Communication method for facsimile via an information network of the internet type, facsimile and server bridge using the method

0001In the field of communication, such as a computer network the Internet allows communication equipment (fax, personal computers, etc ...) to communicate with other mail electronic or, for example, in real time.

0002Generally, fax machines, to use this example, connect to the Internet telephone connection with a access provider to the Internet, through a telephone network as the switched telephone network RTC or digital network ISDN integrated services.

0003To communicate through the Internet, fax pays, besides the potential cost of a subscription to the service provider, the cost of communication with the service provider who is usually a local call, so cheap. The Internet is therefore attractive to communicate cheaply.

0004However, the Internet uses specific communication protocols, such as TCP / IP standard protocols, MIME, etc., a fax machine must know how to exploit to communicate through the Internet.

0005Ordinary facsimile machines, arranged to communicate through a ordinary communication network, such as the PSTN, for example, and which, by definition, do not have the right to exploit the Internet protocols, therefore can not use the Internet, and more generally all other computer network such as the Internet, such as intranets for example.

0006The invention nevertheless proposes to allow such fax communicate through the Internet.

0007To this end, the invention concerns a method of transmitting a fax by facsimile, through a computer network communication Internet type, the fax being arranged to communicate through a telephone communication network, in which method:<ul><li>the fax machine sends the fax in a standard fax format, with at least an indication of the destination of the facsimile, to a gateway server of the computer network through said network telephone communication,</li><li>the gateway server converts the format of the transmitted fax and received in a transport format via the computer network and then forwards the fax to a destination email address on the computer network.</li></ul>

0008The invention therefore is to pass fax and indication its destination by a gateway server that is responsible to adapt the format fax so that it can be delivered across the network computer.

0009The fax machine is "near normal" because it is unable to operate a computer network such as the Internet but arranged to transmit the Gateway server an indication of the destination of the fax.

0010Advantageously, the transmission of the fax on the fax format usually occurs with the email address of the destination fax on the computer network.

0011In a particular embodiment, the fax forward to server indicating the destination of the fax by voice communication, the server analysis and said voice communication deduces the indication of the destination of the fax by recognition voice.

0012In another embodiment, the machine inserts the indication of the destination of the fax in a specific area of ​​fax, server analyzes the content of said zone and deduces the indication on the destination faxing character recognition.

0013The invention also relates to a method for receiving, by a fax, fax transmitted through a computer network Internet type communication, in a transport format on said computer network, the facsimile machine being arranged to communicate to through a telephone communication network, process in which:<ul><li>the fax is received by a gateway server of the computer network, which converts the transport format of the facsimile into a format ordinary fax and</li><li>the gateway server transmits that fax to the fax almost ordinary through the telephone network.</li></ul>

0014In this case, and preferably, upon receipt of the facsimile by the server, the server reports that said receiving fax calls server so that it transmits him the fax.

0015The invention also relates to a fax machine for the implementation of method above issue, arranged to communicate through a telephone communication network, comprising means for send faxes in a standard fax format, through said telephone network, characterized in that it comprises means for transmitting an indication of the destination of a facsimile issued.

0016The invention further relates to a fax machine for the implementation of receiving method above, arranged to communicate through a telephone communication network, comprising means for receive faxes transmitted through said telephone network, characterized in that it comprises means for automatically call a gateway server, after receiving at least one warning specific signaling receiving a fax by the gateway server.

0017The invention further relates to a gateway server implementation the above transmission method, comprising means for communicate through a telephone network communication and means for communicating through a computer network communication, characterized in that it comprises means for convert a standard fax format into a facsimile format transport on the computer network.

0018The invention further relates to a gateway server implementation the reception method above, comprising means for communicate through a telephone network communication and means for communicating through a computer network communication, characterized in that it comprises means for converting a carrying fax format on the computer network in a standard fax format.

