computer network (for example, example, Internet) 116 '. The operation is inverted for packets that are to be communicated from the FEM-SERVER (according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention described above) to the local fax. Within the broader scope context of the present invention, the PSTN 108 and the communication link system 132 '(eg, the gateway 400 and computer network 116') function as a first communication network through which the local fax (devices 102, 106) and the FEM-GATEWAY 104 'are P1258 / 99MX communicates. Although the embodiments of the present invention that have been set forth herein are the preferred forms, observing this disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art of performing other embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, it will be understood that variations and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention and that the scope thereof could only be limited by the following claims. On the other hand, the equivalents of all the means or steps or functional elements of the following claims are projected to include any structure, material or actions to perform the function as specifically requested and as would be understood by the experts in the technical field of This exhibition, without suggesting that any structure, material or action are more obvious due to its association with other elements.

P1258 / 99MX

Claims (32)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the content of the following CLAIMS is claimed as property. A method for communicating information, comprising the step of supplying facsimile information from a facsimile generating device to a user provided with an e-mail address, in a computer readable image data format that is susceptible to being displayed in a computer screen. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of supplying comprises the steps of: supplying the facsimile information via a fax forwarding network to a fax / a / e-mail gateway; converting the facsimile information into the gateway to a computer readable image data file capable of being displayed on a computer screen; creating on the gateway an email message including a separate email header, in which the computer readable image data file is attached; and supply the email message P1258 / 99 X from the gateway through a global computer network or to an electronic mailbox associated with the email address. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of: converting information that is originally found as a paper image to facsimile information, thereby defining the facsimile information; The method according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of: loading the electronic mail message from the electronic mailbox to an electronic mail device; and display the computer readable file on the monitor of the email device. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of printing the information of the electronic mail device. 6. A method for communicating information comprising the steps of: receiving at the facsimile source sites an alphanumeric address associated with an e-mail destination; generate a facsimile image on a fax device; convey the address and image of P1258 / 99MX facsimile to a first communication network; route that image to a conversion medium via the first communication network; convert that image to a computer readable format according to the industry standard; and routing the computer-readable image to the email destination via a second communication network. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of receiving and the step of generating occur each, before the step of routing. 8. A communication system to communicate information that is originally found as a paper image, that system comprises: a first communication network; a facsimile device for generating facsimile information in a first format from information that is originally found as a paper image, the facsimile device communicates with the first communication network by means of a first communication line; an interface device that shares the first line of communication with the facsimile device, the interface device includes means for receiving and communicating an alphanumeric address associated with an e-mail address, P1258 / 99MX the interface device includes means for generating orders in the first line of communication; a computer network; and a gateway server positioned between the first communication network and the computer network, the gateway server is in communication with the first communication network and is in communication with the computer network and provides a communication link between them; the gateway server operates selectively in a fax-to-data mode, in which the gateway server receives facsimile information via the first communication network and communicates the representative data of the facsimile information to a destination via the network of computers; the gateway server is responsive to commands received from the interface device to initiate the operation of the fax-to-data mode. The system of claim 8, further comprising: conversion means associated with the gateway server for converting the facsimile information generated by the facsimile device into image data in a second format; an electronic mailbox associated with the computer network; Y P1258 / 99MX An email device configured to access information stored in the electronic mailbox, the email device is operable to receive and display on a computer screen the data formatted in the second format. 10. The system of claim 9, further comprising encoding means associated with the gateway server for encoding the image data of the second format, the electronic mail device is configured to automatically decode the image data of the second format. when receiving them from the mailbox. The system of claim 8, wherein the interface device includes a display screen constructed and arranged to display alphanumeric characters. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for receiving the interface device includes, at least, a standard telephone keypad. The system of claim 8, wherein the first communication network is the public telephone network. The system of claim 8, wherein the fax interface device is incorporated as part of the facsimile device. P1258 / 99MX 15. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer network is a world computer network1. