(12) United States Patent
`Marshall
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,396,597 B1
`May 28, 2002
`
`US006396597B1
`
`(54) COMPUTER NETWORK-BASED FACSIMILE
`RECEPTION SYSTEM
`
`Primary Examiner—Madeleine Nguyen
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Townsend and Townsend
`and Crew, LLP
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Catherine R. Marshall, Boulder, CO
`(Us)
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method for transmitting facsimile documents from a
`facsimile store-and-forward service computer (50) to a net-
`worked computer system (20). The networked computer
`system includes a central server computer (22) and one or
`more computers (34) coupled to the central server computer.
`According to a first embodiment of the present invention, the
`central server computer is programmed to determine
`whether the facsimile store-and-forward service computer
`has received a facsimile document for a particular user of the
`networked computer system. If so, the central server causes
`the facsimile store-and-forward service computer to transmit
`the facsimile documents to the central server computer.
`Upon receipt, the central server computer opens a file that is
`associated with the particular user and stores the facsimile
`document in the file. According to a second embodiment of
`the present invention, the facsimile store-and-forward ser-
`vice computer is programmed to transmit any received
`facsimile documents to the central server computer upon
`receipt. The service computer inserts a code into a header
`block that is transmitted with the facsimile document to
`indicate to the central server computer who is the intended
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`recipient of the facsimile document. After receiving the
`header block, the central server computer reads the code and
`identifies the intended recipient, opens a file associated with
`the intended recipient, stores the received facsimile docu-
`ment in the file and notifies the intended recipient that a
`faesnnne deelnnent has been received.
`
`(73) Assigneez Qwest Communications International
`Inc” Denver, CO (Us)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent iS €Xt€I1d€d
`Of adjusted under 35
`U~S~C~ 154(b) by 0 daY5-
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 08/015,756
`
`Feb‘ 10’ 1993
`Ffled:
`(22)
`Int. Cl.7 ........................... .. H04N 1/00; H04N 1/32
`(51)
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`...................... .. 358/400; 358/442; 358/434
`(58) Field of Search ............................... .. 358/400, 403,
`358/435, 468, 402, 407, 434, 440, 442;
`370/100; 379/100.01
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`Us. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3/1990 Nome” et a1~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~ 379/100
`4907374 A *
`7/1990 Herb“ """""" "
`379/100
`4’941’170 A *
`5,061,916 A * 10/1991 French et al.
`..
`.. 379/100
`5,090,049 A *
`2/1992 Chen .......... N
`379/100
`5,170,266 A 4 12/1992 Marsh et a1.
`358/402
`..
`5,200,993 A *
`4/1993 Wheeler et a1.
`.. 358/402
`5,224,156 A *
`6/1993 Fuller et al.
`.... ..
`358/402
`5,291,302 A *
`3/1994 Gordon et al.
`.. 358/402
`5,325,310 A *
`6/1994 Johnson et al.
