WO1996033453A1 - Fax machine with answer-back capability - Google Patents

Fax machine with answer-back capability Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1996033453A1
WO1996033453A1 PCT/EP1996/001605 EP9601605W WO9633453A1 WO 1996033453 A1 WO1996033453 A1 WO 1996033453A1 EP 9601605 W EP9601605 W EP 9601605W WO 9633453 A1 WO9633453 A1 WO 9633453A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cpu
fax
fax machine
image information
program
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP1996/001605
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Johann Fendt
Original Assignee
Johann Fendt
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Johann Fendt filed Critical Johann Fendt
Publication of WO1996033453A1 publication Critical patent/WO1996033453A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
    • H04N1/327—Initiating, continuing or ending a single-mode communication; Handshaking therefor
    • H04N1/32765—Initiating a communication
    • H04N1/32771—Initiating a communication in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
    • H04N1/32778—Initiating a communication in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document using a mark-sheet or machine-readable code request
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
    • H04N1/327—Initiating, continuing or ending a single-mode communication; Handshaking therefor
    • H04N1/32765—Initiating a communication
    • H04N1/32771—Initiating a communication in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/42—Systems for two-way working, e.g. conference systems

Definitions

  • the invention consists of a program logic in a CPU connected to a telecommunications channel and a device for using this program logic.
  • incoming image information is converted by OCR software and the following processes are triggered: reversing the direction of transmission between the sender of the image information and the receiving CPU (in the alternative case by recall); Deriving process commands for the CPU, the associated program being called up or an addressed database being controlled by the identification number (s) read on the form; Use of further translated image information as input information for the called program.
  • the task-specific form has the advantage over a standard menu of a PC that the content can be limited to exactly what is appropriate for the task.
  • the fields to be filled in on the form would be different customer characteristics, according to which the selection should be made. This completed form can then be sent from any fax machine to the recipient CPU.
  • Predefined characters preferably fulfill functions of qualified error messages or security tasks.
  • the former can be explained that, for example, the command to add a numeric character and an alpha character triggers a feedback from the system that the input for the addition contains an illegal character, namely a non-numeric character.
  • Such signs fulfill a security task, for example, in that no feedback is given on an established connection, but rather a fax number is given for a callback for the transmission of this feedback.
  • the callback fax number must either be in a database of the CPU or it must be authorized by the sender with a secret number.
  • a separate technical unit is preferably arranged as a ballast for the CPU. This can be explained with a possible difficulty in integrating the program logic into the CPU itself, in which the database to be queried is located.
  • this ballast receives image information from the telecommunications channel and, as a result of the OCR conversion, produces machine-readable output as input for the CPU.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Facsimiles In General (AREA)
  • Character Discrimination (AREA)

Abstract

Fax machines could carry out considerably more demanding tasks than those they carry out today. They use the medium with which people are most familiar: paper. The invention calls for forms containing information in standard print to be 'faxed' to a receiver CPU where the fax is converted into code using an OCR programme. While the converted dat in the CPU trigger the required operations, a telecommunications-level control command switches the fax machine round from the original 'call' mode to the 'receive' mode so that is can receive the result of the data processing carried out by the CPU. Alternatively, this can be done, for security reasons for instance, by a separate phone call back from CPU. Any fax machine anywhere in the world can therefore be upgraded to function in a way similar to a PC linked up to the telephone network, without any modifications having to be made to the fax machine itself. The use of the standard fax protocoll means that the communications problems experienced when establishing a connection in other ways disappear. The resulting equipment is not just a fax-based communications platform like those in use today, but is, in addition, a data-processing platform with the same multipurpose characteristics, but also tailored to simpler input peripheral devices than screen and keyboard.

