Abstract:
Apparatus for interfacing a conventional facsimile machine with a PC enabling the use of the facsimile machine as a scanner or printer. A first switch assembly selectively couples the PC modem and facsimile machine either to independent telephone lines in a normal mode or to one another in a scan print mode. A manually operated switch assembly is depressed for a brief interval sufficient to activate a ringing circuit which converts DC power from a small battery source to a 20 Hz sine wave of 90 volt amplitude and applies the sine wave signal to the PC to cause the PC or facsimile to enter into a scan or print mode, respectively. The manually operable switch is then released to apply a constant current to the facsimile machine to simulate an off-hook condition. A facsimile machine start button is then operated to start the facsimile machine which scans documents provided therein and transmits the scanned data in a conventional facsimile transmission format or activate the PC to transmit a fax in conventional facsimile transmission format to utilize the facsimile machine as a printer. The PC may be equipped with a suitable software program for converting non-graphic, i.e. such as word-type information into a binary format suitable for use in word processing applications and may store the data in a memory for subsequent use. An automatic circuit may be provided to initiate a scanning or printing mode responsive to receipt of a unique number received from either the facsimile machine or the PC, thus eliminating the need for switches.
Abstract:
A method for a computer system for transmitting a facsimile to an electronic destination, includes receiving the facsimile comprising an instruction page with an optical representation of the electronic destination address and an optical representation of a user selection of an option, and a document encoded in a fax format, determining the electronic destination address from the optical representation of the electronic destination address, wherein the electronic destination address need not be known to the computer system before receiving the facsimile, determining the one selected option in response to the optical representation of the user selection of the option, determining a modified document in response to the document and in response to the one selected option, encoding the modified document into a second transmission format, and transmitting the modified document and additional service provider data encoded in the second transmission format to the electronic destination address.
Abstract:
A fax to E-mail system and related method are shown, whereby a hardcopy document is sent via a fax device to its recipient via electronic mail through a data network (such as the Internet), and is delivered in such a manner that it can be retrieved by the recipient at an E-mail device, in the ordinary course of retrieving the E-mail, and displayed on the screen of the E-mail device. The invention provides for and accomplishes the delivery of a document, which begins as a hardcopy, as an electronic file retrieved through E-mail recipient's terminal and displayed on the computer screen of the E-mail recipient's terminal. The system and method also provides for an interface device which connects to a conventional fax device for communicating E-mail addresses and routing hardcopy documents to the E-mail network. The invention provides a means for embedding the functions of the interface device into conventional fax devices. The system can also be used in cooperation with Internet Web service for reporting, accounting, information services, and user interaction
Abstract:
An apparatus includes a reading unit configured to read an image of a document set on a reading surface, a pressing plate capable of opening and closing relative to the reading surface, and an operation device provided on an upper surface of the pressing plate and including a plurality of capacitance touch switches each having a backlight. A control unit of the apparatus changes states of the backlights according to operation modes.
Abstract:
An image-forming system prevents a print overrun error even if there are bands of divided data having different band heights. An image-forming system has a band divider to divide image data into a plurality of bands each containing divided image date, a loader to load the bands into a band memory, and an output unit to sequentially output the bands from the band memory to a print engine at predetermined timing. The band divider can change the height of at least one of the bands from the height of the remaining bands. The band memory includes VRAMs into which a band of bitmap data whose band height is higher than a threshold is loaded and an auxiliary VRAM (VRAM-special) into which a band of bitmap data whose height has been changed.
Abstract:
An automated rule-based system for facilitating delivery of a fax document from a source to a destination over a network where an initial delivery attempt has been unsuccessful. Actions to be taken are based upon a time-variable set of input conditions which may be determined from one or more of the destination, the source, a database of past delivery attempts, and a human analyst. The actions may include one or more of resubmitting the fax document to the network for a next delivery attempt, cancelling the document, sending a request to the source or destination for additional delivery information, and identifying the destination as a technical problem. The input conditions may include an identification of non-business days and non-business hours.
Abstract:
A communication apparatus is provided that can easily select either one of a public telephone network and an Internet communication network through which information is to be transmitted and that transmits the information through the selected communication network. A telephone line communication means (12) exhibits a disconnected state where no current flows between a telephone exchange and the telephone line communication means (12) when a first handset (14) is placed on a first placement section, while the telephone line communication means (12) exhibits a connected state where a current flows between the telephone exchange and the telephone line communication means (12) when the first handset (14) is not placed on the first placement section. A user can switch the disconnected state and the connected state when placing the first handset (14) on the first placement section or taking up the first handset (14) from the first placement section. A line state detecting section (26) detects whether the line state is the disconnected state or the connected state. The communication apparatus (1) transmits image information through the Internet communication network in the disconnected state, and it transmits image information through the public telephone network in the connected state.
Abstract:
A method and system are provided for forwarding telephone calls, facsimile transmissions and electronic messages to a single forwarding telephone number. The telephone calls, fax transmissions and electronic messages are first forwarded to a central forwarding repository by the forwarding party where the fax transmissions, and messages are converted to audio formats. Forwarded telephone calls and audio formatted versions of the fax transmissions and electronic messages are then forwarded directly to a designated forwarding number. If the forwarding party answers at the forwarding number, she will receive forwarded calls, and the audio formatted versions of fax transmissions and electronic messages will be played to her over her telephone. If the forwarding party does not answer the forwarded call, she subsequently may retrieve saved telephone calls, saved telephone messages and saved audio versions of fax transmissions and electronic messages from the central forwarding repository. The forwarding party may retrieve saved messages as a retrieving party from the central forwarding repository after entry of a personal identification number to authenticate the forwarding (retrieving) party's permission to retrieve saved calls and messages.
Abstract:
A method and system for monitoring and controlling machines, such as printers, copiers, facsimile machine and other image forming machines. A server is used for transmitting and communicating information among machines and computers. The server acquires, after machine installation, reference values and during operation, current condition information. The server evaluates this information with the reference values such that a response to the machine may be executed remotely. The server also may update the reference values which change during operation.
Abstract:
A method to provide a local user interface using an image forming apparatus including storing at least one of at least one first web application corresponding to each function of the image forming apparatus and a second web application provided by a third party, receiving a request for access to a local user interface from the at least one printing control apparatus, and identifying whether to display the at least one web application having an individual context, generating the local user interface according to the identification results, providing the printing control apparatus with the generated local user interface, and independently driving the web application of the image forming apparatus according to a web application selected by the printing control apparatus. Accordingly, a plurality of web applications can be controlled independently, so the user's convenience can be improved.