Email capable fax machine and methods for using the same

An email capable fax machine, comprising:

• a fax-type scanner to scan an image to generate fax type data corresponding to the image;
• a keyboard to accept an entry of either one of a telephone number or an email address;
• a processor to interpret a type of the keyboard entry to be one of at least a telephone number type and an email address type, and to convert the fax type data into internet type data corresponding to the image if the type is interpreted to be an email address type;
• and
• a modem coupled with the processor to dial one of the destination telephone number and a predetermined internet service provider depending on the type,
• wherein the processor includes a feature to distinguish at least a portion of data corresponding to the image as mechanically printed type data, and to convert the mechanically printed type data to email type data.

A method for transmitting data corresponding to an image comprising:

• scanning the image to generate fax type data corresponding to the image;
• entering a destination address;
• determining whether a type of the entered destination address is an email address type or a telephone number type;
• if the type is a telephone number type, dialing at least a portion of the entered destination address,
• else if the type is an email address type, dialing an internet service provider;
• distinguishing at least a portion of data corresponding to the image as handwriting type data;
• and
• converting the handwriting type data to email type data.

A method for transmitting data corresponding to an image, comprising:

• scanning the image to generate fax type data corresponding to the image;
• entering a destination address;
• determining whether a type of the entered destination address is an email address type or a telephone number type;
• if the type is a telephone number type, dialing at least a portion of the entered destination address, else if the type is an email address type, dialing an internet service provider;
• distinguishing at least a portion of data corresponding to the image as mechanically printed type data;
• and
• converting the mechanically printed type data to email type data.

A method for receiving data corresponding to an image through a telephone line comprising:

• receiving through the telephone line internet type data corresponding to the image;
• converting the internet type data into fax type data corresponding to the image;
• applying the fax type data to a fax type printer to print the image;
• storing the internet type data in a memory, wherein the stored internet type data is organized in a reduced image file;
• and
• synthesizing a final image file from the reduced image file.