0019It is clear that this demand remains single despite the claim a transmission method, a receiving method, a fax machine transmitting, to the receiving fax machine, a gateway server broadcast and a gateway server receiving. Indeed, all these means are bound by the resolution of the same problem, as explained above, which is to organize the communication of a fax through a computer network of the Internet type.

0020The invention will be better understood using the following description of a particular embodiment of the transmission method and the method of receipt of the invention and a particular embodiment of the fax server and gateway for the implementation of these processes, with reference to the single appended figure which represents a view Schematic of two communication networks, fax and gateway server of the invention.

0021The transmission and reception methods of the invention allow a 10 regular fax, or more exactly "near normal" as will be explained below, send and receive faxes by communication computer network, in this case the Internet 100, for via a gateway server 20 of the Internet 100.

0022By "ordinary fax" is meant fax unable to exploit the communication protocols through the Internet 100.

0023The fax machine 10 is configured to transmit and receive faxes through a telephone network, in this case the communication network Switched Telephone RTC 101, executing a facsimile protocol, here the T30 protocol, and comprises the conventional elements of a fax Ordinarily, such a particular transmission and reception block, modem, fax storage memory, an input keyboard, screen, display, microprocessor, an application to operate the T30 fax protocol, etc ..

0024By "application" is meant, as the skilled person knows well, a software application.

0025It is recalled here that a fax is sent or received by fax usually in the form of a data file in a format ordinary fax. Subsequently, the term "facsimile file" that file data corresponding to the fax.

0026The facsimile 10 further comprises a transmission application faxes through the Internet 100, a receiving application faxes sent through the Internet 100, a specific key to launch the application transmission through the Internet 100, a microphone and a speaker.

0027The fax transmitting application via the Internet 100 will be explained in the description of the method of transmitting a fax through the Internet 100. As for the fax receive application through the Internet 100, it is arranged to recognize a short warning specific signaling receiving a fax the server 20 and to automatically call the server 20 after receipt of such signaling.

0028The fax 10, although it is unable to exploit the protocols communication through the Internet 100, however, comprises a transmitting application via the Internet 100 and an application to receiving a fax transmitted through the Internet 100. The fax 10 is, therefore, qualified fax "almost normal".

0029The gateway server 20, directly connected to the Internet 100, is arranged to communicate through the Internet 100 and through the telephone network 101. It includes a transmitter block and reception, a modem, a fax storage memory form fax files, a memory of a directory correspondents, an identity control application, an application for broadcasting through the Internet 100 to a fax received by the network telephone 101 having a voice recognition program, and a retransmission application through the telephone network 101 a fax received by the Internet 100, with a program execution of a fax transmission protocol, in this case the T30 protocol.

0030The corresponding directory contains the identities of a plurality of Faxes allowed to pass through the gateway server 20 send a fax through the Internet 100, as well as words of pass and electric addresses on the Internet 100, associated with these fax identities. fax 10 Note that has a electronic address from the server 20, identity, password and the email address of the fax machine 10 are stored in the phonebook corresponding server 20.

0031Identity control application is intended to control access to Gateway server 20, as will be explained later.

0032The retransmission application through the Internet 100 is arranged at the receiving an incoming call through the telephone network 101, to analyze a voice and convert the standard fax format the received fax in a transport format through the Internet 100, as will be more specifically explained in the description of the process transmission through the Internet 100.

0033Application of retransmission through the telephone network 101 is arranged, on reception of a fax through the Internet 100, to convert the fax transport format received in a fax format ordinary and to send the fax machine is for the fax a short signaling to warn of the receipt of the fax.

<b>A method of transmitting a fax through the Internet</b>

0034The method of transmitting a fax through the Internet 100, from the fax 10 30 arranged to a fax machine to communicate through the Internet 100, will now be described.

0035The fax machine 30 has an electronic address on the Internet 100, from a supplier 40 to access the Internet 100. It is recalled that the fax 10 also has an email address on the Internet 100, with the service provider 20.