`358/402
`5,339,156 A *
`8/1994 Ishii
`......................... .. 358/400
`
`
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`13 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`10/V
`
`50¢
`
`58» MODEM
`
`
`
`Ex. 1007 -1
`
`Integrated Global Concepts, Inc. — Ex. 1007
`
`Ex. 1007 - 1
`
`Integrated Global Concepts, Inc. - Ex. 1007
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 28, 2002
`
`Sheet 1 of 5
`
`US 6,396,597 B1
`
`20
`
`
`
`7/
`
`Z
`
`Ex. 1007 — 2
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`Integrated Global Concepts, Inc. — Ex. 1007
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`Ex. 1007 - 2
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`Integrated Global Concepts, Inc. - Ex. 1007
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 28, 2002
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`US 6,396,597 B1
`
`START
`
`102
`
`100\
`
`116
`
`I04
`
`I06
`
`108
`
`110
`
`I12
`
`I14
`
`118
`
`READ USER DATA
`
`,
`GET USER S PERSONAL
`FACSIMILE NUMBER
`
`INSTRUCT MODEM TO GO "OFF HOOK
`
`INSTRUCT MODEM TO DIAL USER'S PER
`SONAL FACSIMILE NUMBER AND PROVIDE
`ACKNOWLEDGE SIGNAL ON ANSWER
`
`INSTRUCT MODEM TO TRANSMIT
`DTMF CODES TO RETRIEVE
`STORED FACSIMILE DOCUMENTS
`
`INSTRUCT MODEM TO GO
`INTO FACSIMILE RECEIVE MODE
`
`CARRIER
`ECE_;IVED
`NO
`
`SEND ACKNOWLEDGE
`TO SERVICE COMPUTER
`
`120
`
`RECEIVE FACSIMILE DOCUMENTS
`
`
`
`RECEIVE END OF
`TRANSMISSION CODE
`
`INSTRUCT MODEM TO HANG UP
`
`STORE RECEIVED FACSIMILE DOCUMENTS
`IN USER'S PERSONAL FOLDER
`
`ALERT USER THAT A FACSIMILE
`DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVED
`
`READ USER DATA FOR NEXT USER
`
`130
`
`END
`or USER
`
`L1§T
`' YES
`
`NO
`
`132
`
`134
`
`Ex. 1007 — 3
`
`Integrated Global Concepts, Inc. — Ex. 1007
`
`Ex. 1007 - 3
`
`Integrated Global Concepts, Inc. - Ex. 1007
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 28, 2002
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
`
`US 6,396,597 B1
`
`Sm,
`
`202
`
`204
`
`206
`
`STORE RECEIVED FAX
`MESSAGE IN USER'S FILE
`
`212
`
`CONVERT
`
`
`FAX
`
`YES MESSAGE
`
`
`To
`
`
`Dggmgp
`
`
`FORMAT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DOES
`PROFILE DATA
`INCLUDE A SERVER
`
`NUM?BER
` 208
`-
`
`YES
`
`
`
`LOOK AT USER’S PROFILE DATA
`
`DOES
`USER WANT
`FAX DATA TO BE
`CONVERTED
`?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`INSERT USER'S FACSIMILE TELEPHONE
`NUMBER INTO A HEADER BLOCK
`
`INSTRUCT MODEM TO GO OFF HOOK
`
`INSTRUCT MODEM TO DIAL
`USER'S SERVER COMPUTER NUMBER
`
`INSTRUCT MODEM TO GO INTO
`DATA TRANSMISSION MODE
`AND ESTABLISH HANDSHAKE
`
`SEND HEADER BLOCK USING AN
`ERROR CORRECTING DATA PROTOCOL
`
`INSTRUCT MODEM
`T0 00 mm
`FACSIMILE
`TRANSMISSION
`MODE AND
`ESTABLISH
`HANDSHAKE
`
`224
`
`N0
`
`HAS
`
`FAX DATA
`BEEN CONVERTED
`
`9,
`
`-
`YES
`
`SEND DOCUMENT USING AN
`ERROR CORRECTING DA TA PROTOCOL
`
`SEND END OF TRANSMISSION CODE
`
`WAIT FOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT CODE
`
`325“
`
`230
`
`232
`
`
`
`SEND DOCUMENT
`USING STANDARD
`FA CSIMILE
`PROTOCOL
`
`ERROR CODE
`RECEIVED
`
`236'
`
`8
`
`3
`
`\2oo
`541?.3A.
`
`.
`
`Ex. 1007 — 4
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`Integrated Global Concepts, Inc. — Ex. 1007
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`Ex. 1007 - 4
`
`Integrated Global Concepts, Inc. - Ex. 1007
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 28, 2002
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
`
`US 6,396,597 B1
`
`302
`
`START
`
`304
`
`RECEIVE SIGNAL FROM MODEM
`THAT PHONE CALL HAS BEEN RECEIVED
`
`306
`
`IF DATA CARRIER PRESENT.
