Presenting Relevant Messages Associated with Incoming Fax Documents
Systems and methods of the present invention allow for incorporation of relevant messages, such as commercial advertisements, in incoming faxes and/or for presentation of relevant messages with incoming faxes. Text may be extracted from a current and/or previously sent or received facsimile, using, for example, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), and relevant messages may be added in the facsimile. A sample embodiment of the system comprises a Receiving Means, an Extracting Means, an Analyzing Means, a Storing Means, a Selecting Means, an Incorporating Means, a Converting Means, and a Delivering Means. An alternative sample embodiment comprises a Receiving Means, an Extracting Means, an Incorporating Means, and a Delivering Means. The systems may be maintained by a Fax Server Provider. A sample embodiment of the method comprises the steps of receiving a facsimile intended for a Recipient, extracting text from the facsimile, incorporating one or more relevant messages in the facsimile, and delivering the facsimile to the Recipient.
1 . A system for presenting relevant messages, comprising:
a) a Means for Receiving a facsimile intended for a Recipient,
b) a Means for Extracting a text from said facsimile,
c) a Means for Analyzing said text,
d) a Means for Storing one or more relevant messages,
e) a Means for Selecting said relevant messages, wherein a relevancy of said messages is determined, at least in part, as a function of said text, and
f) a Means for Delivering said facsimile to said Recipient and for Presenting said relevant messages to said Recipient.
2 . A method for presenting a relevant message, comprising the steps of:
a) receiving a facsimile from a Sender,
b) extracting a text from said facsimile,
c) analyzing said text,
d) selecting a relevant message, wherein a relevancy of said message is determined, at least in part, as a function of said text, and
e) delivering said facsimile to a Recipient and presenting said relevant message to said Recipient.
3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising a step of:
f) validating said Sender.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said analyzing includes determining significant terms, keywords, key-phrases, topics, and/or categories in said text.
5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said facsimile is delivered to said Recipient in a form of one or more computer files.
6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said facsimile is delivered to said Recipient via an I-Fax-compliant device.
7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said facsimile is delivered to said Recipient via an email.
8 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said facsimile is delivered to said Recipient via a website.
9 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said facsimile is delivered to said Recipient via a software.
10 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said extracting said text from said facsimile is performed using Optical Character Recognition.
11 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said relevancy of said messages is further determined as a function of a Sender's property.
12 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said relevancy of said messages is further determined as a function of a Recipient's property.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said Recipient's property comprises a Recipient's fax number.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said Recipient's property comprises a Recipient's geographical location.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said Recipient's property comprises a Recipient's name.
16 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising a step of:
f) delivering said text to said Recipient.
17 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising a step of:
f) delivering one or more unincorporated messages to said Recipient.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein said unincorporated messages are selected as a function of said text.
19 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said method is performed by a Fax Service Provider.
20 . A method for presenting a relevant message, comprising the steps of:
a) receiving a facsimile from a Sender,
b) extracting a text from said facsimile,
c) delivering said facsimile to a Recipient,
d) analyzing said text,
e) selecting a relevant message, wherein a relevancy of said message is determined, at least in part, as a function of said text, and
f) presenting said relevant message to said Recipient.