Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FACSIMILE INTERFACING DEVICE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to facsimile devices, and more
particularly to interfacing devices that permit such facsimile devices to
transmit a
digital facsimile representation of a document to a recipient via electronic
mail
through a communications network such as an intranet or the Internet.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Facsimile devices, such as fax machines as they are commonly known,
have attained widespread popularity. Facsimile devices generally enable an
individual to send a facsimile of a document to a recipient, typically over
standards POTS phone lines. Such devices usually have a scanner with which a
document is scanned into a digital format, which is then compressed according
to
a common standard by a facsimile data pump. The facsimile device dials the
phone number of a recipient facsimile device, and transfers the facsimile over
the
phone lines. The recipient facsimile device decompresses and prints the
facsimile on an included or attached printer.
With the advent of the Internet and other similar manners of
communication, however, weaknesses in facsimile communication have become
increasingly apparent. Facsimile communication is typically a point-to-point
communication. The originating facsimile device dials the phone number of the
recipient facsimile device, establishing a temporary point-to-point connection
over which the facsimile is transmitted. Such communication is not well suited
for integration with Internet-type communication. That is, an individual who
otherwise can receive electronic mail from literally all over the world via
the
Internet cannot receive a simple facsimile if the individual does not have
access
to a phone line. The facsimile typically cannot "patch in" to the Internet.
Other disadvantages of facsimile communication also abound. Because
of the point-to-point nature of facsimile communication, if a recipient
facsimile
device is currently receiving a facsimile from a first originating facsimile
device,
it cannot concurrently receive a facsimile from a second originating facsimile
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device. The second originating device typically receives a busy signal when
attempting to reach the recipient device. It may take several attempts at
redialing
before the recipient device is finally reached.
Furthermore, the facsimile device is generally a stationary device tied to a
specific location, and therefore not well suited to the mobility which is now
routine in the business world. For example, an executive based in Chicago may
have his or her facsimile device located there, even though the executive may
spend a majority of time in New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles. Incoming calls
to the facsimile device are not easily directed. Typically, the executive will
instead have a staff assistant retransmit facsimiles to the facsimile device
at the
hotel where he or she is staying.
Finally, facsimile communication can become very expensive. For
example, an individual in Minneapolis may need to send facsimiles of the same
or different documents to different locations throughout Asia, typically
during
business hours. The international calling charges incurred by the individual
may
be immense. The individual also risks a facsimile not being sent properly, due
to
poor phone line conditions that exist in some countries. Therefore, although
facsimile communication is still a useful business tool, it has serious
shortcomings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above-identified as well as other shortcomings to facsimile devices
are addressed by the present invention. The invention describes an interfacing
device for a facsimile device. The interfacing device couples the facsimile
device as a node to a local-area network. The interfacing device receives a
facsimile sent by the facsimile device, and is able to route it to a recipient
electronic mail addressee over a communications network as an attachment to an
electronic mail, instead of only to a recipient phone number over a phone
line.
The recipient then views the attachment (viz., the facsimile) using a viewing
program installed on his or her computer.
In a preferred embodiment, the communications network is the Internet.
The sender of a facsimile enters the recipient's electronic mail address into
the
interfacing device, but otherwise operates the facsimile device to which the
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interface device is attached in a nearly normal manner. The interfacing device
operates invisibly to the facsimile device, and is thus believed to be
compatible
with nearly all facsimile devices. Furthermore, the facsimile device may still
be
used to send facsimiles over a phone line.
The invention therefore preferably makes otherwise stand-alone facsimile
devices compatible with the Internet. Insofar as an individual has electronic
mail
access wherever he or she travels, that individual is also able to receive
facsimiles wherever he or she travels. Because sending an electronic mail does
not usually involve incurring long distance phone call charges, the facsimile
sender is also able to send facsimiles much more cost effectively. Because
electronic mail is not a point-to-point communication, a sender also does not
have to worry about receiving a busy signal when sending a facsimile.
In different embodiments of the invention, facsimile transmission
systems, interfacing devices, and computerized methods of varying scope are
described. Still other and further embodiments, aspects and advantages of the
invention will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by reading the
following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1(a) is a diagram of a facsimile device and interfacing device
operating in a first mode in which the facsimile device is transmitting a
facsimile
over the Internet to a recipient addressee via an electronic mail;
FIG. 1 (b) is a diagram of a facsimile device and interfacing device
operating in a second mode in which the facsimile device is transmitting a
facsimile in a normal manner over a telecommunications system to a recipient
facsimile device;
FIG. 2(a) is a functional block diagram of a facsimile transmission
system, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2(b) is a diagram of a keypad of an interfacing device, according to
a preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method for transmitting a facsimile from a
facsimile device over the Internet via an electronic mail, according to a
preferred
embodiment of the invention;
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FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for viewing a facsimile transmitted over
the Internet via an electronic mail, according to a preferred embodiment of
the
invention; and,
FIG. 5 is a diagram of an exemplary recipient node (a computer system),
according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments,
reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and
in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferred embodiments in
which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in
sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the
invention, and it
is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical,
mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the
spirit
and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is,
therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present
invention is defined only by the appended claims.
(,overview of the Invention
Preferably, an inventive interfacing device couples a facsimile device
such as a fax machine, and the resulting two devices are operable in two
modes.
