Method for auxiliary software providing instruction for facsimile modem to simulate a telephone communication while connecting to store and forward computer to receive communication
AssigneeAlphanet Telecom Inc.
InventorAlastair T. Gordon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for retrieval of information from a remote computer by a PC equipped with a facsimile modem where the PC initiates the communication. The method and apparatus in a preferred embodiment take advantage of the standard fields associated with facsimile transmission for exchange of information. The invention also provides a simple arrangement for changing the transmit mode of a facsimile modem to a receive mode.
Claims13
In combination a personal computer having an auxiliary software application, conventional communication software used in association with transmission and receiving of facsimile information via a facsimile modem associated therewith, and a store and forward computer accessible by telephone communications;
- said auxiliary software application, when activated, providing instructions to said facsimile modem to initiate a telephone communication with a predetermined telephone address of said store and forward computer, and after completion thereof, said auxiliary software application creates and transmits an activation signal to said conventional communication software, simulating a telephone communication is being received by the facsimile modem, whereafter said conventional communication software provides the normal signals for controlling the facsimile modem according to the standard protocol, whereby the facsimile modem and said conventional communication software assume a state for receipt of a communication from the store and forward computer connected to the facsimile modem, which connection was initiated by said auxiliary software application.
An auxiliary software application in combination with a personal computer having a facsimile modem said auxiliary software application when activated uses the personal computer and said facsimile modem to initiate a communication with a predetermined store and forward computer at a particular telephone address and uses the fields of a facsimile handshake protocol to identify the personal computer to the predetermined computer and to receive from the predetermined computer a summary of facsimiles received by the predetermined computer destined for the personal computer, and wherein said auxiliary software program, after communication with the predetermined computer of the facsimiles to be transmitted, produces a signal received by conventional communication software associated with the modem simulating that the modem is receiving an incoming communication and to act in the normal manner to answer the incoming communication and prepare for receipt of a facsimile transmission from the predetermined computer while the modem remains connected to said predetermined computer such that the modem and software assume a state for receipt of a facsimile transmission.
A method of receiving a facsimile transmission destined for a facsimile arrangement which has been assigned a telephone facsimile address and where said facsimile arrangement comprises a computer, a facsimile modem, communication software used to process facsimile transmissions received by the facsimile modem, and auxiliary communication software;
- said telephone address when used results in a communication with a facsimile mailbox of a store and forward computer which is accessible by telephone for retrieving facsimiles, said method comprising assigning the facsimile arrangement a telephone facsimile address, causing said facsimile arrangement to originate a telephone communication with the store and forward computer using said auxiliary communication software and said facsimile modem of the facsimile arrangement, said store and forward computer transmitting to said facsimile arrangement a summary of the contents of the mailbox in a field of the handshake facsimile protocol, said facsimile arrangement identifying to said store and forward computer certain information in the mailbox to be transmitted to the facsimile arrangement and thereafter said auxiliary communication software produces a signal causing said communication software to act as if a telephone communication is being received by the facsimile modem while the facsimile modem is connected to the store and forward platform and thereby automatically place said facsimile modem in a receive mode, said store and forward platform then transmitting the identified information in the mailbox to the facsimile arrangement prior to termination of the telephone communication originated by the facsimile arrangement.
An auxiliary software application in combination with a facsimile arrangement having a facsimile modem and communication software for transmitting and receiving facsimiles via the facsimile modem, said auxiliary software application being capable of using said facsimile modem to complete a telephone connection with a store and forward computer and exchange information therewith using facsimile protocol and including means for producing a signal, when connected via the modem to the store and forward computer, simulating an incoming communication is being received by the facsimile modem causing said communication software to act as if a telephone communication is being received by the facsimile modem and thereby place said modem and communication software in a state for receipt of a facsimile transmission.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.