`TRANSMIT DATA ACKNOWLEDGE
`
`/300
`
`308
`
`
`
`RECEIVE DOCUMENT
`CA“ “'0”
`N0
`A W SERVICE —
`
`COMEPTER
`[N am FORMAT
`
`309
`
`
`
`YES
`
`310
`
`RECEIVE HEADER BLOCK
`FROM SERVICE COMPUTER
`
`
`
`HANDLE AS AN
`ORDINARY DATA CALL
`
`3 1 3
`
`
`
`
`DA TA
`
`FORMAT
`FORMA
`EADER
`
`INSTRUCT MODEM To
`Go INTO FACSIMILE
`RECEIVE MODE WAIT FOR
`CARRIER AND SEND
`
`
`ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
`
`
`
`RECEIVE DOCUMENT
`IN FACSIMILE FORMAT
`
`314b
`
`316'
`
`318
`
`320
`
`322
`
`RECEIVE EOT
`
`INSTRUCT MODEM TO HANG UP
`
`PLACE RECEIVED FACSIMILE
`DOCUMENT IN USER’S FOLDER
`
`ALERT USER THAT A FACSIMILE
`DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVED
`
`93 324
`
`[mp
`
`Ex. 1007 — 5
`
`Integrated Global Concepts, Inc. — Ex. 1007
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`Ex. 1007 - 5
`
`Integrated Global Concepts, Inc. - Ex. 1007
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`m
`
`hS
`
`5M5
`
`US 6,396,597 B1
`
`w2:AM8.
`
`.m._.w.awVfiaw.
`
`
`
`:3sa>w.m_»s.m$§E§8ESEEmzaz
`
`
`Be:2W.,§E%ESE.3E25.5522.35:
`
`Ex. 1007 — 6
`
`Integrated Global Concepts, Inc. — Ex. 1007
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`Ex. 1007 - 6
`
`Integrated Global Concepts, Inc. - Ex. 1007
`
`
`
`

`
`US 6,396,597 B1
`
`2
`Users of the network system must open and view each
`received facsimile document
`in order to determine its
`
`intended recipient. Obviously, such a process jeopardizes the
`confidential nature of the information contained within the
`
`received facsimile documents. The second common way a
`local area network routes a received facsimile document to
`
`its intended recipient is to require the sender of the facsimile
`to insert a code into some recognizable part of the document
`(eg, the first page). The code is read by an optical character
`recognition program that can decipher the code and associ-
`ate it with a particular user of the network computer system
`who is the recipient of the document. The central server
`computer can then alert the recipient that a facsimile docu-
`ment has been received. The problem with this approach is
`that the sender of the facsimile must know how to insert the
`
`code into the document according to the particular protocol
`required by the central server computer as well as know the
`particular code to be inserted for the intended recipient. A
`second problem with this approach is that optical character
`recognition program is not always accurate.
`Therefore,
`there exists a need for a system whereby
`facsimile documents can be received by a single facsimile-
`compatible modem on a networked computer system and
`directed to their intended recipient with high reliability and
`without comprising the confidentiality of the documents
`received.
`
`The system should be compatible with current facsimile
`machines and facsimile store-and-forward services as will
`
`be further described below. The system should require no
`more hardware than is currently required to send and receive
`facsimile documents on a local area network computer
`system. Finally, the system should not require the sender of
`the facsimile to insert any additional codes into the docu-
`ment itself That is to say, the system should be transparent
`to the sender of the facsimile.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention comprises a method for transmit-
`ting facsimile documents from a facsimile store-and-
`forward service computer (service computer) to a networked
`computer system that has a facsimile-compatible (fax)
`modem associated with one computer on the network. For
`the purposes of the present specification,
`the computer
`having the fax modem associated with it shall be designated
`as the central server computer. The facsimile-compatible
`modem is coupled to the central server computer for trans-
`mitting facsimile documents to another facsimile machine or
`to a store-and-forward service computer and for receiving
`facsimile documents from a store-and-forward service com-
`
`1
`COMPUTER NETWORK-BASED FACSIMILE
`RECEPTION SYSTEM
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to communication systems
`in general and in particular to facsimile and data commu-
`nication systems.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`In the past ten years, the two devices that have probably
`had the greatest impact on the way modern business is
`conducted are the personal computer and the facsimile (fax)
`machine. Facsimile machines have revolutionized the speed
`at which replicas of documents can be transmitted from one
`place to another. With a facsimile machine, copies of docu-
`ments can be sent all over the world almost instantaneously,
`without the delay, cost, or uncertainty that accompanies
`sending original documents through the mail.