Description

Rückantwort-FaxgerätReply fax machine
Beschreibungdescription
Die Erfindung besteht aus einer Programmlogik in einer an einen Telekommunikations¬ kanal angeschlossenen CPU sowie einer Einrichtung zur Anwendung dieser Pro¬ grammlogik.The invention consists of a program logic in a CPU connected to a telecommunications channel and a device for using this program logic.
Der bisherige Stand der Technik sieht keinen Zusammenhang zwischen "Faxgeräten" und "Computerterminals" , weil die einen Bild-Informationen verarbeiten und trans¬ portieren (wobei das "Papier" Schnittstelle zum Benutzer ist), während die anderen maschinenlesbare Codes verarbeiten und transportieren (wobei "Bildschirm und Tastatur" die Schnittstellen zum Benutzer sind).The previous state of the art sees no connection between "fax machines" and "computer terminals" because the one process and transport image information (where the "paper" is the interface to the user), while the other process and transport machine-readable codes (where "Screen and keyboard" are the interfaces to the user).
Mit der Erfindung soll eine Integration zwischen diesen beiden Funktionsbereichen "Fax" und "Computertermin.il" herbeigeführt werden. Damit werden alle weltweit vorhandenen Faxgeräte auch zu Geräten mit Funktionen aufgewertet, wie sie heute andere EDV-Peripheriegeräte erfüllen. So können gewisse Aufgaben vernetzter PC, etwa Durchführung von Datenbankabfragen, damit erfüllt werden. Die Kommunka- tionsplattform des CCITT-Faxprotokolls ist dabei die stabile Basis für den weltweit problemlosen Verbindungsaυfbau, Informationsaustausch und Transport von Pro¬ grammbefehlen als Bild-Information. Die Aufgabe wird nach der Erfindung dadurch gelöst, daß ankommende Bild-Informa¬ tionen durch eine OCR-Software umgewandelt werden und folgende Vorgänge ausgelöst werden: Umdrehen der Senderichtung zwischen Sender der Bildinformation und empfangender CPU (im alternativen Fall durch Rückruf); Ableitung von Prozeßbe¬ fehlen für die CPU, wobei durch auf dem Formular abgelesene Identifikatinsnum- mer(n) das zugehörige Programm aufgerufen bzw. eine adressierte Datenbank ange¬ steuert wird; Verwendung weiterer übersetzter Bildinformation als Eingangsinforma¬ tion für das aufgerufene Programm.With the invention, an integration between these two functional areas "fax" and "Computertermin.il" is to be brought about. This means that all fax machines available worldwide are upgraded to devices with functions that other EDP peripheral devices fulfill today. In this way, certain tasks of networked PCs, such as performing database queries, can be fulfilled. The communication platform of the CCITT fax protocol is the stable basis for the worldwide problem-free connection establishment, information exchange and transport of program commands as picture information. The object is achieved according to the invention in that incoming image information is converted by OCR software and the following processes are triggered: reversing the direction of transmission between the sender of the image information and the receiving CPU (in the alternative case by recall); Deriving process commands for the CPU, the associated program being called up or an addressed database being controlled by the identification number (s) read on the form; Use of further translated image information as input information for the called program.
Hierzu kann erläuternd angeführt werden, wie der Benutzer diese Funktionen in einer beispielhaften Aufgabenstellung handhabt: er füllt ein Formular entsprechend den vorgesehenen Feldern aus, wobei er ein Mindestmaß an Leserlichkeit der Handschrift einzuhalten hat. Das aufgabenspezifische Formular hat dabei gegenüber einem Standardmenü eines PC den Vorteil, daß es inhaltlich genau auf das beschränkt werden kann, was aufgabenspezifisch zweckmäßig ist. Bei einör Abfrage aus einer Kundendatei wären also die auszufüllenden Felder des Formulars verschiedene Kundenmerkmale, nach denen ausgewählt werden soll. Dieses ausgefüllte