Method and apparatus for delivery of facsimile documents over a computer network

Abstract

A method and apparatus for transmitting data, such as class 1, 2, or 3 facsimile image data streams, over Internet Global Area Networks. In one embodiment of the invention related to the transmission of facsimile data, a first device converts local facsimile image data streams into electronic data streams, transmits the data stream over the network, to a second device at the remote facsimile machine which reconverts the electronic data to facsimile image data and prints it out on said remote facsimile machine.

Description

[0001] This is a division of application Ser. No. 09 / 506,925 filed Feb. 18, 2000 which is a division of application Ser. No. 09 / 184,972 filed Nov. 3, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,028,679, which was a division of application Ser. No. 08 / 555,911 filed Nov. 13, 1995.[0002] The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for securely transforming and transmitting electronic information from one protocol form to another protocol form for delivery over a packet-switched network. The invention has particular application where the information pertains to the visual perception of images, and where the information must be delivered securely in an environment where its receipt and authenticity can not be disputed or repudiated.[0003] The sending of visually perceptible images is well known in the prior art, the earliest examples being those of the inventions of the facsimile machine.[0004] In recent years the facsimile machine has become a common device in businesses both large and sm...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0025] It is a further object of the present invention to provide an economical device that can be easily connected to present class 1, 2, and 3 fax machines, optical scanners and screen capture methods and that will enable them to communicate over internet global area packet switched networks.

[0027] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device that can easily be connected to class 1, 2, and 3 fax machines that allows standard non-facsimile e-mail to be printed out thereon.

[0028] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device that can easily be connected to class 1, 2, and 3 fax machines that allows standard non-facsimile web pages to be printed out thereon.

[0029] It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a device that can be easily connected to standard class 1, 2, and 3 fax machines, optical scanners and screen capture methods to convert the image data stream to MIME enabled e-mail format for transmission / reception with similarly equipped fax machines and e-mail capable computer terminals over the Internet. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a device that can be easily connected to standard class 1, 2, and 3 fax machines, optical scanners and screen capture methods to convert the image data stream to TCP and UDP enabled format for direct IP address transmission / reception with similarly equipped fax machines, printers, image rendering machines and capable computer terminals over the Internet.

[0030] It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a device that can be easily connected to standard class 1, 2, and 3 fax machines, optical scanners and screen capture methods to convert the image data stream to HTTP enabled Web Based format for transmission / reception with similarly equipped fax machines, printers, image rendering machines and Web capable computer terminals over the Internet.

[0031] It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a device that can be easily connected to standard class 1, 2, and 3 fax machines, optical scanners and screen capture methods to convert the image data stream to XML enabled Web Based format for transmission / reception with similarly equipped fax machines with similarly equipped fax machines, printers, image rendering machines and Web capable computer terminals over the Internet.

Problems solved by technology

Ubiquitous physical stand alone fax machines remain the norm today for every day transmission of written documents and images but lack the ability to directly connect to and send / receive such documents across Internet global area packet switched networks.

Todays common fax machines cannot communicate directly over internet global area packet switched networks nor can they send and receive electronic mail or web page formats Security of internet global area networks communications also is currently difficult to achieve and ensure.

The ability to definitively verify the identity of the sender of a fax transmission is often difficult if not impossible to achieve.

Also if absolute security is required expensive encryption / decryption devices must be employed to communicate by fax over public telephone lines.

Secure private lines can be used but are expensive and limited in the addresses that can be accessed.

The ability to choose when to receive fax transmissions and to decide which ones to print and which ones to discard is not readily available to the average fax user.

Unauthorized recipients of the cipher, who know the algorithm but do not have the correct key, cannot easily derive the original data algorithmically.

The more secure the keys algorithm and the longer its bit length the more difficult it becomes to "crack" the keys coding scheme.

Use of "one time pad" keys further deters unauthorized decryption of key encoded messages.

Images