0036The fax is stored in memory in the form of a file fax, the fax 10. An operator, by pressing the key transmission through the Internet 100, launches the application of the emission fax through the Internet 100. The machine 10 calls the server 20 through its telephone call number on the network 101, and fax 10 and server 20 establish communication.

0037With a voice message broadcast to the speaker of the fax machine 10, the server 20 asks the user identity and password on the network the Internet 100.

0038The machine operator 10 say and grabbed the microphose identity and the password of the fax machine 10. All this information (identity and password) are sent to the gateway server 20 a voice communication.

0039In reception, the server 20 starts the identity control application. he analysis and voice communication, voice recognition, deduced identity and password of the fax machine 10 that compares respectively to those contained in its directory correspondents. The identity and password of the fax machine being listed in the corresponding directory, the server 20, the latter valid access fax 10 and notifies the operator's fax 10 by a voice of validation message. The fax machine 20 then transmits the gateway server 20 the fax on the T30 protocol, and application server 20, grabbed the microphone and transmits to the server 20 the email address of destination of the fax, ie the email address of the fax machine 30, for voice communication. It is recalled here that the fax is transmitted and received in the form of a fax file, and it is emphasized that the email address of fax destination is an indication of the destination of the fax. Over the server 20 starts the retransmission application of fax through the Internet 100. Running this application will now be described.

0040The server 20 analyzes the voice and, by recognition voice, deduces the destination address of the fax on the Internet 100. Then the gateway server 20 attached to the fax mail electronic and inserts the e-mail destination fax in a destination field of an email header. Finally, the server 20 converts the mail format in a transport format on the Internet 100, compatible with the communications protocols through Internet 100, in this case the standard TCP / IP, and thus converts the format of the received fax, which is a standard fax format, in a transport format through the Internet 100.

0041By definition, a standard fax format matches the format a fax transmitted between two ordinary facsimile, through a telephone network.

0042Then, the server 20 transmits the fax in the email, through the Internet 100, which routes it to the email address of fax 30.

<b>A method for receiving a facsimile transmitted through the Internet</b>

0043The receiving method by the 10 a fax fax transmitted through the Internet 100, will now be described.

0044In reception, the gateway server 20 receives the fax in the form a fax file, in a transport format on the Internet 100. The fax received here is contained in an e-mail including, in a header field containing a specific email address the destination of the fax, ie the email address of fax 10.

0045A receiving mail, the gateway server 20 starts the application of retransmission of the fax through the telephone network 101, which execution will now be described.

0046The gateway server 20 extracts the mail received and the fax the email address of the fax machine 10 that its research corresponding directory. The email fax 10 being associated with the telephone call number of the fax machine 10 in the corresponding directory of the server 20, this extract directory this telephone call number. Then the server 20 converts the format of the fax ordinary fax format, stored in the memory fax to plain format and calls the fax machine 10 by the network telephone 101 using his telephone call number found in the corresponding directory.

0047It is also conceivable that the letter contains, in a specific field, the telephone call number of the fax machine is for the fax. In this case, the gateway server would extract this mail number, not its corresponding directory.

0048To "stall" the fax machine 10, the server 20 transmits fax 10 a short specific signaling that the fax machine 10, using its fax receiving application via the Internet 100, recognizes as a warning, notification, receipt of fax.

0049The gateway server 20 hangs up, thereby disrupting the communication with the fax machine 10.

0050Then, automatically, the machine 10 calls the server 20 through the telephone network 101, and the "stall" the server 20, the latter transmits the facsimile in the form of a fax file, the format ordinary fax, fax 10, the T30 fax protocol.

0051Alternatively, the fax is subscribed to a service, in this case the CLASS service of France Telecom, through which, on receipt a call, he is informed of the telephone call number of the caller.

0052On receiving the call from the gateway server, the fax machine picks not the line but with the telephone call number provided by the CLASS service recognizes that the appellant is the gateway server and automatically deducted that a fax has been received for him by gateway server. In this case, calling the Gateway server Fax is in itself a signal to warn the Fax receiving the fax.

