WO1992002098A1

WO1992002098A1 - A companion to a facsimile machine that will transfer and receive data on a floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, or optical disk

Info

Publication number: WO1992002098A1
Application number: PCT/US1991/001456
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernard Press; Robin Ross Cooper
Original assignee: Bernard Press; Robin Ross Cooper
Priority date: 1990-07-16
Filing date: 1991-03-04
Publication date: 1992-02-06
Also published as: CA2087434A1; EP0539376A4; EP0539376A1

Abstract

The system relates to transmitting binary data, picture data, or text data from a computer floppy disk, a hard disk, magnetic tape, or optical disk. The system is contained in a single console unit and is called a FISK (12) (the name FISK implies FAXING a DISK). The sender would have a FISK unit (12) console and the receiver would have a similar FISK console unit (12). The sender can insert a diskette into the sending disk drive (22) or indicate a file name located on a hard disk on magnetic tape or on optical disk, dial the desired phone number from the keyboard (50), and in moments have the data transferred to another FISK unit (12) or to a FAX machine (48). In addition, the FISK console unit (12) can receive data from another FISK (12) or a FAX machine (48) and store the information on a diskette, a hard disk, on magnetic tape, or on optical disk. The telephone line used by the sender for his FISK unit console (12) is the same one that the user normally has his FAX machine (48) connected to.

Description

Description A Companion To A Facsimile Machine That Will Transfer And Receive

Data On A Floppy Disk. Hard Disk, Magnetic Tape, or Optical Disk

Technical Field

The invention relates to a system for transmitting binary data, picture data, or text data from a magnetic storage medium to another person at a work station remote from that sender. The magnetic medium that could be used is floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, or optical disk. In order to reduce redundancy, however, then medium that will be primarily presented is computer floppy disk.

Background Art

Presently businesses that have FAX machines have them connected to telephone lines whose only use is for transmitting and receiving letters, drawings, and similar material. This results in the FAX telephone line being unused a considerable portion of the day;

There are also times when individuals or offices wish to transmit a complete diskette or certain files from their diskettes to a person located remotely from the person sending i that data. With use of applicant's nove disk console unit, it is possible for the user to transmit complete diskettes or files from diskettes over the same telephone line that has been set aside specifically for FAX communications. It is an object of the invention to provide a novel syst for transmitting binary data, picture data, or text data from computer floppy disk by using the novel FISK console unit.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a nove FISK console unit that is compatible with existing FAX machin so the FISK console unit can be connected in series with them.

It is another object of the invention to provide a nove FISK console unit that allows the telephone line devoted to t FAX machine to have a multiple purpose.

Currently the only way to remotely transfer computer fil is by using two computers, connected to two modems, ea connected to a telephone line. This configuration poses problem to the sending party, however, it is a major problem the receiving party- for the following reasons:

The receiving party's computer must be turned ON

A Modem must be connected to the computer and turned ON

The Modem must be able to handle the proper transmissio speed, (baud rate)

A communications software program must be loaded into th computer's memory and be set to "wait" for a phone call

Certain switches in the communications software must b properly set (baud rate, parity, stop bits etc.)

There must be enough disk space available to successfull transfer the file

Also, once a person has established communication with remote computer, they often have the ability to browse into area where sensitive or secret material might be kept. Additionally, in order for^' an office to have a computer dedicated to sending and receiving data files, there would need to be a substantial investment in the basic computer equipment, plus the communications equipment, plus the additional phone line, plus the training involved in showing someone how to handle a system or power failure.

Therefore, if a device could be made available that was designed to share the phone line already dedicated to the FAX, was properly set to receive a transmission as soon as it was turned on, required virtually no training for it's basic functions, gave the user countless options for both sending and receiving data, and was cost effective, then data file transmissions would become more common place therefore lowering a company's "Overnight Mail" costs, allowing the data to arrive almost immediately, eliminate the need to re-key information into another computer, and offer the receiving party different options for either storing or printing the information.

