Apparatus and method for confirming, timestamping, and archiving printer and telecopier transmissions

A system for verifying the content and submission time of an archived telecopier transmission, to a user of said system, comprising:

• (a) an interface for receiving a telecopier transmission identifier;
• (b) a storage subsystem configured to provide:
• (i) at least one image corresponding to a telecopier transmission identifier received from said interface, and (ii) a secure time indicator corresponding to said image;
• (c) a receipt generator for generating a verification determination, including a representation of said image, for transmission to a user of said system.

A method for generating a confirmation from a received telecopier transmission, comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving via telecopier from a sender an image;
• (b) printing said received image on a substrate;
• (c) automatically scanning said printed substrate into digital form;
• and
• (d) sending said scanned image to said sender via telecopier.

A telecopier device with automated confirmation generation capability, comprising:

• (a) a first telecopier-compatible modem configured for receiving, from a sender, an image to print;
• (b) a printer configured for printing said image onto a substrate;
• (c) a scanner configured for scanning said substrate into digital form, after said substrate has been printed upon by said printing mechanism;
• (d) a memory to store said digital form;
• and
• (e) a second telecopier-compatible modem capable of sending, to said sender, said digital form.