`Similarly, personal computers have also changed the
`modern business environment. With a personal computer,
`large numbers of documents can be stored, retrieved, edited
`and printed with virtually the touch of a button. A facsimile-
`compatible modem,
`together with appropriate software,
`allows a user to combine the benefits of both computer and
`facsimile technology in a single machine. With a facsimile-
`compatible modem and software to control it, it is possible
`to send and receive facsimile documents to and from a
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`computer. While facsimile-compatible modems generally
`work well, there are situations where it is either too costly
`or impractical for every computer user who wishes to have
`the ability to send and receive fax messages on a computer
`to buy a facsimile-compatible modem and the required
`telephone line services. One way of making computer-based
`faxing more affordable is to share the modem, software, and
`required telephone line services via a computer network.
`In the past few years, networked computer systems,
`so-called local area networks (LANs), have become the
`predominant way of connecting more than one computer
`together. A typical LAN system includes a central server
`computer, and a plurality of satellite computers that are
`coupled to the central server computer and to each other, by
`electrical or fiber optic cables. Local area networks allow the
`plurality of satellite computers to share software programs
`and data as well as computer hardware such as printers, disk
`drives or facsimile-compatible modems.
`As described above, it is possible for a networked com-
`puter system to be equipped with a single facsimile-
`compatible modem so that each user of the network can send
`and receive facsimile documents directly from their com- 50 puter in which the facsimile documents have been previ-
`Plltefi FaCSiH1i1€-C0IIlPatib1€
`H10d€II1S are typically C01lP1€d
`ously stored. Software on the central server computer causes
`to the central server computer and have a single telephone
`the facsimile-compatible modem to dial a telephone number
`line that connects the modem to a telephone SWltChlIlg
`to connect
`the networked computer system to a remote
`I1€tW0fk.
`facsimile store-and-forward service computer. Next,
`the
`While it is not a problem to send facsimile documents 55 central server computer causes the modem to transmit a
`using a facsimile-compatible modem on a local area
`series of codes to the service computer that 1) specify the
`network, there currently exists no reliable method whereby
`identification of a particular user known to the store-and-
`facsimile documents can be received by one user of the
`forward service computer, if such identification is required
`network without the possibility that another user may be
`(Note: In cases in which the facsimile store-and-forward
`able to read the document. Because current
`local area 60 service provides a unique telephone number for each user,
`network systems have no way of determining who is the
`this step is not required), 2) provide a security code asso-
`intended recipient of a facsimile document as it is being
`ciated with the particular user, and 3) indicate that
`the
`received, all received facsimile documents are handled in
`facsimile-compatible modem wishes to receive facsimile
`one of two ways. The first way in which the local area
`documents stored in the service computer that are to be
`network handles received facsimile documents is to place 65 directed to the particular user. The service computer then
`the received documents in a common folder on the central
`transmits any facsimile documents that are to be directed to
`server computer that is accessible by all users of the system.
`the particular user to the facsimile-compatible modem.
