NL2003555C2 - METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SENDING, STORING AND RECEIVING FAX MESSAGES. - Google Patents

Description

Method and device for sending, storing and receiving fax messages via the internet. The invention relates to a method and device for sending, storing and receiving fax messages via the internet, wherein a fax message is sent from a fax machine to a Web server and there stored and can be received from the Web server by addressees on an electronic means of communication, such as a PC, and the like.

Such a method is known according to the state of the art.

Organizations or individuals who do not have the equipment to receive faxes directly can use a dedicated service to receive faxes as e-mail. For this purpose, an account must be created at the service, after which a fictitious fax number is assigned, which is essentially a code that is linked to an e-mail address of the recipient. This fictitious fax number must be notified in advance by the recipient to potential senders of fax messages. A sender sends a fax message to a Web server under the fictitious fax number, after which this message is stored in the account of the recipient concerned under the allocated code. The receiver can then electronically retrieve the message and save it on his PC, laptop, PDA, and the like.

This method has the drawback that every recipient who wishes to receive a fax message on a medium other than a fax machine must first have created an account with a service designated for this purpose, because otherwise no code can be assigned to the recipient. The receiver cannot be reached without this code. He is therefore obliged to create an account in order to receive faxes.

The present invention provides a solution to this problem.

According to the invention, it has now been found that the creation of an account with a fictitious fax number by potential recipients of fax messages can be omitted if the code is subsequently assigned after the fax message has been stored, after which the fax message with the aid of this code can be forwarded and / or downloaded via the internet.

All electronic communication means that can be reached via the internet can therefore receive a fax message at the regular, i.e. already existing addressing. It is also possible to send a fax message to several electronic means of communication that can be reached via the internet with regular addressing.

2

If an intended recipient does not have an internet address, the sender can deliver the code to this recipient via other means of communication, such as telephone or SMS, after which the recipient can download the fax message using a code at any internet location via a website. By assigning the code according to the invention, a fax message can also be strictly person-oriented by making the code known only to the intended recipient (s). A sender of a fax message can always reach a receiver via the internet using the coding according to the present invention.

The invention is therefore characterized in that the fax message is stored by the Web server under a code and this code is sent back to the fax machine during communication between the fax machine and the Web server and is read and / or stored there. For example, the code sent back to the fax machine can be displayed on a display of the fax machine and / or printed by the fax machine.

Another possibility is to return a confirmation message with the code to the fax number of the sender, but this is not preferred because the fax number of the sender is often suppressed and therefore cannot receive a confirmation message, because the fax number is unknown.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the Web server can be reached by a fax machine with a single dial-in number or IP address. Therefore, for sending faxes according to this embodiment of the invention, the sender basically needs only one number.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the stored fax message is forwarded via internet to one or more electronic communication means with regular addressing.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the stored fax message is downloaded via the internet using the allocated code.

The method according to the present invention can be realized with the aid of many communication networks and protocols. Fax machines communicate with each other 30 according to a certain protocol (for example the T.30 protocol). To realize the method according to the present invention, a Web server must communicate with a fax machine according to the same protocol, after a connection has been made via a communication network.

The invention further provides a device for applying the method, as defined above, comprising at least one fax machine and a Web server or fax modem functionally connected thereto, the fax machine being arranged to send messages to the Web server or the can send a fax modem and receive and display and / or store messages from the Web server or the fax modem, and wherein the Web server or the fax modem is arranged such that it can receive and store messages from the at least one fax machine, and send messages to can return the at least one fax machine, characterized in that after receiving a fax message from the at least one fax machine, the Web server or fax modem stores the fax message under a code number and sends this code number to the at least one fax machine, after which the code number is sent through the at least one fax machine 10 is displayed and / or stored.

The invention will now be further elucidated with reference to the following drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the system and method according to the invention with its various application options; Figure 2 shows a flow chart of the communication between a fax machine of the sender and the Web server according to the invention; and

Figure 3 shows a flow chart of the communication between the sender of a fax message via a Web server and the intended recipient (s).