Disclosure —of Inventio_jn-

The novel system for transmitting binary data, picture data, or text data from a computer floppy disk utilizes a unit known as the FISK console. This FISK console has a CPU, a sending disk drive, a receiving disk drive, a diskette autoloader, an LCD display, a keyboard, a modem, a phone input terminal and a phone output terminal, a serial port, and a parallel port, a tray to hold ejected diskettes, and a labeling mechanism. The FISK could also be expanded to include a hard disk, a magnetic tape machine. and an optical disk drive.

The FISK console unit has a telephone jack from an existi phone outlet connected to the phone input terminal of t console. A second jack has its one end connected to the pho output terminal of the console and its other end is connected the phone input terminal of the FAX machine.

A typical application for the FISK console unit is when t user wishes to send data disk-to-disk to another person at remote work station or location. The user does not want the F machine to be involved. The sender puts in a disk, selects predetermined program on the keyboard telling the machine wh functions he wants it to do, such as dial the telephone of t recipient of the data. Next the FISK console unit at the remo site answers the telephone and it understands the information to be transmitted to its disk drive. The sender machine asks a disk drive is available and the receiver FISK console un answers, yes there is. The sending unit then tells the receiv unit it wants to send data and information that is to go on disk. The receiver is also supposed to place a label on t disk, and eject it from the machine. When the receiving un responds everything is clear, the transmission begins. When is finished the receiving FISK console unit labels the disket and ejects it from the machine.

The FISK console unit also has other capabilities when i reaches a receiver that only has a FAX machine. In this instan the sender internally determines whether the data is text data picture data. If it is text or picture data the sending FI console unit then sends the appropriate encoded picture signal data to the FAX which will produce printed pages of information. The FISK console unit can also receive information from an incoming call whether it is from a FAX or another FISK.

Also the FISK console unit will monitor all transmissions going over the phone line to the FAX. If there are no instructions for the FISK console unit to take control, then it will remain idle. As soon as the FISK console unit detects a new phone call and an instruction to take control, it will first instruct the FAX machine to shut down. The FISK console unit will then find out if a new diskette is required, or if the data is to be transferred to the existing diskette in the receiver disk drive. If a new diskette is required, the FISK console unit will eject the old diskette into a disk tray in front of the unit, pull down a new diskette from the autoloader above, and start receiving the transmission. As soon as the transmission has ended, the FISK console unit will terminate the call. If the sender specifies a new diskette, the FISK console unit will print the desired label (information supplied by way of a keyboard command from the sender), place the label on the diskette, eject the disk into the disk tray, and pull down another diskette from above.

An additional feature of the FISK console unit is it determines the formatting of a diskette. When the receiver disk pulls a new diskette into the receiver disk drive it can determine if the diskette has not been formated (if no directory information can be found) , or if the formatting does not match the sending diskette. The FISK console unit can then format th disk appropriately.

The FISK console unit will also appropriately handle erro conditions. If a disk' is full, then the FISK will label th disk, eject the disk into the disk tray in front, pull down a ne disk from above, format the disk if necessary, and continue th transmission. If a failure to write to a disk occurs, the FIS will label the disk with the words "A failure occured whil trying to write to this disk." on the disk, eject the disk int the disk tray in front, pull down a new disk from above, forma the disk if necessary, and continue the transmission. If th sending FISK encounters a failure to read part of all of a dis in the sending disk drive, then the FISK will terminate th transmission, display the message "A failure occured while tryin to read this disk." will appear on the LCD display, and a bel will .continue to sound until the user presses a key on th keyboard.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating the manner in whic one FISK console unit is connected to a remote FISK console unit;

Figure 2 is a front perspective wiew of the FISK console unit;

Figure 3 is a specific schematic diagram of the FISK consol unit and its components; and

Figure 4 is a general schematic diagram of the FISK console unit connected to a facsimile machine. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Applicant's novel system for transmitting binary data, picture data or text data will now be described by referring to Figures 1-3 of the drawings. The entire system is generally designated numeral 10. It has a pair of remotely located FISK console units 12 that are connected together by conventional telephone transmission lines 14.