`
`Ex. 1007 — 7
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`Integrated Global Concepts, Inc. — Ex. 1007
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`Ex. 1007 - 7
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`Integrated Global Concepts, Inc. - Ex. 1007
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`
`US 6,396,597 B1
`
`3
`Upon receiving the facsimile documents, the central server
`computer opens a file that is associated with the particular
`user and stores the received facsimile documents in the file.
`
`Finally, the central server computer alerts the particular user
`of the networked computer system that a facsimile document
`has been received. Preferably, the central server computer
`periodically performs the above-referenced steps for each
`user of the networked computer system.
`According to a second aspect of the present invention, the
`store-and-forward service computer is programmed to send
`any received facsimile documents to the central server
`computer for the particular networked computer system on
`which the intended recipient is located. When the service
`computer receives a facsimile document, the service com-
`puter reads a record of user profile data that is associated
`with the intended recipient. If the user profile data indicates
`the received facsimile document is to be transmitted to a
`
`networked computer system, the service computer reads a
`telephone number for a facsimile-compatible modem
`coupled to the networked computer system. The service
`computer then inserts a unique code assigned to the recipient
`into a header block. The service computer then dials the
`number of the facsimile-compatible modem and transmits
`both the header block and the facsimile document to the
`
`facsimile-compatible modem. The central server computer
`on the networked computer system reads the header block to
`determine who is the intended recipient of the facsimile
`document. The central server computer then stores the
`received facsimile document in a file or folder associated
`
`with the intended recipient and alerts the intended recipient
`that a facsimile document has been received.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advan-
`tages of this invention will become more readily appreciated
`as the same becomes better understood by reference to the
`following detailed description, when taken in conjunction
`with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile communication
`system according to the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a series of steps performed
`by a computer program that allows a central server computer
`to receive facsimile transmissions on a networked computer
`system, according to a first aspect of the present invention;
`FIG. 3A is a flow chart showing a series of steps per-
`formed by a computer program that allows a facsimile
`store-and-forward service computer to send facsimile trans-
`missions to a networked computer system according to a
`second aspect of the present invention;
`FIG. 3B is a flow chart showing a series of steps per-
`formed by a computer program that allows a central server
`computer to receive facsimile transmissions from the service
`computer according to the second aspect of the present
`invention; and
`FIG. 4 is a diagram of a header block that is transmitted
`from the facsimile store-and-forward service computer to
`the central server computer-according to the second aspect
`of the present invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a facsimile transmission
`system according to the present invention. The system 10
`includes a networked computer system 20, a facsimile
`store-and-forward service computer 50 and one or more
`remote computers 60 or facsimile machines 62.
`
`4
`The networked computer system 20 includes a central
`server computer 22 and a plurality of satellite computers 34,
`which are linked to the central server computer by electrical
`or fiber optic cables 32. The central server computer 22
`comprises a central processing unit 24, a memory unit 26
`that contains a series of folders or files 28 and a facsimile-
`compatible modem 30. Other peripheral devices may also be
`included on the networked computer system 20 such as a
`printer 36. The details of the networked computer system 20
`and the central server computer 22 are well known to those
`of ordinary skill in the computer arts.
`Although the present invention is described as being used
`on a networked computer system, it can also be used on a
`system that includes just one computer shared by multiple
`users who each wish to send and receive confidential fax
`
`messages via the fax modem. In this case, we would not
`have a “networked” computer system, strictly speaking, but
`the method of the invention would still apply.
`The store-and-forward service computer 50 (service
`computer) is a multi-purpose computer system that is typi-
`cally operated by a communications company. The service
`computer 50 includes a central processing unit 52, a memory
`unit 54 that contains a series of files or folders 56 and a
`
`facsimile-compatible modem (or modem bank) 58. In the
`present invention, the service computer 50 is operated by a
`communications company that provides a facsimile store-
`and-forward service to customers. For example, the present
`invention is designed to work with the FAXMAILTM service
`that is provided by US WEST Enhanced Services. However,
`as will be described below,
`the present invention could
`easily be adapted to work with similar facsimile store-and-
`forward services provided by other service providers.
