System, method, and apparatus for an interactive virtual fax machine

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor;
• a non-transitory computer-readable medium;
• and
• stored instructions translatable by the processor for performing:
• displaying, to a user, an interactive virtual fax machine that resembles a physical fax machine, the interactive virtual fax machine having a send paper tray, a numeric keypad, a document attachment button, and a send button, the interactive virtual fax machine embodied at least as web pages and scripts stored at a server communicatively connected to the apparatus, as web pages and scripts stored at the apparatus, or as a program stored at the apparatus;
• receiving, from the user, a fax number for sending a fax to a recipient, the fax number received through the numeric keypad of the interactive virtual fax machine or an input device of the apparatus;
• attaching, responsive to an instruction from the user, an electronic document to the fax, the instruction received through the send paper tray or the document attachment button;
• responsive to the user selecting the send button, transmitting the fax to the recipient using the fax number;
• and
• responsive to completion of the fax, flashing a message displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine or generating a sound through a speaker connected to the apparatus.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions translatable by a computer for performing:

• displaying, to a user, an interactive virtual fax machine that resembles a physical fax machine, the virtual fax machine having a send paper tray, a numeric keypad, a document attachment button, and a send button, the interactive virtual fax machine embodied at least as web pages and scripts stored at a server communicatively connected to the computer, as web pages and scripts stored at the computer, or as a program stored at the computer;
• receiving, from the user, a fax number for sending a fax to a recipient, the fax number received through the numeric keypad of the interactive virtual fax machine or an input device of the computer;
• attaching, responsive to an instruction from the user, an electronic document to the fax, the instruction received through the send paper tray or the document attachment button;
• responsive to the user selecting the send button, transmitting the fax to the recipient using the fax number;
• and
• responsive to completion of the fax, flashing a message displayed on the interactive virtual fax machine or generating a sound through a speaker connected to the computer.