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US 4,893,333 AGranted
Interactive facsimile system and method of information retrieval
OwnerPaul Baran, David F. Baraninventors
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OwnerPaul Baran, David F. Baraninventors
Estimating the term…
This invention allows unmodified CCITT Group 3 and 4 facsimile transceivers to interactively select and retrieve facsimile pages from a shared facsimile data base FAX serve system ("FAX server"). The remote facsimile transceiver user marks a paper selector sheet forms using a pencil or pen. The selector sheet is transmitted via the remote facsimile transmitter, preferably in a turn-around polling mode, to the FAX server unit. The FAX server unit processes the facsimile signal rapidly, interpreting the selector sheet and selecting the pages desired to be retrieved prior to the normal CCITT Recommendation T.30 timeout, which would otherwise abort the line connection. The invention allows the requested information to be returned during the same telephone call. If turn-around polling is not available, then the FAX server initiates alternative strategies culminating in an automatic callback with the information desired. The capability created allows facsimile transceivers to be used as interactive terminals for selective retrieval of text and graphics, without requiring alphanumeric keyboard interaction or the need for manual intervention.
A FAX server apparatus for interactively providing requested portions of stored information to an inquiring CCITT FAX transceiver by means of a machine readable information selector sheet marked by the requesting party and transmitted by the inquiring FAX transceiver to the FAX server via telephone lines, said FAX server comprising:
A FAX server apparatus for providing requested portions of stored information to a selected CCITT FAX transceiver, said information being requested by means of a touch-tone telephone, said CCITT FAX transceiver and touch-tone telephone being connected to the FAX server via telephone lines, said FAX server comprising:
A FAX server apparatus for providing requested portions of stored information to a selected CCITT FAX transceiver, said information being requested by means of a telephone, said FAX transceiver and telephone being connected to the FAX server via telephone lines, said FAX server comprising:
A method of information retrieval comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.