In a first mode, the facsimile device transmits a facsimile over the Internet
to a
recipient address via an electronic mail. In a second mode, the facsimile
device
transmits a facsimile over a telecommunications system to a recipient
facsimile
device, as a facsimile device normally operates. This section of the detailed
description provides an overview of each of these two modes of operation.
Referring to FIG. 1{a), a diagram of a facsimile device and interfacing
device operating in the first mode is shown. As shown, facsimile device 10 is
a
fax machine, with which a user scans in a paper document into a digital form,
which is then compressed according to a common standard to generate a digital
facsimile representation of the document. The invention is not particularly
limited to any given facsimile device 10; other contemplated facsimile devices
include a fax modem, which permits a computer to send and typically also
receive facsimiles.
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Facsimile device 10 is coupled to interfacing device 12. As shown,
interfacing device 12 is external to facsimile device 10; however,
alternatively
interfacing device 12 may be integrated into facsimile device 10. Preferably,
coupling between the two devices is accomplished via a cord having an RJ-11
5 plug at each end, the plugs plugging into corresponding RJ-11 jacks at each
of
facsimile device 10 and interfacing device 12. Interfacing device 12 also
plugs
into wall jack 14, also preferably via a cord having an RJ-I 1 plug at each
end,
the plugs plugging into corresponding R,1-11 jacks at each of interfacing
device
12 and wall jack 14. Wall jack 14 is coupled to a communications line of
telephone network 16. Although the invention is not so limited, preferably
telephone network 16 is a commonly utilized analog POTS telephone system.
Other telephone systems include ISDN, which is a common digital telephone
system.
Interfacing device 12 thus provides a passythrough from facsimile device
10 to wall jack 14, and ultimately to telephone network 16. That is,
interfacing
device 12 is inserted in the direct path between facsimile device 10 and wall
jack
14, as facsimile devices such as device 10 are otherwise normally configured.
This location for interfacing device 12 permits the device to operate
seamlessly
with and invisibly to facsimile device 10. That is, by properly mimicking a
standard phone jack (such as wall jack 14), interfacing device 12 is able to
receive a digital facsimile representation of a document from facsimile device
10. Facsimile device 10 is unaware that it is transmitting a digital facsimile
representation to interfacing device 12, as opposed to transmitting the
facsimile
through telephone network 16 via wall jack 14. In other words, facsimile
device
10 is unaware that it is faxing a document to interfacing device 12.
Interfacing device 12 receives the digital facsimile representation
transmitted by facsimile device 10. Interfacing device 12 also preferably has
a
keypad onto which the intended recipient's electronic mail address is entered
by
the individual sending the facsimile. Because the invention preferably
operates
in the context of the Internet, this electronic mail address is of the form
"<user name>@<domain name>.<identifier>," where <user name> is the
unique name or identification of the recipient, <domain name> is the unique
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name of the domain or mail server with which the recipient maintains an
electronic mail box, and <identifier> is a three or four letter abbreviation
identifying the type of the domain (such as "com" for commercial).
The user selects the first mode in which the digital facsimile
representation is sent to a recipient via electronic mail in the following
manner.
The user enters the recipient's electronic mail address, as has been
described, on
the keypad of interfacing device 12. This in and of itself selects the first
mode.
The user then inserts the document to be transmitted into facsimile device 10,
and enters "* *" (two asterisks) to be dialed by the facsimile device (viz.,
as
opposed to a phone number of a recipient facsimile device). This "* *" is
received by interfacing device 12. The user then presses a start button on
facsimile device 10.
The "* *" sequence is entered to fool facsimile device 10 into sending a
facsimile, since typically facsimile device 10 will not initiate the
transmission of
a facsimile without the entering of some numeric or other sequence (such as
the
"**" sequence). That is, pressing the start button on facsimile device 10
without
first entering some sequence on device 10 is not sufFcient to initiate the
transmission of a facsimile. The "**" sequence does not itself select the
first
mode; the entering of an electronic mail address on interfacing device 12
itself
selects the first mode. In an alternative embodiment, interfacing device 12
stores
a list of sender user's names (i.e., sender user's electronic mail addresses),
so
that the electronic mail is also able to identify the sender of the digital
facsimile
representation.
Interfacing device 12 generates an electronic mail addressed to the
intended recipient's electronic mail address, attaching as an attachment to
the
electronic mail the digital facsimile representation transmitted by facsimile
device 10. The preferred manner in which interfacing device 12 so generates an
electronic mail is described in a following section of the detailed
description.
The body of the electronic mail preferably includes the Internet World-Wide-
Web site from which a viewer program can be downloaded to view the attached
digital facsimile representation. If the recipient does not have this program
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installed on his or her computer, the recipient is then able to download the
view
program from the web site disclosed in the electronic mail.
Interfacing device 12 is operatively coupled as a node to Iocai-area
network (LAN) 18 via path 17. LAN 18 connects together a plurality of other
nodes, such as computers 20 as indicated. The invention is not particularly
limited to any given type of nodes, however. LAN 18 preferably includes mail
server 22, which manages electronic mail sent among the nodes of LAN 18, as
well as between the nodes of LAN 18 and other nodes to which they are
communicatively coupled. The configuration and maintenance of LANs are well
known within the art. The invention is not particularly limited to any given
type
of LAN; Ethernet and Token Ring, as well as other types of LANs, are amenable
to the invention.