Formular kann dann von jedem beliebigen Faxgerät an die Empfänger-CPU abgesandt werden. Dort werden die Bild-Informationen des Formulars sofort mit einem OCR-Programm übersetzt und drei Vorgänge eingeleitet: erstens wird das absendende Fax-Gerät veranlaßt, nunmehr in Empfangsposition zu gehen (oder die CPU ruft später zurück), zweitens wird das Verarbeitungsprogramm bzw. die Datenbank in der CPU aufgeru¬ fen, und drittens werden die inhaltlichen Inputs des Absenders verarbeitet. Das Ergebnis der Verarbeitung erhält der Absender dann wieder als Bild-Information auf sein Faxgerät zurückFor this purpose, an explanation can be given of how the user handles these functions in an exemplary task: he fills out a form in accordance with the fields provided, while maintaining a minimum degree of legibility in the handwriting. The task-specific form has the advantage over a standard menu of a PC that the content can be limited to exactly what is appropriate for the task. In the case of a query from a customer file, the fields to be filled in on the form would be different customer characteristics, according to which the selection should be made. This completed form can then be sent from any fax machine to the recipient CPU. There the image information of the form is immediately translated with an OCR program and three processes are initiated: firstly, the sending fax machine is now prompted to go into the receiving position (or the CPU calls back later), secondly, the processing program or the Database called up in the CPU, and thirdly, the content-related inputs of the sender are processed. The sender then receives the result of the processing as image information on his fax machine
Vorzugsweise erfüllen vorbestimmte Zeichen Funktionen qualifizierter Fehlermeldun¬ gen oder Sicherheitsaufgaben. Ersteres kann erläutert werden, daß etwa der Befehl, ein numerisches Zeichen und ein Alphazeichen zu addieren, eine Rückmeldung des Systems auslöst, daß der Input für die Addition ein unzulässiges Zeichen enthält, nämlich ein nicht-numerisches. Eine Sicherheitsaufgabe erfüllen solche Zeichen etwa dadurch, daß kein Feedback auf stehender Verbindung gegeben wird, sondern eine Faxnummer für einen Rückruf für die Übermittlung dieses Feedback angegeben wird. Dabei muß sich die Rückruf-Faxnummer entweder in einer Datenbank der CPU befinden oder sie muß vom Absender durch eine Geheimnummer authorisiert werden.Predefined characters preferably fulfill functions of qualified error messages or security tasks. The former can be explained that, for example, the command to add a numeric character and an alpha character triggers a feedback from the system that the input for the addition contains an illegal character, namely a non-numeric character. Such signs fulfill a security task, for example, in that no feedback is given on an established connection, but rather a fax number is given for a callback for the transmission of this feedback. The callback fax number must either be in a database of the CPU or it must be authorized by the sender with a secret number.
Vorzugsweise ist bei einer Einrichtung zur Anwendung der Programmlogik eine eigene technische Einheit als Vorschaltgerät für die CPU angeordnet. Dies kann erläutert werden mit einer eventuellen Schwierigkeit, die Programmlogik in die CPU selbst, in der sich etwa die abzufragende Datenbank befindet, zu integrieren. Dieses Vorschalt- gerät erhält als Input Bild-Informationen aus dem Telekommunikationskanal und produziert als Ergebnis der OCR-Umwaπdlung maschinenlesbaren Output als Input für die CPU. In a device for using the program logic, a separate technical unit is preferably arranged as a ballast for the CPU. This can be explained with a possible difficulty in integrating the program logic into the CPU itself, in which the database to be queried is located. As input, this ballast receives image information from the telecommunications channel and, as a result of the OCR conversion, produces machine-readable output as input for the CPU.

