RECEIPT AND NOTIFICATION OF MESSASGES WITH IMAGE DATA
A method and system is provided for receiving a message containing image data and sending a message to notify of the receipt of the message. The system may have a plurality of access devices which are coupled to each other over a network such as the Internet. These access devices may include computers, workstations, and the like. Upon receipt of a message containing image data, such as facsimile data, a notification of the message may be sent to a recipient, such as a message in the form of an email message or a paging message. The system may be configured based on the specifications of the caller and/or the recipient.
1 . A method for receiving a message with image data and sending a notification message comprising:
receiving a message at an access device from a network, said message comprising image data;
receiving sender/receiver information associated with said message at said access device from said network;
storing said image data in a storage device coupled to said access device;
processing said sender/receiver information; and
sending a notification based on said step of processing containing information related to said message.
2 . The method of claim 1 ,
wherein said step of processing comprises selecting an email address; and
wherein said step of sending comprises sending an email message to said email address.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein said email address is specified by a recipient.
4 . The method of claim 2 wherein said image data comprises facsimile data.
5 . The method of claim 1 :
wherein said step of processing comprises selecting a paging address; and
wherein said step of sending comprises sending a paging message to said paging address.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein said paging message is delivered using part of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
7 . The method of claim 5 wherein said paging address is specified by a sender.
8 . The method of claim 5 wherein said image data comprises facsimile data.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein said sender/receiver information comprises a telephone number associated with a recipient of said message.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein said steps of receiving utilize a TCP/IP-based communication protocol.
11 . The method of claim 10 wherein said network includes part of the Internet.
12 . The method of claim 1 wherein said step of sending utilizes a TCP/IP-based communication protocol.
13 . The method of claim 12 wherein said network includes part of the Internet.
14 . The method of claim 1 wherein said steps of receiving and said step of sending utilize a TCP/IP-based communication protocol.
15 . A system for receiving a message with image data and sending a notification message comprising:
an access device that receives a message and sender/receiver information from a network, said message comprising image data;
a storage device coupled to said access device that stores said image data;
wherein said access device processes said sender/receiver information and sends a notification containing information related to said message.
16 . The system of claim 15 wherein said access device selects an email address based on said processing of said sender/receiver information and sends an email message to said email address.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein said email address is specified by a recipient.
18 . The system of claim 16 wherein said image data comprises facsimile data.
19 . The system of claim 15 wherein said access device selects a paging address based on said processing of said sender/receiver information and sends a paging message to said paging address.
20 . The system of claim 19 wherein said paging message is delivered using part of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
21 . The system of claim 19 wherein said paging address is specified by a sender.
22 . The system of claim 19 wherein said image data comprises facsimile data.
23 . The system of claim 15 wherein said sender/receiver information comprises a telephone number associated with a recipient of said message.
24 . The system of claim 15 wherein said receiving of said message and sender/receiver information utilizes a TCP/IP-based communication protocol.
25 . The system of claim 24 wherein said network includes part of the Internet.
26 . The system of claim 15 wherein said sending of said notification utilizes a TCP/IP-based communication protocol.
27 . The system of claim 26 wherein said network includes part of the Internet.
28 . The system of claim 15 wherein said receiving of said message and sender/receiver information and said sending of said notification utilize a TCP/IP-based communication protocol.