Interfacing device 12 sends the electronic mail including the digital
facsimile representation received from facsimile device 10 through LAN 18 via
mail server 22. Mail server 22 then directs the electronic mail through router
24.
Router 24 is a device that enables LAN 18 to communicatively connect to a
communications network, as represented by element 26 of FIG. 1 (a). This
enables each of the nodes of LAN 18 to communicatively couple with many
other nodes that are not a part of LAN 18, but which are also operatively
coupled
in some manner to communications network 26. The invention is not
particularly limited to a given type of router. Furthermore, preferably
communications network 26 is the Internet or an intranet, which is a private
or
semi-private communications network operating in accordance with the same
protocols as does the Internet, and which is amenable to connection to the
Internet for greater networking range. The invention is not particularly
limited to
a given type of communications network.
Therefore, the electronic mail originating from interfacing device 12 is
sent through LAN 18 via mail server 22, to and through communications
network 26, and ultimately to its destination, which is the addressee of the
electronic mail. The addressee of the electronic mail at least temporarily
corresponds to a particular physical node. (The addressee of the electronic
mail
may be able to log on at any of a number of different physical nodes, hence
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making the addressee-physical node correspondence a dynamic relationship.)
The invention is not limited to any given type of physical node that is at
least a
temporary recipient node of the electronic mail sent by interfacing device 12.
However, in one embodiment of the invention, the recipient node is a computer
28, which is a node of another LAN 30 having a mail server 32, and
communicatively coupled to communications network 26 by router 34.
Thus, as shown in FIG. 1(a), a computer 28 that is the recipient node of
the electronic mail sent by interfacing device 12, receives the electronic
mail
through LAN 30 via mail server 32. The electronic mail arrives from
communications network 26 through LAN 30 via router 34, the electronic mail
arriving to communications network 26 through LAN 18 via router 24, and the
electronic mail initially being sent by interfacing device 12 through LAN 18
via
mail server 22. Therefore, a digital facsimile representation generated by
facsimile device 10 is ultimately sent via electronic mail to a computer 28
that
may be located a great distance from facsimile device 10.
The user of the recipient computer 28 (presumably, the addressee of the
electronic mail) is able to view the facsimile by running an appropriate
viewer
program installed on the computer 28. Should the viewer program not be
installed, the user may access the Internet world-wide-web site disclosed in
the
body of the electronic mail and download a copy of the viewer program. In this
manner, the user of the recipient computer is able to receive a facsimile
without
the need for a facsimile device such as a fax machine, and without having to
have a dedicated phone line for such a facsimile device.
Interfacing device 12 preferably is able to send in one electronic mail
facsimiles received from facsimile device 10 having a number of pages up to
and
including a predetermined limit, such as twenty pages. When facsimiles are
transmitted from facsimile device 10 having more than twenty pages,
interfacing
device 12 upon receiving the first twenty pages sends them as an attachment to
an electronic mail having "part 1" or similar identification in the subject
line of
the electronic mail. The next twenty pages are then sent as an attachment to
another electronic mail having "part 2" in the subject line, etc. Refernng now
to
FIG. 1 (b), a diagram of a facsimile device and interfacing device operating
in the
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second mode, in which the facsimile device is transmitting a facsimile in a
normal manner over a telecommunications system to a recipient facsimile
device, is shown. The configuration shown in FIG. 1 (b) is identical to that
shown in FIG. 1 (a), except that facsimile device 10 sends a digital facsimile
representation to recipient facsimile device 36 through teleconununications
network 16, instead of a node on LAN 30. The operation in this second mode is
identical to that which is considered the normal operation of facsimile device
10
within the art, except that interfacing device 12 is inserted between
facsimile
device 10 and wall jack 14. Like-numbered elements in FIG. 1 (a) and FiG. 1
(b)
are identical, and therefore reference should be made to the description in
conjunction with the elements in FIG. 1 (a) for further understanding thereto
of
like-numbered elements in FIG. 1 (b).
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1(b), recipient facsimile device 38 is a fax
machine, which includes or is attached to a printer to print a received
digital
facsimile representation received from facsimile device 10. The digital
facsimile
representation is in accordance with a common standard. The invention is not
particularly limited to any given facsimile device 36; other contemplated
facsimile devices include a fax modem, as has also been described. Facsimile
device 36 plugs into wall jack 38, preferably via a cord having an RJ-11 plug
at
each end, the plugs plugging into corresponding RJ-11 jacks at each of
facsimile
device 36 and wall jack 38. Wall jack 38 is coupled to a communications line
of
telephone network 16, which as has been described is preferably an analog POTS
telephone system.
The second mode, in which the digital facsimile representation is sent to
a recipient facsimile device over a telecommulucations system, is the default
operation mode of interfacing device 12. The user operates interfacing device
12
and facsimile device 10 in the second mode in the following manner. First, the
user inserts the document to be transmitted into facsimile device 10, and
enters
the phone number of recipient facsimile device 38. Second, the user presses a
start button on facsimile device 10. Interfacing device 12 begins to receive
the
digital facsimile representation from facsimile device 10. Because an
electronic
mail address was not entered on the keypad of interfacing device 12,
interfacing
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device 12 directs transmission of the digital facsimile representation to wall
jack
14.