With reference to Figure 1, a sender sends a fax message with a fax machine (1) via a communication network (2) to a Web server (3). The Web server stores the fax message while assigning a code and then sends this code back via the communication network (2) to the fax machine (1) of the sender. The code appears in the display and / or memory of the fax machine (1). The sender notes the code when it appears in the display or prints a confirmation of receipt, in which the code is stated. The Web server (3) is linked to the internet with an internet (IP) address and can be reached via a website. The sender can visit the Webserver's website using a computer with an internet connection and forward his stored fax message with the code under which it is stored to other internet addresses, such as e-mail addresses. The receiver can then retrieve and store the message 30 electronically, for example on a laptop (5), PC (6) or PDA (7). The sender can also forward the fax message to one or more fax machines with internet (IP) address (8). It is also possible for the sender to pass on the code to the receiver in a random manner, so that the receiver can download the fax message via the website of the Web server using the code.

4

In order to make a connection between the fax machine (1) and the Web server (3), a communication network (2) is required. This can be a PSTN (public switched telephone network) network. The Web server (3) must be equipped with a modem that can be reached with a telephone number or a PSTN-IP Gateway can be used. In the latter case, the Web server (3) can be reached via an internet (IP) address. When there is a connection between the fax machine (1) and the Web server (3), the fax is logged in a fax log and written to the Web server database with a script. The database ensures that every record (fax) is given a unique code. The assigned code is immediately sent back to the Local 10 identifier setting of the fax machine. The Local identifier setting where the code is written is the location where (in communication between two fax machines) the fax number or name of the recipient is usually written.

Figure 2 schematically shows the communication between the sender of a fax message from a fax machine and a Web server. When a sender sends a fax message to a Web server, a connection is made via a PSTN or PSTN-IP Gateway. Preferably a unique dial-in number or IP address is used for the Web server. After the connection is established, the Web server receives the fax message and the database receives the command to save the fax message. The database then creates a code under which the message is stored and then the message is stored in the database under this code. During the reception of the fax message, the Web server sends the generated code back to the fax machine, where it can be read, for example on a display, and / or printed and / or stored. The sender notes or prints the assigned code. Finally, after receiving the fax 25 and sending the code, the connection between the fax machine and the Web server is broken.

Figure 3 shows the communication between the sender of a fax message via a Web server and the intended recipient (s). In principle there are two communication lines. The sender, who has sent a fax message to the Web server and has received a code therefor, visits the web-linked Web server where the fax message is stored via a website in question and has access to the fax message with the code received. The sender sends the message via internet (for example by means of e-mail) to the intended recipient (s) with an internet address.

The sender can also pass on the assigned code to the intended recipient (s) 35, for example via telephone, SMS or internet. The recipient then visits via a website the Web server linked to the internet where the fax message is stored and has access to the stored fax message with the code provided by the sender. The recipient then receives the message, for example on the display of his PC, laptop or PDA, takes note of this and / or downloads it.

It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that modifications and adaptations can be made to the method described in this application without departing from the essence of the invention. For example, a fax modem instead of a Web server can be used in communication with the fax machine and the fax modem can be linked to a Web server. Such modifications and modifications are also included in this invention.

Claims (6)

Method for sending, storing and receiving fax messages via the internet, wherein a fax message is sent from a fax machine to a Web server and stored there and can be received from the Web server by addressees on an electronic communication means, characterized in that the fax message is stored by the Web server under a code and this code is sent back to the fax machine during communication between the fax machine and the Web server and is read and / or stored there, 10 Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the code sent back to the fax machine is displayed and / or printed on a display of the fax machine Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the Web server is reached by a fax machine with a single dial-in number or IP address. 4. Method as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stored fax message is transmitted via the internet to one or more electronic communication means with a regular addressing by means of the allocated code. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the stored fax message can be received and / or downloaded via the internet using the allocated code. 25 Device for applying the method as defined in any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising at least one fax machine and a functionally connected Web server or fax modem, the fax machine being arranged to send messages to the Web server or the can send a fax modem and receive and display and / or store messages from the Web server or the fax modem, and wherein the Web server or the fax modem is arranged such that it can receive and store messages from the at least one fax machine and send messages to the can return at least one fax machine, characterized in that after receiving a fax message from the at least one fax machine, the Web server or fax modem stores the fax message under a code number and sends this code number to the at least one fax machine, after which the code number is sent through the at least one fax machine is displayed and / or stored.