Interactive facsimile information retrieval system and method

A method of delivering selected documents from a storage location to facsimile machines at remote location, the selected documents being delivered in response to telephone requests, the method comprising the steps of:

• storing a multiplicity of documents;
• storing a plurality of client information records each corresponding to a group of said stored documents, each said client information record denoting protocols required for a caller to access said group of stored documents, each said stored document having an associated client information record;
• receiving an incoming telephone call from a remote caller;
• automatically prompting the caller to provide order information denoting selected ones of said stored documents and a designated telephone number of a facsimile machine for receiving the selected documents;
• initiating a telephone call to the designated number;
• and
• transmitting the selected documents to a facsimile machine at the designated telephone number;
• said method including accessing the client information record corresponding to each said selected document and executing the protocols denoted in said client information record.

An information delivery system for delivering recorded information from an information storage location to a user's facsimile machine positioned at a remote location, the information delivery system comprising:

• memory means for storing a multiplicity of documents;
• request processing means for receiving requests for specific documents stored within said memory means, the request processing means including prompting means for providing signals to a user to prompt the user to specify order information denoting one or more selected documents and a designated telephone number for the user's facsimile machine;
• facsimile delivery means, coupled to said request processing means and said memory means, for automatically delivery selected documents to a facsimile machine at said designated telephone number;
• and
• a plurality of client information records each corresponding to a group of said stored documents, each said client information record denoting protocols required for a user to access said group of stored documents, each said stored document having an associated client information record;
• wherein said request processing means includes means for accessing the client information record corresponding to each said selected document and for executing the protocols denoted in said client information record.

An information delivery system for delivering recorded documents from an information storage location to specified user facsimile machines positioned at remote locations, the information delivery system comprising:

• memory means for storing a multiplicity of documents;
• request processing means for receiving requests for specific documents stored within said memory means, said request processing means including prompting means for providing signals to a user to prompt the user to specify order information denoting one or more selected documents and a designated telephone number for the user's facsimile machine;
• said prompting means including,
• a plurality of voice liens each capable of connecting the request processing means to a user on an incoming telephone line, each said voice line having an associated speech generator for generating voice messages prompting a user to provide order information, and
• a request controller coupled to said voice generator means and said voice liens for directing the generation and delivery of voiced messages to said voice lines to prompt the users to provide order information;
• facsimile delivery means for automatically delivering selected documents to a facsimile machine at said designated telephone number, said facsimile delivery means including at least one facsimile delivery module having:
• a plurality of independent facsimile liens each capable of transmitting selected documents to a remote facsimile machine, said facsimile lines being capable of simultaneously delivering independent documents to different remote facsimile machines;
• and
• facsimile control means for receiving the order information from said request processing means and for directing a particular facsimile line to deliver the selected documents to the designated telephone number, wherein aid facsimile control means includes means for receiving order information for a plurality of independent orders and for coordinating the simultaneous delivery of selected documents to different designated numbers;
• scheduling means for determining the order of delivery of received orders, including means for receiving order information from said request processing means and for creating an order file denoting the order in which selected documents are to be transmitted to facsimile machines at corresponding designated telephone number;
• and
• a plurality of client information records each corresponding to a group of said stored documents, each said client information record denoting protocols required for users to access said group of stored documents, each said stored document having an associated client information record;
• wherein said request processing means includes means for accessing the client information record corresponding to each said selected document and for executing the protocols denoted in said client information record.

A method of delivering selected documents from a storage location to facsimile machines at remote locations, the selected documents being delivered in response to telephone requests, the method comprising the steps of:

• storing a multiplicity of documents;
• receiving an incoming telephone call from a remote caller;
• automatically prompting the caller to provide order information denoting selected ones of said stored documents and a designated telephone number of a facsimile machine for receiving the selected documents;
• echoing back to said caller said order information, and prompting said caller to correct said order information when said order information is erroneous;
• restricting and restraining access by said callers to said stored documents in accordance with specified criteria;
• assigning each selected document a priority value;
• scheduling delivery of said selected documents in accordance with priority values assigned to selected documents;
• initiating a telephone call to a designated telephone number corresponding to one or more of said selected documents in accordance with said delivery schedule;
• and
• transmitting the selected documents to a facsimile machine at the designated telephone number.