0053ISDN telephone network (Digital Network Integration Services), one could use an existing Short Message Service such notification.

0054One could of course consider that the gateway server called fax and the "stall" thereof, to establish a communication during which it transmits the fax, with the protocol T30 fax, as a regular fax machine would.

0055Another embodiment of the method of transmitting a facsimile and Another embodiment fax and gateway server for Implementation of this process differ from the foregoing description by what will now be described.

0056In this alternate embodiment, the machine and the server gateway respectively comprise a transmitter application faxes through the Internet 100 and a retransmission application, through the internet 100, faxes received by the telephone network 101, different from those described above. In addition, the fax includes a memory containing its identity and password.

0057Applying send faxes through the Internet 100, the fax machine for inserting an indication of the final destination every fax to be transmitted to the server 20, in this case the address Destination mail of the fax on the Internet 100, a specific area of ​​the fax.

0058As for the retransmission application, through the Internet 100, of the gateway server, it is arranged to analyze each fax received by the telephone network 101, the content of the specific area of fax, and optical character recognition, to deduce the final destination of the fax.

<b>A method of transmitting a fax through the Internet</b>

0059Only the method steps differing from those of the transmission process described above will be explained.

0060In transmission, the machine inserts the email address of destination the fax on the Internet 100, in a specific and predefined area of ​​the fax, as well as its identity and password in another area specific and predefined fax and then sends the fax to the gateway server through the telephone network 101, the following T30 protocol. It is emphasized that the inclusion in the fax, the indication on the final destination of the fax is done here in the fax as a fax file.

0061In reception, the gateway server launches its application control ID: analyzes, seized the contents of the specific area containing identity and password for the fax, and OCR Character, deduce the identity and password fax transmitter. He compares this identity and password with those contained in the corresponding directory and, after validation, launch the retransmission application through the Internet 100.

0062The gateway server analyzes the content of the specific zone containing the destination address of the fax, and OCR characters, the gateway server deduces the destination address of the fax on the Internet 100.

0063Then the server attached fax, by canceling the password facsimile transmitter to an email that transmits through Internet 100 to the destination email address.

0064A third embodiment of the method of transmitting the fax and a third embodiment of the fax server and gateway for the implementation of this process differ from the manual and forms embodiment of the foregoing description that by which will now be described.

0065In gateway server, there is provided a memory for storing a directory containing the addresses corresponding recipients electronic on the Internet 100 to a plurality of corresponding, each associated with a corresponding reference. Information in this memory are recorded by the gateway server during a preliminary step to sending faxes.

0066The fax includes an application to run a protocol fax, here substantially similar to the standard protocol and T30 comprising a specific additional frame for transmitting reference a fax destination fax.

0067In transmission, the operator enters a fax here in keyboard, Reference fax which he wishes to send the fax, and supports on the specific key to fax transmission over the Internet 100. The fax called the gateway server and transmits the fax to the fax protocol, and in the additional frame specific protocol, the reference of the fax.

0068In reception, the server looks in the corresponding directory recipients received the reference, the latter being associated with an address e 100 on the Internet, forwards the fax to the address, through the Internet 100, having attached to an email and after converting its format in a transport format on the Internet 100.

0069Of course, the machine could, in the same manner, identitié and transmit his password in a specific frame facsimile protocol.

0070Instead of transmitting the reference in a protocol frame fax, could be considered to transmit a sequence DTMF.

0071It could also be provided to transmit the reference, by a voice or in a specific area of ​​the fax. The server then seize the reference voice recognition in one case, and character recognition, in the other case.

0072Similarly, instead of being transmitted by voice communication or in a specific area of ​​fax, e-mail destination a fax can be sent to the fax server gateway in a specific frame of the fax protocol, as explained in the third embodiment.

0073In the foregoing description, upon reception of a fax, the fax automatically remember the gateway server after receipt a specific signaling. We could provide the fax machine recalls the gateway server upon receipt of a predetermined number of Such specific messages or he recovers or fax received during the fax transmission.