In other words, in the second mode, interfacing device 14 passes through
facsimile device 10 to wall jack 14, and facsimile device 10 operates as it
5 otherwise normally would if interfacing device 14 had not been inserted
between
it and wall jack 14. This permits a direct connection between facsimile device
10 and wall jack 14, such that the digital facsimile representation is
transmitted
over telephone network 16 through wall jack 38 and ultimately to recipient
facsimile device 36. Recipient facsimile device 36 receives the digital
facsimile
10 representation, and preferably prints the facsimile onto paper for viewing
by the
intended recipient.
As has been described in conjunction with FIG. 1(a) and FIG. 1(b),
interfacing device 12 is operable in two modes. In both modes, the interfacing
device operates invisibly to facsimile device 10; that is, facsimile device 10
is
I S not aware that it is or is not communicating with interfacing device 12 as
opposed to telephone network 16 through wall jack 14. In the first mode,
interfacing device 12 receives the digital facsimile representation
transmitted by
facsimile device 10 and sends it as an attachment to an electronic mail to an
inputted electronic mail address. In the second mode, interfacing device 12
becomes transparent and passes through facsimile device 10 so that it is able
to
connect as it otherwise normally would with network 16 via wall jack 14.
As has also been described, the preferred default mode of operation of the
interfacing device is in the second mode. Therefore, by default the
interfacing
device passes through the connection of the facsimile device to the wall jack
of
the telephone network. This permits the facsimile device to receive facsimiles
at
all times as such facsimile devices normally operate, and also permits the
facsimile device to send facsimiles in the normal manner without requiring any
special procedures. The first mode is selected by the entry of an electronic
mail
address on the interfacing device. The interfacing device is therefore
transparent
until needed.
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Preferred Hardware y~~
An overview of the invention has been described in the preceding
section. In this section, the preferred hardware implementation of a facsimile
transmission system is described. Specifically, the components of an
interfacing
device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention are described in
more detail than that provided in conjunction with FIG. 1(a) and FIG 1(b).
Sufficient detail is provided to enable one of ordinary skill within the art
to make
and use the invention.
Referring now to FIG. 2(a), a functional block diagram of a facsimile
transmission system, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, is
shown. Like-numbered elements in FIG. 2(a), FIG. 1 (a) and FIG. I (b) are
identical, and therefore reference should be made to the description in
conjunction with the elements in FIG. 1 (a) for further understanding thereof
of
like-numbered elements in FIG. 1 (b). Facsimile device 10 is coupled to switch
40 of interfacing device 12. Switch 40 provides two paths for facsimile device
10, to the LAN in path 42, or to the telephone network in path 44. Switch 40
is
controlled via software as represented in switch control functionality block
44.
That is, switch 40 directs the digital facsimile representation from facsimile
device 10 to either path 42 or path 44 as commanded by functionality block 46.
Switch control functionality block 44 in turn is controlled via software as
represented in detection functionality block 48. Detection functionality block
48
determines whether a valid electronic mail address has been entered on keypad
50. Keypad 50 is a keyboard upon which a user is able to enter an electronic
mail address. Therefore, it includes keys or their equivalent for each of the
alphanumeric characters, as well as typographical symbols that may be included
within an electronic mail address. Once an enter key on keypad 50 has been
pressed, detection functionality block 48 determines whether the electronic
mail
address entered is valid.
Validity of the electronic mail address is preferably verification that the
address is within the proper format of an Internet-type electronic mail
address.
Detection functionality block 48 determines whether there is at least one at
symbol (e.g., "@") that separates a user name from a domain name, and at least
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one period or dot (e.g., ".") that separates a domain name from a domain
identifier. The invention is not so limited, however, and the determination of
the
validity of the electronic mail address may be accomplished in other manners
under the invention.
If detection functionality block 48 determines that a proper electronic
mail address has been entered on keypad S0, it stores the electronic mail
address
in memory at electronic mail address storage 52. It then directs switch
control
functionality block 46 to direct switch 40 to connect facsimile device 10 to
LAN
path 42. If a proper electronic mail address has not been entered on keypad
50,
detection functionality block 48 directs switch control functionality block 46
to
direct switch 40 to connect facsimile device 10 to telephone network path 44.
Telephone network path 44 is the default path for facsimile device 10 as
coupled
to interfacing device 12.
Liquid crystal display (LCD) 54 displays the electronic mail address
entered on keypad 50, and as stored in electronic mail address storage 52 if
the
address is determined valid by functionality block 48. Note that LCD 54
preferably displays the electronic mail address as it is entered by the user
on
keypad 50. LCD 54 also displays messages regarding the electronic mail address
entered. For example, preferably if functionality block 48 detects an invalid
address entered at keypad 50, it will display an error message on LCD 54.
When switch 40 couples facsimile device 10 to telephone network path
44, facsimile device 10 is coupled to telephone network 16 no different than
if it
had not been plugged into interfacing device 12. That is, transmission of a
digital facsimile representation from facsimile device 10 is passed directly
through switch 40 without interference from other components of interfacing
device 12. Conversely, when switch 40 couples facsimile device 10 to LAN path
42, interfacing device 12 mimics a phone line so that facsimile device 10
believes that it is communicating with a telephone network, while in actuality
device 12 is receiving the digital facsimile representation transmitted by
facsimile device i0 so that device 12 can send it to an electronic mail
recipient.