Each FISK console unit 12 has a housing 16 within which is mounted a CPU 18, receiver disk drive 20, sending disk drive 22, LCD display 24, and modem 26. An autoloader 26 is mounted on top of housing 16. An ejected disk tray 30 is positioned in front of receiver disk drive 20. Housing 16 has a phone input terminal 34 and a phone output terminal 36. A jack 38 is connected between phone outlet 40 and phone input terminal 34. A jack 44 is connected between phone output terminal 36 and phone input terminal 46 of FAX machine 48. A keyboard 50 is connected to the rear of housing 16. A labeling device 51 can be placed inbetween the receiver disk drive 20 and the ejected disk tray 30. The FISK can have up to 5 expansion slots 52 in the CPU 18 that will accomodate networking or a more sophisticated monitor. Floppy disk drive controller cards 53 must be used to interface with the CPU 18. A power supply 54 must also b- _j-ed to supply adequate power to the FISK. If a FISK is configured with both 5 1/4" disk drives as well as 3 1/2" disk drives, then a disk preference toggle switch 55 will need to be set to indicate the users preference of disk sizes if the FISK cannot determine the best size disk to use. The "Call back while formatting disks" toggle switch 56 will be set if the FISK should terminate the phone cal and call the sender back when a new disk needs to be formatted The FAX/FISK/BOTH toggle switch 57 is used by the remote FISK t decide what to do in the case that information is being sent fro a FAX. The user can also use this switch to force data to b sent to either the remote FAX, the remote FISK or both. Th serial port 58 and the parallel port are provided on the FISK t allow both a printer and a scanner and therefore eliminate th need for a FAX machine.

When the FISK receives a call The phone line in 38 is connected between the phone outlet 40 and the CPU 18. Inside the CPU, the phone line in 38 is connected to a modem 26. If a call is detected, the remote FIS will first try and.let the FAX answer the call. If there is remote FAX and the FAX answers the call, then the FISK. ill monitor the information coming across the phone line with the demodulator inside the FISK's internal modem to determine whether the calling party is a FAX, a FISK, or a computer. The FISK can always determine which" device is sending a communication by reading the indentification string of characters both the FAX and the FISK send. Within this string, specific information about the make and model of the device are always transmitted. If the identification string contains the literal "FISK", then the sending device will be assumed to be a FISK or a computer under FISK emulation. If there is no identification string, the sending device will be assumed to be a personal computer using a standard communications software program. If the FAX does not answer the phone call within 4-rings, then the FISK will assume no FAX is connected, and the FISK will answer the call. Receiving Information from another FISK

A user that is transmitting from a FISK will have already indicated whether the transmission is directed to the remote FISK or the remote FAX, or BOTH (the FISK user menus are described later in this document) . The user's selection will be transmitted in a single byte called the FAX/FISK/BOTH soft switch which is also part of the identification string.. This switch will inform the FISK of the ultimate destination of the transmission. If the FAX/FISK/BOTH soft switch is set to send the transmission to the FAX, the FISK will simply remain idle while the transmission is taking place. If the FAX/FISK/BOTH soft switch is set to send the information to the FISK, then the remote FISK will disconnect the transmission thru the phone line out 44 to the FAX, and begin to accept the transmission. If the FAX/FISK/BOTH soft switch is set to BOTH, then both the FISK and the FAX will accept the transmission.