`The FAXMAILTM service computer 50 receives and
`stores facsimile documents in a file until such time as the
`service subscriber wishes to download the documents to
`
`either a computer equipped with a facsimile-compatible
`modem and software or standard facsimile machine. Each
`
`user of the FAXMAILTM service has a unique facsimile
`telephone number and an associated file or folder in the
`service computer’s memory unit. Facsimile documents sent
`to the user’s unique facsimile number are stored in the
`associated file or folder. The facsimile-compatible modem
`58 included within the service computer 50 is designed to
`receive telephone calls on numerous unique facsimile num-
`bers that are associated with each user of the FAXMAILTM
`
`system. People sending facsimile documents to the service
`subscriber need not be aware that the documents are being
`sent
`to the service computer 50 rather than a standard
`facsimile machine.
`
`Before the present invention, a user of the FAXMAILTM
`system would have to manually call the service computer
`and listen to a menu. By pressing the appropriate keys on a
`DTMF (touch tone) telephone,
`the user can retrieve any
`facsimile documents that have been received by the service
`computer. The facsimile documents can be transmitted to
`either a personal computer that is equipped with a facsimile-
`compatible modem, or standard facsimile machine.
`As described above, the present invention is a method for
`transmitting a facsimile document from the service com-
`puter 50 to a facsimile-compatible modem coupled to the
`networked computer system and placing the facsimile docu-
`ment into an intended recipient’s file 28 so that the recipient
`can be notified that a facsimile document has been received
`
`5
`
`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
`
`30
`
`35
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`40
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`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`and no one but the intended recipient can view the contents
`of that document.
`
`65
`
`FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a series of steps performed
`by a computer program that allow the central server com-
`
`Ex. 1007 - 8
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`lntegrated Global Concepts, Inc. — Ex. 1007
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`Ex. 1007 - 8
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`
`US 6,396,597 B1
`
`5
`
`6
`Because the service computer 50 only transmits a facsimile
`puter 22 (shown in FIG. 1) to retrieve facsimile documents
`carrier signal if a facsimile document has been received, the
`that have been previously stored in the service computer 50
`central server computer can determine by detecting the
`for a particular user of the networked computer system. The
`facsimile carrier signal
`that
`the service computer has
`program calls the service computer using each user’s per-
`received a facsimile document that is to be directed to the
`sonal facsimile telephone number. If the user has received a
`user whose telephone number was dialed in step 110. If no
`facsimile document, the program causes the service com-
`facsimile carrier signal is received after a reasonable period
`puter to download the document into a user’s personal file.
`If the user has not received any facsimile documents, the
`(e.g., 10 seconds), the central server computer determines
`that
`the service computer has not received a facsimile
`program proceeds to the next user and repeats the process.
`document for the user and the program jumps ahead to a step
`The program 100 starts at a step 102 and causes CPU 24
`to read at a step 104 a record containing data regarding a first 10 130~
`the
`iS reCeiVed,
`user from a list of users of the networked computer system
`Assuming the faCSirnile Carrier Signal
`who are to have their facsimile documents automatically
`central server computer transmits an acknowledge signal
`retrieved from the store-and-forward service computer 50.