Interfacing device 12 accomplishes this first with line interface 56
coupling to LAN path 42. Line interface 56 preferably provides for data access
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arrangement(DAA) functionality, as known within the art, that enables
interfacing device 12 to communicate with analog POTS telephone system-
compatible devices and networks, such as facsimile device 10. Line interface
56
is coupled to fax data pump 58. Fax data pump 58 is one or more integrated
circuits that permit interfacing device 12 to receive a digital facsimile
representation transmitted by facsimile device 10, as received by line
interface
56. While line interface 56 permits device 12 to communicate with analog
POTS telephone system-compatible devices and networks in general, fax data
pump 58 in particular permits device 12 to communicate with such devices that
are facsimile devices operating in accordance with a common standard.
The invention is not limited to any particular facsimile device standard.
Preferably, fax data pump 58 conforms to the Group III standard, as
promulgated
by the International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication
Standardization Sector (ITU-T) of the United Nations. Because nearly all
facsimile devices are compatible with the Group III standard, there is nearly
one-
hundred percent compatibility among facsimile devices. The Group III standard
is known within the art, and is equivalent to the ITU-T T.30 recommendation.
The T.30 recommendation covers the protocol used to manage a
facsimile transmission session, and negotiate the capabilities supported by
each
of the sending and receiving facsimile devices. Particularly, the T.30
recommendation describes each of five phases of a facsimile call: call-setup,
pre-
message procedure for identification and selecting facilities, message
transmission, post-message procedure including end-of message, confirmation,
and mufti-page procedures, and call release (or hang up).
Both line interface 56 and facsimile data pump 58 are controlled by
facsimile firmware code 60. Firmware code 60 provides for the given facsimile
standard by which a digital facsimile representation is created and
transmitted,
such as the Group III standard as has been described. Firmware code 60 is
software typically stored in a erasable programmable read-only memory
(EPROM), so that it is upgradable to a new standard. Line interface 56, fax
data
pump 58, and fax firmware code 60 are available as plug-in "chip sets" from a
number of manufacturers.
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Preferably, the invention utilizes a R96DFXL integrated circuit available
from the Multimedia Communications Division of Rockwell Semiconductor
Systems, Rockwell International, headquartered in Newport Beach, Calif. The
R96DFXL is a facsimile modem chip set providing Group iII capability on a
single semiconductor device. That is, the R96DFXL integrates the functionality
of line interface 56, fax data pump 58, and fax firmware code 60 as has been
described on a single integrated circuit.
Fax data pump 58 is operatively coupled to processor 62. Processor 62
executes all the software of interfacing device 12, such as the software
within
detection functionality block 48 and switch control functionality block 46, as
have been described. Processor 62 also controls the operation of the facsimile
modem chip set, particularly the operation of facsimile firmware code 60 as
firmware code 60 controls line interface 56 and facsimile data pump 58.
Preferably, processor 62 is a reduced-instruction set computing (RISC)
microprocessor such as the 83041 and 83051 /52 RISC processors available
from Integrated Device Technology, Inc., of Santa Clara, Calif.
Processor 62 is operatively coupled to memory 64, which includes
program space 66 and data space 68, as well as necessary stacks and operating
system space as known within the art. Program space 66 holds all the software
executed by processor 62. Specifically, program space 66 stores the software
for
receiving a digital facsimile representation from facsimile device 10 via
facsimile data pump 58 (through line interface 56 and as controlled by
facsimile
firmware code 60), and send the digital facsimile representation as an
attachment
to an electronic mail through communications network 26, via router 24 and
LAN 18. A flowchart of the method in which a digital facsimile representation
is converted to an electronic mail attachment is described in a following
section.
Data space 68 is an operational data space to store data as needed and
used by software within program space 66. For example, electronic mail address
storage 52 is a part of data space 68; the digital facsimile representation
received
from facsimile device 10 is also stored in data space 68. Memory 64 is
preferably a combination of a programmable read-only memory (PROM) and a
static or dynamic random-access memory (SRAM or DRAM). The PROM holds
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program space 66 so that power down does not result in loss of the software
stored in the program space 66; the PROM may be erasable as well (i.e., it may
be an EPROM). The SRAM or DRAM holds data space 68. The invention is
not limited to a particular configuration of memory 64, however.
5 Data space 68 is sufficiently large to store a predetermined number of
pages of the facsimile received from facsimile device 10. Preferably, data
space
68 is sufficient large to store up to and including twenty pages at one time.
As
has been described, insofar as the facsimile includes more than twenty pages,
the
facsimile is divided into separate electronic mail attachments over a
plurality of
10 electronic mails labeled "part 1," "part 2," etc. This process is possible
because
the speed of receiving the facsimile from facsimile device 10 is slow compared
to the electronic mail sending operation.
When interfacing device 12 is so switched by switch 40 such that LAN
path 42 is chosen, a digital facsimile representation from facsimile device 10
is
15 received by facsimile data pump 58 at line interface 56. RISC processor 62
executes software stored in memory 64 so that the digital facsimile
representation is properly received into data space 68, and so that the
digital
facsimile representation is converted to an attachment of an electronic mail.
