Facsimile to E-mail communication system with local interface

A method of communicating information, the method comprising:

• receiving facsimile image data and an e-mail address via a first communication network at a facsimile-to-e-mail gateway;
• transmitting the received e-mail address from a first node to a second node of the facsimile-to-e-mail gateway without additional user input to the received e-mail address, the second node being in communication with and configured to provide a communication link between the first communication network and a computer network, wherein the e-mail address is received in and interpreted from an alphanumeric form;
• issuing a prompt from the second node to the first node prompting for the transmission of the facsimile image data;
• and
• after receiving the prompt by the first node from the second node, transmitting the facsimile image data from the first node to the second node,
• wherein the second node selectively operates in a facsimile-to-data mode in which the second node converts the facsimile image data from a facsimile protocol format to image data in a second format.

A communications apparatus, comprising:

• a facsimile component configured to generate facsimile information by scanning an image from a hard copy of a document;
• a user interface configured to receive an e-mail address from a user;
• a housing configured to carry the user interface;
• and
• a facsimile-to-e-mail gateway comprising a facsimile-to-e-mail component configured to—
• in a first mode,
• convert the facsimile information into a computer readable image file,
• attach the computer readable image file to an e-mail message, and
• transmit the e-mail message without additional user input to the received e-mail address;
• and
• in a second mode,
• transmit a facsimile device compatible file to a remote facsimile device;
• wherein the facsimile-to-e-mail gateway comprises—
• a fax server in communication with the facsimile component;
• an e-mail server in communication with the remote facsimile device;
• and
• a web server in communication with the fax server and the e-mail server,
• wherein the fax server, the e-mail server and the web server are geographically separated.

A method of communicating information, the method comprising:

• receiving facsimile image data and an e-mail address via a first communication network at a facsimile-to-e-mail gateway, wherein the facsimile-to-e-mail gateway comprises—
• a fax server in communication with the facsimile component;
• an e-mail server in communication with the remote facsimile device;
• and
• a web server in communication with the fax server and the e-mail server,
• and wherein the fax server, the e-mail server, and the web server are geographically separated;
• transmitting the received e-mail address from a first node to a second node of the facsimile-to-e-mail gateway, the second node being in communication with and configured to provide a communication link between the first communication network and a computer network;
• issuing a prompt from the second node to the first node prompting for the transmission of the facsimile image data;
• and
• after receiving the prompt by the first node from the second node, transmitting the facsimile image data from the first node to the second node,
• wherein the second node selectively operates in a facsimile-to-data mode in which the second node converts the facsimile image data from a facsimile protocol format to image data in a second format.