Rece.fving Information from a FAX

When the FISK determines a transmission is coming from a FAX, the FISK will first find out if the local FAX answered the phone call. If the local FAX did not answer the call, then the FISK must take the transmission itself. If the FISK determines there is a local FAX machine, then the FISK will query the status of the hardware FAX/FISK/BOTH switch mounted on the side of the FISK. This switch will normally be set to the FAX position which means a transmission from a FAX will be directed to the local FAX. If this switch is set to FISK, then the transmission wil be accepted by the FISK. If this switch is set to both, then th transmission will be accepted by both the FISK and the FAX. Thi hardware switch allows the remote user to store the transmission in many different ways. If the transmission is determined to b directed to the local FAX, then the FISK will simply remain idl until the transmission is complete. If the transmission is to b sent to the FISK, then the FISK will terminate the communicatio over the phone line out 44 and receive the transmission. Receiving Information from a Computer

If the FISK receives a transmission from a personal compute using a standard communications software program, the FISK wil terminate the communication over the phone line out 44 to the FA and receive the transmission. A FAX board on a personal compute will be assumed by the FISK to be a FAX machine. If a persona computer is using FISK emulation software, then the FISK wil assume the sending device to be a FISK.

If at any time the FISK receives an "Out Of Disk Space" error message from^" the operating system, the FISK will place label on the Diskette currently in the Drive, eject the Diskett into the Disk Tray 30 in front of the unit, and pull a ne diskette down from the autoloader above 28. If the FISK canno find a new Diskette in the autoloader above, the FISK will, sen the error message "The remote FISK is out of Disk Space" to th sending machine, and then terminate the transmission. If th sending FISK receives the "The remote FISK is out of Disk Space message, then it will display the message on the LCD screen 24, and sound a bell until a key on the keyboard has been pressed.

Some space on every diskette, hard disk, magnetic tape, or optical disk, in a FISK is reserved for directory information.

This directory is a text file that conatins the following information: Date of Transmission, Time of transmission. Sending Party's Phone Number, Size of the File, Type of File (as can best be determined), and the verbage that was printed on the label (if the sender opted to put a label on the Disk) .

If a disk is autoloaded into the disk drive and the disk is determined to be formatted, then the FISK will erase the directory of the disk so the disk will be considered empty, allowing the disk *to be completely re-filled.

The most efficient way to use a FISK is to always format the floppy disks before they are stacked into the autoloader. The formatting process can easily be accomplished by the FISK, however, it can be a time consuming process while the phone is connected to a long distance party. Therefore, the FISK is equipped with a toggle switch called the "Call Back While Formatting Disks" switch. If the switch is set and the sending device is a FISK then the receiving FISK will query the sending FISK for it's phone number. Then the receiving FISK will terminate the call, format the disk, and then call the original sender back, and resume the transmission. The remote FISK will respond with a busy signal to any caller until the remote FISK has completed the transmission with the original sender. The sending FISK will also be instructed not to receive any phone calls until the transmission is complete. The different kinds of formats supported in a FISK are as follows: single sided/singl density, double sided/double density and high density. Th storage capacities are as follows: 180 kilobytes, 360 kilobytes 740 kilobytes, 1.2 megabytes, and 1.4 megabytes. If the FIS encounters a serious error while attempting to format a Diskette the FISK will attempt to format the Diskette with the next lowes density until the Disk is successfully formatted. If th Diskette cannot be successfully formatted, the FISK will ejec the "Bad Disk" into the Disk Tray in front 30, and pull a ne Disk down from above and try again. If there is more informatio on the sending Disk than can be transferred to the receiving Dis as a result of different formats, the receiving FISK will requir multiple Diskettes to complete the transfer.

The FISK will know to format the disk if the operating system returns a "General Disk Failure" error message. Also, i a FISK receives an instruction to make a duplicate disk copy o the whole disk and the format of the disk in the sending FISK i different than the format of the receiving FISK, then the FIS will attempt to re-format the receiving disk to be identical t the sending disk.