This
electronic mail is then sent over LAN 18 through router 24 and through
communications network 26 to ultimately be received by recipient 70, which is
the addressee of the electronic mail.
Interfacing device 12 couples to LAN 18 as is now described. RISC
processor 62 is operatively coupled to hardware card connector 72. Hardware
card connector 72 is receptive to a hardware card 74 that permits connection
to
LAN 18. Each hardware card 74 includes an analog front end 76 and a media
access controller (MAC) 78. The invention is not particularly limited to a
given
type of hardware card 74, and such hardware cards are commonly found and are
well known within the art. Such hardware cards include an Ethernet l ObaseT
card, a Token Ring 16/4 Mpbs card, and an Ethemet 100fx card, as known
within the art. The protocols in accordance with which processor 62 sends the
electronic mail to LAN 18 over a hardware card 74 plugged into connector 72
are described in the following section.
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Refernng now to FIG. 2(b), a diagram of a keypad of an interfacing
device, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, is shown. Keypad
50 of FIG. 2(b) is a preferred embodiment of keypad 50 as has been described
in
conjunction with FIG. 2(a). Keypad 50 of FIG. 2(b) includes LCD 54, which is a
preferred embodiment of LCD 54 as has been described in conjunction with FIG.
2(a). Keypad SO permits a user of the interfacing device to enter an
electronic
mail address to which the facsimile received from the facsimile device will be
sent as an attachment to an electronic mail.
Keypad 50 includes alphanumeric keys 51 to permit entry of the
electronic mail address. Keypad 50 also includes "@" (at) key 53 to permit
entry
of an "@" symbol. The "@" symbol is used in Internet-type electronic mail
addresses to separate the <user name> part of an electronic mail address from
the <domain name.<identifier> part, where the electronic mail address is in
the
form "<user name>@<domain name> <identifier>." Furthermore, keypad 50
includes "." (dot) key 55 to permit entry of a "." symbol. The "." symbol is
used
primarily in Internet-type electronic mail addresses to separate the
<domain name> part of an electronic mail address from the <identifier> part.
The "." symbol may also be used within a <domain name, for example.
Keypad SO also includes identifier keys 57, which permit entry of
common three-letter or four-letter domain-type identifiers such as "com",
"net",
"edu", and "org", with a single key press. Enter key 59 is used to enter the
electronic mail address once it has been entered on keypad 50 (as displayed on
LCD 54). Cancel key 61 permits the cancellation of an already entered
electronic mail address, clearing LCD 54, and permitting entry of a new
electronic mail address. Keypad 50 also includes shift key 63 to select
between
two characters on each of alphanumeric keys 51.
In one embodiment of the invention, users are able to store frequent
recipient electronic mail addresses within the interfacing device. Therefore,
rather than entering in a recipient electronic mail address using alphanumeric
keys 51, the user instead presses user list key 65 to bring up a list of
stored
electronic mail addresses on LCD 54, and is able to scroll through the list
using
cursor keys 67. This permits faster and more convenient entry of a recipient
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electronic mail address for the electronic mail including an attachment of the
facsimile received from the facsimile device.
Furthermore, in another embodiment of the invention, users are also able
to enter their own electronic mail address on keypad 50, as well as store them
in
the interfacing device, so that if the electronic mail sent by the interfacing
device
is undeliverable, the sender can be notified. In addition, this permits the
sender
of the facsimile to be identified in the sender line of the electronic mail;
if a
sender is not identified, the electronic mail address of interfacing device 12
itself
is included in the sender line. Finally, keypad 50 includes two-color light-
emitting diode (LED) 69, which blinks green twice to indicate that a valid
electronic mail address has been entered, and blinks red to indicate that an
invalid electronic mail address has been entered.
A preferred embodiment of a facsimile transmission system has been
described. In particular, the components of an interfacing device according to
a
preferred embodiment of the invention have been described. The components of
the interfacing device permit the device to receive a digital facsimile
representation from a facsimile device, and send the representation as an
attachment to an electronic mail through a LAN over a communications network
such as the Internet, and to a recipient electronic mail addressee.
Preferred Software and Protocol Im~rle~nentation
A preferred hardware implementation, including a preferred facsimile
Group III standard, has been described in the preceding section. In this
section,
the preferred software implementation, including the preferred electronic mail-
related protocols, is described. The preferred software implementation is
described in reference to the hardware implementation shown in FIG. 2(a);
however, the invention is not so limited. The preferred software
implementation
thus describes software stored in program space 66 of memory 64 of interfacing
device 12 of FIG. 2(a). Sufficient detail is provided to enable one of
ordinary
skill within the art to make and use the invention.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a flowchart of a method for transmitting a
facsimile from a facsimile device over the Internet via an electronic mail,
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according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, is shown. From starting
step 82, the method checks whether a valid electronic mail address has been
entered in step 84 {i.e., whether a valid electronic mail address has been
entered
on keyboard 50 as shown in FIG. 2(a), as detected by detection functionality
block 48 as shown in FIG. 2(a)). If a valid electronic mail address has not
been
entered, control proceeds to step 86.
In step 86, the facsimile device (such as device 10 of FIG. 2(a)) is
coupled to a phone line of a phone network (such as phone network 16 of FIG.
