US 5,438,433 A · System and method for facsimile cover page storage and use

Abstract

A user interface simplifies operation of a intelligent facsimile machine (IFAX). A display screen displays a plurality of menus and allows the user to select from the menus. The IFAX can store a plurality of digital cover pages to minimize transmission time for a facsimile cover page. The user may select from a list of stored digital cover pages. The user may also attach a binary data file to a facsimile message and transfer the data to another facsimile machine. The IFAX uses a storage location for storing outgoing facsimile messages. The IFAX periodically check the storage location to determine if more than one facsimile message is to be transmitted to the same location and transmits the facsimile messages in one facsimile telephone call. If the IFAX is coupled to a second IFAX on a network, the two IFAX machines can balance the work load by sending a load transfer request if the number of outgoing facsimile messages exceeds a predetermined threshold level. The IFAX can also route incoming facsimile messages to a variety of destinations such as a floppy disk or other storage device, or an external computer. The IFAX can also relay incoming facsimile messages to another facsimile machine, using a set or relay instructions. The relay instructions may be stored in the IFAX or may be a portion of the incoming facsimile message. The relay instructions may be nested, and the IFAX sends the facsimile message to a second IFAX with instructions for the second IFAX to relay the facsimile message to a third facsimile machine. The IFAX contains security measures to prevent unauthorized relaying.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method in a facsimile machine having a display and a user input device, for storage and use of a facsimile cover page, the method comprising the steps of:

maintaining at least one facsimile cover page in a first storage location continuously accessible by any of a plurality of users of the facsimile machine;
maintaining at least another facsimile cover page in a second storage location accessible by a selected one of said plurality of users, said selected user having a corresponding user identification;
sensing if a user inputs a user identification;
and
enabling access to said, second storage location only if said sensed user identification corresponds to said user identification of said selected user, said first storage area being continuously enabled for any of said plurality of users and said second storage area being enabled only when said sensed user identification corresponds to said user identification of said selected user.

2 more elements

A method in a facsimile machine having a user input device for the storage and use of a facsimile cover page, the method comprising the steps of:

maintaining at least one facsimile cover page in a first storage location continuously accessible by any of a plurality of users of the facsimile machine;
maintaining at least another facsimile cover page in a second storage location accessible by a selected one of said plurality of users, said selected user having a corresponding user identification;
sensing if a user inputs a user identification;
and
enabling access to said second storage location only if said sensed user identification corresponds to said user identification of said selected user, said first storage area being continuously enabled for any of said plurality of users and said second storage area being enabled only when said second user identification corresponds to said user identification of said selected user;
sensing a user input on the user input device to select a particular one of said stored cover pages from said first storage location or said second storage location if said user identification data corresponds to said selected one of said plurality of users;
selecting said particular cover page in response to said user input;
and
transmitting said particular cover page as a cover page for a facsimile message.

6 more elements

A system for the storage and use of facsimile cover pages by a facsimile machine, the system comprising:

a public storage area accessible by the facsimile machine and designated for storage of at least one facsimile cover page to be used by any of a plurality of users of the facsimile machine;
a private storage area accessible by the facsimile machine and designated for storage of at least another facsimile cover page to be used by a selected one of said plurality of users;
and
a user input device to sense entry of a user identification, said selected one user having a corresponding user identification, said user input device enabling use of said private storage area if said sensed user identification corresponds to said selected one user, said public storage area being continuously enabled by any of said plurality of users and said private storage area being enabled only when said sensed user identification corresponds to said user identification of said selected one user.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for facsimile cover page storage and use

Life of this patent

System and method for facsimile cover page storage and use

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10