When the FISK Initiates a Call

The FISK uses a menu driven interface to take instructions from the user. The LCD display and the keyboard allow the use to quickly and easily indicate their choices (the FISK menus ar provided later in this document) . The user can select man choices such as the destination device (FAX or FISK), a desire label on the diskettes, and the different people who are t receive the transmission. The user can also indicate whether individual files are to be transmitted, or if a complete disk copy is to be made. If individual files are being transmitted, then the remote FISK will simply add this information on to the disk that is currently in the disk drive labeled "RECEIVE". When this disk becomes full of individual files, then the label is placed on the disk, the disk is ejected into the disk tray, and a new disk is pulled down from the autoloader above. If a complete copy is to be made of the sender's disk, then the receiving FISK will look to see if the disk currently in the drive labeled "RECEIVE" is empty. If the disk is empty, then this disk will be used to make the copy. If the disk is not empty, then the FISK will eject the partially used disk into the disk tray in front, pull down a new disk from above, make the duplicate copy, label the disk, eject the disk into the disk tray, and then pull a new disk down from above.

Sending Information to a FISK If a FISK is sending information to another FISK, then the local FISK will either dial the telephone number entered by the user, or look-up the telephone number inside the FISK's phone book kept in RAM memory, and then dial the number. When the connection has been made to the remote c- Lee, the sending FISK will transmit an identification string indicating that the destination device is to be a FISK. When the sending FISK receives a "ready to receive" instruction from the remote FISK, (XON, XOFF protocall), the FISK will begin to send the transmission. Sending Information to a FAX If a FISK is sending information to a FAX, then the FIS will try to make a determination whether the data file contai image data in PCX format or if the data is in a text file forma If the information appears to be in PCX format, then the FI will scan the data file and transmit the proper scan lines order for the remote FAX to print the appropriate graphi picture. If the file does not appear to be in PCX format, th the FISK will attempt to read the file as if it were a standa text file, by reading in an entire line, and transmitting t proper scan lines to the FAX (similar to the way FAX PC boar operate now) . If the data does not appear to be either PC format or text format, then the FISK will send the information if the file were a .text file.

Sending Information to a Computer If the user selects a remote computer to receive th transmission, then the FISK will operate as if the remote devic was a. FISK, however, if an "Out of Disk Space" error message i detected, then the transmission will be terminated.

Additional FISK Options The FISK can be equipped with 5 1/4 inch Disk Drives, 3 1/ inch Disk Drives or both. If both the 5 1/4 inch Drives and th 3 1/2 inch drives are desired, there would be a total of 4 Dis Drives (two being autoloaded) . The remote FISK will try to us the same size Disk as the sending Fisk. If the FISK has problem determining which size Disk to use, the FISK will query hardware switch on the FISK 55 to find the users preferred Dis s i ze . I f no more Di sks of t*hat s i ze can be f ound in the autoloader 28 , then the FISK will attempt to use the remaining different sized Diskettes .

The FISK will be able to have up to 8 personal computer style expansion slots , a parallel port , and a 25 pin RS-232 serial port . One or more expansion slots can be used to hold a " local area network" card such as Novell or Ethernet . The parallel port can be used to attach a printer , and the serial port can be used to attach a scanner.

The FISK can be a very important component part to a Local Area Network that will handle all telecommunications . A Local Area Network always has at least one node that acces se s information on the hard disk called the "File Server" . The FISK can be a node on the network that handles all the communications for each node on the network, and therefore be considered the "Communications Server" . The FISK can also be designed to have multiple telephone lines coming both coming into the unit and going out from the unit to handle a large number of users on the network.

The FISK uses a relatively small LCD screen that will display approximately 10 lines of 40 characters per line . The FISK could optionally allow a video card to be plugged into an expansion slot 52 and therefore a full size personal computer video monitor could be used.

The keyboard is small and light containing the 26 letters of the alphabet, the numbers 0 thru 9 , a space bar, an ENTER key, a YES key, a NO key, and 4 direction arrows . The FISK can be equipped with a Hard Disk Drive instead of Floppy Drive and an Autoloader. This would be particularl useful in a network environment where the various nodes on th network could query the FISK set up as an alternative Drive an given a Drive Letter such as E or F.