2(a)), so that it is able to send a digital facsimile representation as the
facsimile
device normally would were it not connected to an interfacing device (such as
device 12 of FIG. 2(a)). That is, step 86 corresponds to the connection of
facsimile device 10 through switch 40 to path 44, as shown in FIG. 2(a). The
method then ends at step 88.
However, if the electronic mail address is valid in step 84, then control
proceeds to step 90. In step 90, the digital facsimile representation is
received
from the facsimile device (such as device 10 of FIG. 2(a)). This involves
switch
40 switching to LAN path 42 as shown in FIG. 2(a). Once the user has pressed
the "* *" sequence on the facsimile device, and then has pressed the start
button,
the digital facsimile representation is received at the line interface (such
as line
interface 56 of FIG. 2(a)) by the facsimile data pump (such as facsimile data
pump 58 of FIG. 2(a)), and stared within the data space (such as data space 68
of
FIG. 2{a)). As has been described, the facsimile device is unaware that it is
communicating with the interfacing device, as opposed to another facsimile
device through the phone network.
The digital facsimile representation received from the facsimile device is
typically compressed. The facsimile data pump is configured so that it
maintains
this compression, or if the data is not so compressed, so that it compresses
the
data. The data is compressed by the facsimile device or the data pump in one
of
three formats according to the Group III facsimile standard already described:
Modified Huffman (MH), Modified Read (MR), and Modified Modified Read
(MMR), all of which are known within the art. The Modified Huffinan format is
most common and is preferred. MH compression is a one-dimensional coding
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scheme, in which each scan line of pixels of the facsimile is compressed by
converting the raster in a sequence of run lengths, and encoding each run
length
into a unique variable-length bit string.
In step 92, the digital facsimile representation (as received compressed or
as compressed by the facsimile data pump) is then wrapped with headers and
tags in accordance with the Tagged Image File Format, Class F (TIFF/F), which
is known within the art. The TIFF/F specification defines the tags that are
required to be written by TIFF/F-compatible writers, and defines those tags
and
tag values that all TIFF/F-compatible readers must be able to handle. The
TIFF/F specification is believed to be currently maintained by Faximum
Software, Inc., of West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The wrapping of
the digital facsimile representation is performed by the processor (such as
processor 62 of FIG. 2(a)) as controlled by software stored in the program
space
(such as program space 66 of FIG. 2(a)), and the resulting file stored in the
data
space (such as data space 68 of FIG. 2(a)).
In step 94, the file resulting from the digital facsimile representation
wrapped in TIFF/F tags is attached as an attachment to a Multipurpose Internet
Mail Extension (MIME)-compliant electronic mail, which is known within the
art. The MIME specification offers a way to interchange text in languages with
different character sets, and multimedia electronic mail among many different
computer systems that use Internet mail standards. The MIME specification is
maintained by InterNIC, an organiza'on that assists in the maintenance of
Internet standards, and which maintains an Internet World-Wide-Web site at the
URL address http://www.internic.net. The attachment of the file as an
attachment to a MIME-compliant electronic mail is performed by the processor
(such as processor 62 of FIG. 2(a)) as controlled by software stored in the
program space (such as program space 66 of FIG. 2(a)), and the resulting
electronic mail (with attachment) stored in the data space (such as data space
68
of FIG. 2(a)). The electronic mail is addressed to the electronic mail address
of
the recipient node.
In step 96, the resulting electronic mail with attachment is encrypted
using the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption protocol, which is known within
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the art. The SSL encryption protocol provides privacy over the Internet. The
protocol allows clientlserver applications to communicate in a way that cannot
be eavesdropped upon. Servers are always authenticated and clients are
optionally authenticated. SSL encryption is a standard developed by Netscape
5 Communications Corp., of Mountain View, Calif. The encryption of the
electronic mail using the SSL protocol is performed by the processor (such as
processor 62 of FIG. 2(a)) as controlled by software stored in the program
space
(such as program space 66 of FIG. 2(a)), and the resulting encrypted
electronic
mail (with attachment) stored in the data space (such as data space 68 of FIG.
10 2(a)).
In step 98, a networking protocol is added to the resulting encrypted
electronic mail, so that the electronic mail may be sent over a LAN (such as
LAN 18 of FIG. 2(a)) compatible with the networking protocol. Preferably, the
networking protocol is Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
15 (TCP/IP), which is a commonly used Internet networking protocol known
within
the art. The TCP/IP networking protocol is also maintained by InterNIC. The
addition of the networking protocol is performed by the processor (such as
processor 62 of FIG. 2(a)) as controlled by software stored in the program
space
(such as program space 66 of FIG. 2(a)), and the resulting TCP/fP encrypted
20 electronic mail (with attachment) stored in the data space (such as data
space 68
of FIG. 2(a)).
Finally in step 100, the TCP/IP encrypted electronic mail (with
attachment) is sent to the mail server of the LAN (such as LAN 18 of FIG.
2(a)),
so that the electronic mail can be sent to its recipient over a communications
network such as the Internet (such as network 26 of FIG. 2(a)). Transmission
to
the mail server of the LAN is accomplished by a packet driver stored in the
program space (such as program space 66 of FIG. 2(a)), the packet driver
compatible with the hardware card inserted into the interfacing device (such
as
hardware card 74 of FIG. 2(a)). Therefore, the packet driver may be either an
Ethernet or a Token Ring driver.