`back to the service computer 50 that indicates the carrier
`The user data includes that particular user’s name or iden- 15 signal has been received at a step 118. The central server
`tification code on the network 20,
`the nser’s facsimile
`computer then receives the facsimile documents transmitted
`telephone number (the telephone number used by others to
`from the service computer at a step 120. Next, the central
`send facsimile documents to the user and used by the user to
`SerVer C0rnp11ter l00l<S f0r an end-Of-tranSrniSSi0n (EOT)
`receive facsimile documents from the service computer 50)
`C0de t0 be tranSrnitteCl fr0rn the SerViCe C0rnp11ter at a Step
`and the address of the user’s personal file or folder in the 20 122. The EOT Signal iS Sent by the rn0dern 53 t0 the Central
`memory 26 where the received facsimile documents are to
`SerVer’S rn0dern 30. Up0n reCeipt Of the EOT signal, the
`be placed. After reading the user data, the central server
`central server computers rnodern 30 Would then send a
`computer recalls the user’s facsimile telephone number at a
`rneSSage t0 the CPU 24 that an EOT haS been reCeiVed. The
`step 106 and instructs the facsnni1e-compatib1e modem 30 to
`end-of-transmission code indicates that the service computer
`go “off hook” and obtain a dial tone at a step 108, Next, the 25 has finished transmitting facsimile data. After the end-of-
`central server computer causes the modem 30 to dial a first
`tranSrniSSi0n C0de haS been reCeiVed,
`the Central SerVer
`code that comprises the user’s facsimile telephone number
`C0rnp1lter inStr1lCtS the faCSirnile-C0rnpatible rn0dern 30 t0
`and to provide an acknowledge signal to the server computer
`hang up at a Step 124.
`when the modem 58 coupled to the service computer has
`Once the central server computer has received the fac-
`answered at a step 110.
`It should be noted that some 30 simile documents, they are stored in a new file that is created
`facsimile store-and-forward systems do not have a unique
`in the recipient’s personal folder at a step 126. Then, the
`facsimile telephone number associated with each individual
`central server computer alerts the recipient by sending an
`user. Rather, all users of the system have the same facsimile
`electronic message over the computer network to indicate
`telephone number and require that a unique identification
`that a facsimile document has been received at a step 128.
`number must be transmitted to the service computer to 35 Upon seeing the message thatadocument has been received,
`indicate who is the intended recipient of the facsimile
`the recipient opens the new file that has been created in his
`document. If the present invention is to be used with such a
`or her personal folder in order to read the facsimile docu-
`system,
`the central server computer includes the unique
`ment.
`identification number and possibly a password as part of the
`After alerting the recipient that a facsimile document has
`firSt COCle tranSrnitted at Step 110. Theref0re, f0r the p1lrp0SeS 40 been received, the central server computer determines at step
`of the present specification, the term “code” can mean any
`130 if there are additional users of the networked computer
`C0rnbinati0n Of teleph0ne n1lrnberS and/Or CligitS.
`system in the list to be processed for automatic facsimile
`After the first code has been transmitted, the central server
`retrieval according to the above-described method. If there
`computer instructs the facsimile-compatible modem 30 to
`are no users left in the list, the program ends at a step 134.
`transmit a series of DTMF codes to the facsimile-compatible 45 If there are users of the networked computer system 20 for
`modem 58 at a step 112. The DTMF touch-tone codes
`whom the central server computer has not checked to see if
`indicate to the service computer that any facsimile docu-
`the service computer has received any facsimile documents,
`ments that have been received by the service computer on
`the central server computer reads the user data for the next
`the telephone number dialed at step 110 are to be transmitted
`user at a step 132 and the above-described method begins the
`to the central server computer. In the preferred embodiment 5o process again by looping back to step 106. Preferably, the
`of the present invention that is designed to be compatible
`central server computer would execute the above-described
`with US WEST’s FAXMAILTM system, the DTMF touch-
`method periodically (e.g., once an hour) to see if each user
`tone codes transmitted at step 112 are the same touch-tone
`of the networked computer system has received a facsimile.
`codes as would be generated by pressing a telephone keypad
`The main disadvantage of this method would be that a user
`to generate a “#” sign, followed by a 4-to 10-digit security 55 may have to wait until the central server computer executes
`code (e.g., “12345”), followed by a “#” sign, followed by the
`the program 100 before being able to read the contents of a
`digits “11.” After step 112,
`the central server computer
`received facsimile document at the satellite computer 34.A
`instructs the facsimile-compatible modem 30 to go into a
`secondary disadvantage is that the method uses computing
`“facsimile mode” at step 114, thereby allowing the modem
`and communications resources on a scheduled basis, even
`30 to send and receive facsimile transmissions as opposed to 50 when no fax messages have been received by the service
`sending and receiving standard data or telephone transmis-
`computer.