A FISK could additionally be equipped with a magnetic tap machine that could both read and write to tape instead o diskettes or a hard disk. This could be especially beneficia when the information to be transferred is music. The design an the functions of a FISK would be identical with the exceptio that the medium the data would be stored on is magnetic tape.

A FISK could also be equipped with an optical disk device that could both read- and write to optical disk instead of an other electronic data storage medium. This could be especiall beneficial when the information to be transferred is video i nature. Audio could also be effectively transmitted with thi enhancement.

The FISK can be built with only a few features or with many features. The most simple FISK contains only one disk drive, modem, a keyboard, and an LCD display, and an option for a seria and a parallel port. There is no autoloading capability and n disk ejection capability with this simple configuration. Thi unit will be well suited for somebody who does not send dat files very frequently, and who cannot afford a more expensiv unit. This low end FISK will simply be a single diskett attachment to their existing FAX machine. A sophisticated FIS can contain all or a few of the following: (2) 5 1/4" disk drives as well as (2) 3 1/2" disk drives, (2) autoloaders, a hard disk drive, a printer, a scanner, a tape machine, an optical disk machine, a personal computer style monitor, OCR software, cross comilation software, and network hardware and other kinds of hardware plugged into the expansion slots in the motherboard of the FISK. These additional features will provide solutions for specific data transmission problems for many kinds of businesses. The FISK could potentially be outfitted with many different kinds of diskette autoloaders. Datapath Technologies, Inc. in Fremont California has developed an autoloader that is well suited for the FISK. Many other companies that manufacture disk duplication equipment also have autoloaders that could be used effectively on the FISK. The FISK, however, will probably be equipped with an autoloader that is manufactured specifically for the FISK. The autoloader will be directly connected to a floppy disk drive such as a TEAC FD55BR, 5 1/4", 48TPI, 360K Drive. The autoloader will also have it's own controller board that will be able to send commands such as "Eject a Disk", and "Load a New Disk". A graphic image on the FISK should always be stored in PCX format. The FISK will always compress the information before it is transmitted. If the transmission is directed toward another FISK, a data compression routine such as one supplied by PKWARE, INC. in Glendale Wisσonson, will be initiated. The PKWARE compression software will determine the best method of compressing the data to be transferred. Compression will be performed on picture data, text data, and binary data. At the receiving end, the uncompression software will open the previously transferred file, read the header information from th file, and begin to properly uncompress the data. The FISK ma also have proprietary compression/uncompression softwar embedded in ROM memory that will accomplish the same purpose. I the sending FISK determines the receiving device is a FAX, the the FISK will be able to choose from three different compressio techniques as follows: MR, M2R, and MH. The FISK will b equipped with an encoder that will allow picture or text data t be properly compressed and uncompressed. These compressio techniques will greatly improve the time it takes to transmit th data.

The FISK can have many application programs in ROM memory. One of these is Optical Character Recognition (OCR) . This program can read the contents of an image file and convert the image into a much smaller text file that can then be manipulated by a word processor. Another software program that can be made available on a FISK is a cross compiler. A cross compiler can take an executable file and make the appropriate adjustments in order to create another executable file that can operate on a different operating system. The operator of the FISK would use the keyboard on the FISK to indicate which of these software programs is selected, and which file needs to be translated. The files to be converted would need to be in the Disk Drive labeled "SEND" in order to keep the Disk Drive labeled "RECEIVE" prepared for an incoming call. This process would need to take place when the FISK is not on-line with a remote device. If a phone call came in to the FISK, the software program currently running would be suspended until the phone call has been completed, then the software program would resume operation.

The FISK could be used to duplicate diskettes. The master disk can be placed into the disk drive labeled "SEND". The autoloader can be filled with up to 60 blank diskettes. The keyboard of the FISK can then be used to indicate how many copies are to be made. (An exceptable option is to copy all of the disks in the autoloader.) The FISK would then make all the copies indicated, and could also label each one.