The packet driver typically includes a media-access controller (MAC)
driver, as the hardware card inserted into the interfacing device typically
includes
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a media-access controller (MAC), as described in conjunction with hardware
card 74 of FIG. 2(a). The packet driver is also compatible with the IEEE802.3
Ethernet specification known within the art. The IEEE802.3 specification is
believed to be maintained by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers, Inc., and which maintains an Internet World-Wide-Web site at the
URL address http://www.ieee.org.
Transmission to the mail server is further accomplished pursuant to a
mail protocol, preferably the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) known
within the art. The SMTP protocol is also maintained by InterIVIC. The mail
server then sends the electronic mail to a communications network such as the
Internet over a router (such as router 24 of FIG. 2(a)). The recipient node
that is
the addressee of the electronic mail is communicatively coupled to the
communications network, such that it ultimately receives the electronic mail.
The method of FIG. 3 ends at step 102.
As has been described in conjunction with FIG. 3, in a preferred method
of the invention, a facsimile is transmitted from a facsimile device as an
electronic mail attachment over the Internet. The digital facsimile
representation
is wrapped with TIFF/F headers and tags and attached to a MIME-compliant
electronic mail. The electronic mail (with attachment) is encrypted using SSL
encryption. A TCP/IP connection protocol is added, and the resulting data is
transmitted to the LAN mail server via a packet driver in accordance with the
SMTP electronic mail protocol.
Viewing ~~imile at the Recipient Node
The transmission of a digital facsimile representation as an electronic
mail to a recipient node has been described in the preceding sections. This
section describes the receipt of the electronic mail by the recipient node,
and the
viewing of the digital facsimile representation at the recipient node. In
addition,
an exemplary recipient node is described. Sufficient detail is provided to
enable
one of ordinary skill within the art to make and use the invention.
Refernng first to FIG. 4, a flowchart of a method for viewing a facsimile
transmitted over the Internet via an electronic mail, according to a preferred
embodiment of the invention, is shown. From step 104 the encrypted electronic
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mail is received at the recipient node in step 106. The electronic mail is
decrypted in step 108. The recipient node must have decryption capability
conforming to the encryption protocol used to encrypt the electronic mail. For
example, preferably the recipient node must have SSL decryption capability.
In step 1 I0, the attachment is opened using a viewer program. Note that
the recipient node must also have an electronic mail client program capable of
receiving MIME-compliant electronic mail, such that it is able to separate the
attachment from the body of the electronic mail. The viewer program must be
TIFF/F compatible, so that it can properly remove the digital facsimile
representation from the TIFFlF headers and tags added by the interfacing
device.
The viewer program must also have decompression capability compatible
with the compression format utilized by the facsimile device or the facsimile
data pump. For example, preferably the viewer program has decompression
capability compatible with the MH, MR, and/or MMR formats already
described. Once the digital facsimile representation has been decompressed, it
is
viewable in step 112 on a display device of the recipient node. The method
ends
in step 114.
Refernng next to FIG. 5, an exemplary recipient node according to an
embodiment of the invention is shown. The invention is not limited to the
recipient node shown in FIG. 5. The node shown in FIG. 5 is a computer 116
coupled to a monitor 118, a pointing device 120, and a keyboard 122. Computer
I 16 includes a processor (preferably, an Intel Pentium processor), random-
access
memory (preferably, at least sixteen megabytes), read-only memory {ROM), and
one or more storage devices, such as a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive,
an
optical disk drive, and a tape cartridge drive. The invention is not
particularly
limited to a given type of computer 116. A given computer 116 is preferably a
PC-compatible computer running a version of the Microsoft Windows operating
system. The construction and operation of such computers are known within the
art. Computer 116 may be either a portable or a desktop computer, as well.
Monitor 1 I8 permits the display of information for viewing by a user of
the computer, such as the display of the facsimile digital representation as
has
been described. The invention is not limited to any particular type of monitor
12.
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Such monitors include cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, as well as flat panel
displays such as liquid crystal displays (LCD's), and in one embodiment is a
super-VGA CRT display. Pointing device 120 permits the control of the screen
pointer provided by the graphic user interface of operating systems such as
versions of Microsoft Windows. The invention is not limited to any particular
type of pointing device 120. Such pointing devices include mouses, touch pads,
trackballs, and point sticks. Keyboard 122 permits textual entry into computer
116 as another input device to the computer, and typically includes a
plurality of
alphanumeric keys, function keys, navigation keys, cursor keys, and numeric
keypad keys. However, the invention is not so particularly limited.
Computer 116 also includes a connection to a communications network
such as the Internet (not shown in FIG. 5). Such a connection may be through a
local-area network (LAN), a dial-up connection using a modem, or a direct
connection, such as that afforded by a T1 line. The connection to the
communications network allows computer 116 to receive the electronic mail
including the digital facsimile representation as an attachment. Once properly
processed by the computer as has been described, the digital facsimile
representation is displayed on monitor 118 for viewing by the user.
An interfacing device for a facsimile device has been described.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it
will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement
which is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the
specific embodiments shown. This application is intended to cover any
adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is
manifestly
intended that this invention be limited only by the following claims and
equivalents thereof.