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the global computer network includes, at least in part, the Internet. The system of claim 8, wherein the first communication network is a private switched telephone network. 18. A method for communicating information, the method comprising the steps of: receiving dial tone in the fax device and in the fax interface device from a common first line of communication, associated with a first public network; receiving in the interface device an alphanumeric address associated with an electronic mailbox of a desired receiver; and transporting the address via the first line of communication to a remote server; The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of: generating in the fax device a fax image in a first format from the image of a printed document; transmit the fax image to the remote server through the first line of communication; P1258 / 99 X convert in the remote server the fax image, in a first format, to image data, in a second format; and transmitting the image data in second format to an electronic mailbox in a computer data network, this being the mailbox to which the address is associated. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of: accessing the mailbox of the desired recipient using an email browser in the projected manner to load the email in the mailbox; load from the mailbox the image data in second format; and displaying on a computer screen, using the aforementioned e-mail browser, the image data of the second format, by means of which a representative image of the image of the printed document that was placed on the fax device is displayed. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of encoding on the remote server the image data of the second format, whereby the image data that is P1258 / 99 X transmitted to the mailbox are encoded; and automatically decoding, using the email browser, the image data of the second format when downloading them from the mailbox. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of transmitting the image data of the second format comprises the steps of creating on the remote server an email message addressed to the received address, this email includes as part of the same the image data in the second format. The method of claim 22, wherein, the step of creating includes the steps of creating a portion of information that includes, at least, the provision of information and a comment to the recipient; and associating the image data in the second format with the portion of the email message as an attachment. The method of claim 19, wherein, the step of transmitting the image data in a second format comprises the step of attaching the image data in the second format to the remote information server in the remote server. of the sender and the receiver. 25. A communication system to communicate information that is originally found as a P1258 / 99 X paper image, the system comprises: a first communication network; a first node that communicates with the first network, the first node includes: a function that generates and sends facsimile and a function that receives and sends an e-mail address; a computer network; and a second node placed between the first communication network and the computer network, the second node is in communication with the first communication network and is in communication with the computer network and provides a communication link between them; the second node operating selectively in a fax-to-data mode in which this second node receives information from the first node via the first communication network and communicates the representative data of the information to a destination via the computer network; the second node that is sensitive to the commands it receives from the first node to start the fax-to-data mode operation. 26. The system of claim 24, wherein the function that generates and sends facsimile comprises fax device circuitry and the function that receives and sends e-mail address comprises device circuitry that receives and sends P1258 / 99MX separate email address of the fax device's circuitry. The system of claim 24, wherein, the function that generates and sends facsimile and the function that receives and sends email address share at least some common circuitry. 28. A method for communicating information that is originally found as a paper image, the method comprises the steps of: establishing an open communication line between a first node in a first communication network and a GATEWAY node in the first communication network; transmit an email address from the first node to the GATEWAY node (PASARELA) by the open communication line; keep the open communication line open; Issue a request from the GATEWAY node (PASARELA) to the first node that requests the transmission of a facsimile; and transmit facsimile information from the first node to the GATEWAY node through the open communication line. 29. The method of claim 27, wherein, the first transmission step includes the steps P1258 / 99 X: receiving an email address on an interface device within the first node; and transmitting the email address received by the interface device to the GATEWAY node; and wherein the second transmission step includes the steps of: generating an electronic fax image file from the image of a printed document; a fax device in the first node; transmit the image file from the fax device to the GATEWAY node. 30. The method of claim 27, further comprising the steps of: converting the facsimile information into a GATEWAY node from a first format to reformatted data in a second format; and transmitting the reformatted data to an electronic mailbox in a second communication network, this being the mailbox to which the email address is associated. 31. A method for communicating information comprising the steps of: receiving at the facsimile source sites an alphanumeric address associated with a destination of P1258 / 99MX email, generate a facsimile image on the fax device; transmit the address and facsimile image to a first communication network; route the image to a conversion medium via the first communication network; convert the image to a computer readable format according to the industry standard; and routing the computer-readable image to the email destination via the second communication network 32. The method of claim 6, wherein, the receiving step and the generating step occur each before the routing step. P1258 / 99MX