Claims

Patentansprüche claims
1 . Programmlogik in einer an einem Telekommunkationskanal angeschlossenen CPU, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß ankommende Bild-Informationen durch eine OCR-Software umgewandelt werden und damit folgende Vorgänge ausgelöst werden: Umdrehen der Senderichtung zwischen dem Sender der Bildinformation und empfangender CPU (im alternativen Fall durch Rückruf); Ableitung von Prozeßbefehlen für die CPU, wobei durch auf dem Formular abgelesene Identifi- katinsnummer(n) das zugehörige Programm aufgerufen bzw. eine Datenbank angesteuert wird; Verwendung der übersetzten Bildinformation als Eingangs¬ information für das aufgerufene Programm.1 . Program logic in a CPU connected to a telecommunications channel, characterized in that incoming image information is converted by OCR software and the following processes are triggered: reversal of the transmission direction between the transmitter of the image information and the receiving CPU (in the alternative case by recall); Deriving process commands for the CPU, the associated program being called up or a database being activated by means of the identification number (s) read on the form; Use of the translated image information as input information for the called program.
2. Programmlogik nach Anspruch 1 , dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß vorbestimmte übersetzte Zeichen, die im Gesamtkontext keinen Sinn ergäben, eine die Informa¬ tionen berücksichtigende Fehlermeldung auslösen, oder zwecks Erfüllung von Sicherungsaufgaben die Rückmeldung an das sendende Faxgerät von bestimm¬ ten vordefinierten Bedingungen abhängig machen.2. Program logic according to claim 1, characterized in that predetermined translated characters, which make no sense in the overall context, trigger an error message taking into account the information, or make the feedback to the sending fax machine dependent on certain predefined conditions for the purpose of performing security tasks .
3. Programmlogik nach Anspruch 1 , dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Programm¬ logik in einer eigenen technischen Einheit als Vorschaltgerät für die CPU an¬ geordnet ist. 3. Program logic according to claim 1, characterized in that the program logic is arranged in a separate technical unit as a ballast for the CPU.
PCT/EP1996/001605 1995-04-20 1996-04-17 Fax machine with answer-back capability WO1996033453A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ATGM220/95 1995-04-20
AT22095U AT756U1 (en) 1995-04-20 1995-04-20 RESPONSE FAX MACHINE

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1996033453A1 true WO1996033453A1 (en) 1996-10-24

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6438716B1 (en) 1998-10-22 2002-08-20 International Business Machines Corporation Composition of error messages in an error message system based upon non-local contextual information
US6594503B1 (en) 2000-02-02 2003-07-15 Motorola, Inc. Communication device with dial function using optical character recognition, and method

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4121895A1 (en) * 1991-07-02 1992-03-26 Vilsecker Margot Remote computer operating device using bar-code facsimile - incorporates laser scanner for continuous monitoring of telefax print-out producing bar codes or OCR-decodable signals
JPH05207061A (en) * 1992-01-24 1993-08-13 Daitoukiyou Kasai Kaijo Hoken Kk Questionnaire answering system
DE4307577A1 (en) * 1992-03-10 1993-09-23 Hitachi Ltd Document information processing system for FAX transmissions - has information stored and used with databank of stored information to provide correct code data for generating transmission
JPH07307850A (en) * 1994-05-16 1995-11-21 Hitachi Ltd Interactive information processing system using facsimile equipment

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4121895A1 (en) * 1991-07-02 1992-03-26 Vilsecker Margot Remote computer operating device using bar-code facsimile - incorporates laser scanner for continuous monitoring of telefax print-out producing bar codes or OCR-decodable signals
JPH05207061A (en) * 1992-01-24 1993-08-13 Daitoukiyou Kasai Kaijo Hoken Kk Questionnaire answering system
DE4307577A1 (en) * 1992-03-10 1993-09-23 Hitachi Ltd Document information processing system for FAX transmissions - has information stored and used with databank of stored information to provide correct code data for generating transmission
JPH07307850A (en) * 1994-05-16 1995-11-21 Hitachi Ltd Interactive information processing system using facsimile equipment

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 017, no. 642 (E - 1466) 29 November 1993 (1993-11-29) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 95, no. 011 *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6438716B1 (en) 1998-10-22 2002-08-20 International Business Machines Corporation Composition of error messages in an error message system based upon non-local contextual information
US6594503B1 (en) 2000-02-02 2003-07-15 Motorola, Inc. Communication device with dial function using optical character recognition, and method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AT756U1 (en) 1996-04-25

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