The FISK can be set to automatically format -disks. The autoloader can be first filled with up to 60 blank diskettes. The keyboard of the FISK can then be used to indicate how many disks are to be formatted. (An exceptable option is to format all of the disks in the autoloader.) The FISK would then format all the specified diskettes.

The labeling mechanism can be handled in two ways. The simplest method is to use the printer attached to the parallel port of the FISK to print the information on tractor fed disk labels. One for each disk that lands in the disk tray in front of the FISK. A more sophisticated approach is to place a small ink jet printer inside the autoloader, above the disk in the floppy disk drive that will print on •*» ^lank label that was placed on the disk by the user before the disk was dropped into the autoloader. The most sophisticated method is to have a small printer inside the autoloader, above the disk in the floppy disk drive that will print the label, then feed the label thru a cutter that will remove the back of the label exposing the sticky side of the label. Then a small roller can place pressure on the label making the label stick on the disk.

FISK System Menus The software that operates the FISK will be completely menu driven, displaying commands on the LCD display, and receiving commands from the keyboard. After turning the FISK "ON", the main menu will appear on the LCD display.

The FISK will display a main menu as follows:

FISK Main Menu._.

1. Transfer File(s)

2. Set-Up Phone Book

3. Send a quick memo

4. OCR or Cross Compile

5. Disk Utilities

If the user selects the "Transfer File(s)" option, the following screen will appear:

FISK Transfer Files

1. Transfer the Entire Disk

2. Transfer Individual Files

3. Go back to the Main Menu

If the user selects the "Transfer Individual Files" option, a screen will appear that will allow them to indicate the files they want to be transferred as follows:

~> FILE1.001 FILE5.001 FILE09.001 FILE13.001

FILE2.001 FILE6.001 FILE10.001 FILE14.001

FILE3.001 FILE7.001 FILEll.001 FILE15.001

FILE4.001 FILE8.001 FILE12.001 FILE16.001 MORE

By using the arrow keys on the keyboard, the user can point to the different file names on the disk in the "Sending" disk drive. When the user presses the ENTER key on the keyboard, the file name being pointed to is highlighted and therefore selected to be transferred.

As soon as the FISK knows which files are designated to be transferred, the following screen will appear:

Do you want to copy the files to a specific subdirectory?

Enter Yes or No If the user selects YES, the following screen will appear:

Enter the Subdirectory Name then press ENTER.

As soon as the subdirectory information is entered, then the next screen will appear:

Would you like to use the phone book Y/N?

If the user answers NO by pressing the 'N* key, then the following screen will appear:

Please enter phone number

If the user answers YES to the question "Would you like to x≠ use the phone book" by pressing the 'Y' key, then the following screen will appear:

—> Alan Smith Mark Mays Red Cross

Bell Laboratories Nancy Cramer Sam Smith Johnson & Johnson Oliver Terrell Steve Simone Kelly Thompson Paul Martin Tom James Leslie Jones Pete Hanson Victor Sheridan MO By using the arrow keys on the keyboard, the user can point to the different names that are currently in the FISK's phone book. When the user presses the ENTER key on the keyboard, the name being pointed to is highlighted and therefore selected to be called.

At this point the FISK knows which files will be transferred and who will receive the transmissions. Then the following screen will appear:

FISK Transfer Files

1. Transfer data to the remote FISK

2. Transfer data to the remote FAX

3. Transfer to BOTH FISK and FAX

4. Transfer data to a personal computer

5. Go back to the Main Menu

If the destination device selected above is the FISK or BOTH, then the following question will appear:

Enter the Label to be placed on the Diskette

The final question will then be asked as follows:

Are you ready to start transmitting Y/N

If the user presses 'Y', then the transmission will begin. If the user presses 'N', then the FISK will return to the Main Menu. If the user selects "Set-Up Phone Book", the following screen will appear:

Set-Up Phone Book

1. Display Phone Book Entries

2. Add a Listing

3. Edit a Listing

4. Delete a Listing

5. Go back to the Main Menu

The user can select these options in order to define companies and individuals that commonly receive transmissions.

