Universal Facsimile Engine
OwnerXiming Chen, Herbert B. Cohen +1inventors
InventorsXiming Chen, Herbert B. Cohen, James M. Gurnavage
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A facsimile apparatus includes a user interface operative to facilitate communications between the apparatus and at least one user application in operative communication with the apparatus, and a network interface operative to facilitate communications between the apparatus and at least one of a plurality of communications networks coupled to the apparatus. The apparatus further includes a controller connected to the user interface and network interface. The controller is operative in a first mode to communicate with a first one of the communications networks using a first protocol and is operative in at least a second mode to communicate with a second one of the communications networks using a second protocol.
Claims20
A facsimile apparatus, comprising:
- a user interface operative to facilitate communications between the apparatus and at least one user application in operative communication with the apparatus;
- a network interface operative to facilitate communications between the apparatus and at least one of a plurality of communications networks coupled to the apparatus;
- and
- a controller connected to the user interface and network interface, the controller being operative in a first mode to communicate with a first one of the communications networks using a first facsimile protocol and being operative in at least a second mode to communicate with a second one of the communications networks using a second facsimile protocol.
An integrated circuit comprising at least one facsimile apparatus, the at least one facsimile apparatus comprising:
- a user interface operative to facilitate communications between the apparatus and at least one user application in operative communication with the apparatus;
- a network interface operative to facilitate communications between the apparatus and at least one of a plurality of communications networks coupled to the apparatus;
- and
- a controller connected to the user interface and network interface, the controller being operative in a first mode to communicate with a first one of the communications networks using a first facsimile protocol and being operative in at least a second mode to communicate with a second one of the communications networks using a second facsimile protocol.
A method for facilitating facsimile communications using at least two facsimile protocols, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first interface operative to facilitate communications between a facsimile device and at least one user application in operative communication with the facsimile device;
- providing a second interface operative to facilitate communications between the facsimile device and at least one of a plurality of communications networks coupled to the facsimile device;
- and
- communicating with a first one of the communications networks using a first facsimile protocol in a first mode of operation, and communicating with a second one of the communications networks using a second facsimile protocol in a second mode of operation.
An electronic system, comprising:
- a plurality of facsimile devices, each facsimile device being adapted for connection to a corresponding communications network;
- and
- at least one facsimile apparatus, the at least one facsimile apparatus comprising:
- a user interface operative to facilitate communications between the apparatus and at least one user application in operative communication with the apparatus;
- a network interface operative to facilitate communications between the apparatus and at least one of a plurality of communications networks coupled to the apparatus and to at least one of the facsimile devices;
- and
- a controller connected to the user interface and network interface, the controller being operative in a first mode to communicate with a first one of the communications networks using a first facsimile protocol and being operative in at least a second mode to communicate with a second one of the communications networks using a second facsimile protocol.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.