`Si0nS.
`In contrast to the above-described method wherein the
`At a step 116, the central server computer 22 determines
`central server computer is programmed to call the service
`if the service computer 50 is transmitting a facsimile carrier
`computer to determine if facsimile documents have been
`signal upon which digital facsimile data signals can be 65 received for particular users on the network, a second
`transmitted. This can be done by having the modem 30 send
`embodiment of the present invention involves programming
`a signal to the CPU 24 when carrier has been detected.
`the service computer to transmit received facsimile docu-
`
`Ex. 1007 — 9
`
`Integrated Global Concepts, Inc. — Ex. 1007
`
`Ex. 1007 - 9
`
`Integrated Global Concepts, Inc. - Ex. 1007
`
`

`
`US 6,396,597 B1
`
`7
`ments to the central server computer immediately upon
`receipt by the service computer. This method has the advan-
`tage of alerting a recipient that a facsimile document has
`been received within a short period of time after the service
`computer receives the facsimile document. It also makes use
`of resources only when a fax message has actually been
`received.
`
`FIG. 3A is a flow chart of a computer program 200 stored
`in memory 54 that causes the service computer 50 to send
`facsimile documents to the central server computer upon
`receipt. The program 200 begins at a step 202 and proceeds
`to a step 204, wherein a received facsimile document is
`stored in the intended recipient’s file (so-called fax mailbox)
`56 as shown in FIG. 1 according to the normal operating
`procedure of the facsimile store-and-forward service. The
`program then proceeds to a step 206 wherein the service
`computer reads a record stored in the memory unit 54 that
`contains user profile data for the recipient of the received
`facsimile document. The user profile data indicates whether
`the recipient desires to have the received facsimile document
`sent automatically from the service computer to a networked
`computer system equipped with appropriate hardware and
`software. At a step 208, the service computer determines if
`the user profile data includes a telephone number for a
`facsimile-compatible modem 30 coupled to a central server
`computer. If the user profile data does not include such a
`telephone number, then the program ends at a step 230. For
`example, there may be some users of the facsimile store-
`and-forward service who do not wish to have facsimile
`
`documents sent to a networked computer system. Assuming
`the user profile data does include the telephone number for
`a facsimile-compatible modem 30 that is part of a networked
`computer system, the program proceeds to a step 210.
`At step 210,
`the program determines if the recipient
`wishes to receive the facsimile document in a format other
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`8
`telephone number of the intended recipient of a facsimile
`document. A segment 154 contains a binary code that
`indicates to the server computer the format of the document
`to be transmitted. The header block 150 may also contain
`other segments such as a segment 156 that contains a code
`to indicate the length of the document to be transmitted and
`a segment 158 that contains a code that indicates the time the
`document was received by the service computer. As will be
`appreciated by those skilled in the art, the format of the
`header block may be changed to meet the needs of the
`particular system in which the present invention is to be
`used.
`
`As described, the header block contains a code that is
`recognized by the central server computer
`to indicate
`whether the document to be sent from the service computer
`to the central server is in facsimile format or some other data
`
`format. The information in the header block is read by the
`central server to determine in what format the document to
`be received should be stored and to what user it should be
`
`routed. After producing the header block, the service com-
`puter instructs its facsimile-compatible modem 58 to go
`“off-hook” at a step 216. Next, the program proceeds to a
`step 218, wherein the service computer instructs its modem
`58 to dial the telephone number for the facsimile-compatible
`modem 30 coupled to the central server computer on the
`networked computer system.
`At step 220, the service computer instructs its modem to
`go into a data transmission mode and establish a handshake
`with the central server computer. In conjunction with this
`step, the central server computer must recognize that the call
`originates f