If the user selects "Send a quick memo", then the user will first be asked to enter the memo. Then the user will either select the telephone number to be dialed, or use the Phone Book to indicate the -people who are supposed to receive the transmission. The user can also indicate whether the transmission will be sent to the remote FISK or the remote FAX.

If the user selects "OCR or Cross Compile", the following screen will appear:

OCR or Cross Compile

1. Optical Character Recognition

2. Cross Compile

3. Go back to the Main Menu

The user has many options at this point. The OCR and the Cross Compile can be performed either locally, or during the data transfer process. Similar to the "Transfer File(s)" menu option, the FISK will present many screens asking the user to enter the appropriate instructions. If the user selects "Disk Utilities", the following scree will appear:

Disk Utilities

1. Display Files on "Sending" Disk Drive

2. Display Files on "Receiving" Disk Drive

3. Edit a File

4. Duplicate Disks

5. Format Disks

6. Go back to the Main Menu

The user can display information on file to either the LCD display or to the local FAX. The user can also edit a file if correction needs to be made, and the user can additionall duplicate a batch of disks locally.

Claims

Claims 1. A system for transmitting binary data, picture data, or text data from a computer floppy disk comprising: a first FISK console unit located at a work station X and having the following components:

ve to said CPU

al a phone output term nal a FAX machine having a phone input terminal; and means connecting the phone output terminal of said FISK console unit to the phone input terminal of said FAX machine.

2. A system for transmitting binary data, picture data, text data from a computer floppy disk as recited in claim 1 further comprising a disk autoloader and means for transferring the disks therein to said receiving disk drive.

3. A system for transmitting^"binary data, picture data, or text data from a- computer floppy disk as recited in claim 1 further comprising an ejected disk tray and means for ejecting disk from said receiving disk drive.

4. A system for transmitting binary data, picture data, or

^*' i ^' text data from a computer floppy dis*. s recited in claim 1 further comprising a second FISK console unit located at a work station Z that is remote from work station X; a second FAX machine connected to the phone output terminal of said second

FISK console unit; a telephone line system connecting the phone input terminal of the respective FISK console units.

5. A system for transmitting binary data, picture data o text data from a computer floppy disk as recited in claim further comprising an RS-232 serial port connected to said CPU.

6. A system for transmitting binary data, picture data o text data from a computer floppy disk as recited in claim further comprising a parallel port connected to said CPU.

7. A system for transmitting binary data, picture data o text from a computer floppy disk as recited in claim 1 wherei said CPU has expansion slots allowing networking capability.

8. A system for transmitting binary data, picture data o text from a computer floppy disk as recited in claim 1 furthe comprising a floppy.-disk labeler connected to said receive dis drive.

9. A system for transmitting binary data, picture data or text from a computer floppy disk as recited in claim 1 furthe comprising an optical disk drive connected to said CPU.

10. A system for transmitting binary data, picture data or text from a computer floppy disk as recited in claim 1 furthe comprising a ROM memory capable of holding operating software an many software applications.

11. A system for transmitting binary data, picture data or text from a computer floppy disk as recited in claim 1 further comprising a hard disk drive connected to said CPU.

12. A system for transmitting binary data, picture data or text from a computer floppy disk as recited in claim 1 further comprising a magnetic tape machine drive connected to said CPU.

13. A system for transmitting binary data, picture data or text from a computer floppy disk as recited in claim 1 further comprising hardware option switches and means for switching from a 3 1/2 floppy disk to a 5 1/4 floppy disk.

14. A system for transmitting binary data, picture data or text from a computer floppy disk as recited in claim 1 wherein said CPU has at least two floppy controllers, one being connected to said receiving disk drive and the other being connected to said sending disk drive.