Method and apparatus for providing outbound voice-to-fax service
AssigneeAT&T Corp.
InventorHossein Eslambolchi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A subscriber, using a voice telephone set (12) may transmit a facsimile message to a recipient facsimile machine (14) by dialing a telephone number associated with a platform (22) in a telephone network (20) that provides outbound voice-to-facsimile service. Upon receipt of the call, the platform (22) prompts the caller for the message and the identity of the recipient facsimile machine (14). The platform (22) translates the message into a format appropriate for facsimile transmission and then launches a call to the recipient facsimile machine (14) to deliver the facsimile.
Claims5
A method for enabling a voice subscriber to send a facsimile message, comprising the steps of:
- receiving an inbound call from a subscriber seeking voice-to-facsimile service at a platform in a telecommunications network that performs voice-to-facsimile conversion;
- prompting the subscriber from the platform for a voice message the subscriber desires to send via facsimile;
- prompting the subscriber from the platform to identify a recipient for the facsimile message;
- translating the voice message received at the platform into a format suitable for transmission as a facsimile to the identified recipient;
- launching a telephone call to the identified recipient from the platform;
- and
- transmitting the facsimile to the recipient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.