IP Library Granted Patent US 8,780,383
Granted Patent B2
US 8,780,383 · App. 12/469,573 · Granted Jul 15, 2014

Authenticated facsimile transmission from mobile devices

Inventors: Vlad Vendrow (Redwood Shores, CA); Vladimir Shmunis (Hillsborough, CA)
Assignee: RingCentral, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,780,383
App. No.
12/469,573
Granted
Jul 15, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fax document can be either uploaded to a fax server in a vPBX network or generated dynamically. For dynamic generation, pre-configured templates can be stored either on a mobile device or on a fax server. A user can use a mobile device connected to a vPBX network as a controlling device to direct generation of faxes on a fax server. The generation of faxes can be customized based on a geographic location of the mobile device. The generated fax can be downloaded onto a mobile device. The user can digitally sign the fax using a touch-screen input device on the mobile device. The digitally signed fax can be transmitted to a destination device.

Claims (93)

1. A computer-implemented method for transmitting faxes from a mobile device, the method comprising:

identifying a fax document template;

providing, by a server, the fax document template for display on a user interface of the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is associated with a virtual private branch exchange (vPBX) user account;

receiving, at the server and from the mobile device, user input in response to the displayed fax document template;

generating, by the server, a fax document based on the fax document template and the user input received from the mobile device, wherein zenerating the fax document comprises inserting information associated with the vPBX account into one or more fields in the fax document template, and wherein inserting information associated with the vPBX account comprises:

determining an extension associated with the vPBX user account, and

inserting information identifying the extension associated with the vPBX account into a corresponding field in the fax document template;

receiving a digital signature from the mobile device;

authenticating the generated fax document with the received digital signature wherein authenticating the generated fax document locks the generated fax document and prevents the generated fax document from being subsequently modified; and

transmitting, by the server, the authenticated fax document to one or more destinations.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving a digital signature comprises:

generating a signature image by tracing a finger movement on a touch screen interface of the mobile device; and

resizing the signature image to a standard signature size.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving a digital signature comprises:

generating a signature image by tracing a waving motion of the mobile device, the waving motion created by a user's hand movement, and traced by a motion sensing device integrated with or coupled to the mobile device; and

resizing the signature image to a standard signature size.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving a digital signature comprises:

authenticating a user, the authentication comprising:

receiving a user name, a user password, and a user location through a secure communication channel; and

determining that the user possesses signatorial authority based on a pre-determined combination of user name, user password, and user location; and

retrieving a pre-stored signature image for the user in response to the authenticating.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the determining is further based on a pre-determined time window for authentication.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the fax document comprises:

filling in predetermined portions of the fax document template with the received user input; and

filling in one or more address fields with a current address of a user, the current address determined by a geographic coordinates of the mobile device and a geographic referencing system.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program which, when executed by a computer processor, causes the computer processor to perform operations for transmitting faxes from a mobile device, the operations comprising:

identifying a fax document template;

providing, by a server, the fax document template for display on a user interface of the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is associated with virtual private branch exchange (vPBX) user account;

receiving, at the server and from the mobile device, user input in response to the displayed fax document template;

generating, by the server, a fax document based on the fax document template and the user input received from the mobile device, wherein generating the fax document comprises inserting information associated with the vPBX account into one or more fields in the fax document template, and wherein inserting information associated with the vPBX account comprises:

determining an extension associated with the vPBX user account, and

inserting information identifying the extension associated with the vPBX account into a corresponding field in the fax document template;

receiving a digital signature from the mobile device;

authenticating the generated fax document with the received digital signature wherein authenticating the generated fax document locks the generated fax document and prevents the generated fax document from being subsequently modified; and

transmitting, by the server, the authenticated fax document to one or more destinations.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein receiving a digital signature comprises:

generating a signature image by tracing a finger movement on a touch screen interface of the mobile device; and

resizing the signature image to a standard signature size.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein receiving a digital signature comprises:

generating a signature image by tracing a waving motion of the mobile device, the waving motion created by a user's hand movement, and traced by a motion sensing device integrated with or coupled to the mobile device; and

resizing the signature image to a standard signature size.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein receiving a digital signature comprises:

authenticating a user, the authentication comprising:

receiving a user name, a user password, and a user location through a secure communication channel; and

determining that the user possesses signatorial authority based on a pre-determined combination of user name, user password, and user location; and

retrieving a pre-stored signature image for the user in response to the authenticating.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the determining is further based on a pre-determined time window for authentication.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein generating the fax document comprises:

filling in predetermined portions of the fax document template with the received user input; and

filling in one or more address fields with a current address of a user, the current address determined by a geographic coordinates of the mobile device and a geographic referencing system.

13. A system comprising:

a server comprising a processor and memory coupled to the processor and operable for storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

identifying a fax document template;

providing, by a server, the fax document template for display on a user interface of the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is associated with virtual private branch exchange (vPBX) user account;

receiving, at the server and from the mobile device, user input in response to the displayed fax document template;

generating, by the server, a fax document based on the fax document template and the user input received from the mobile device, wherein generating the fax document comprises inserting information associated with the vPBX account into one or more fields in the fax document template, and wherein inserting information associated with the vPBX account comprises:

determining an extension associated with the vPBX user account, and

inserting information identifying the extension associated with the vPBX account into a corresponding field in the fax document template;

receiving a digital signature from the mobile device;

authenticating the generated fax document with the received digital signature wherein authenticating the generated fax document locks the generated fax document and prevents the generated fax document from being subsequently modified; and

transmitting, by the server, the authenticated fax document to one or more destinations.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein receiving a digital signature comprises:

generating a signature image by tracing a finger movement on a touch screen interface of the mobile device; and

resizing the signature image to a standard signature size.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein receiving a digital signature comprises:

generating a signature image by tracing a waving motion of the mobile device, the waving motion created by a user's hand movement, and traced by a motion sensing device integrated with or coupled to the mobile device; and

resizing the signature image to a standard signature size.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein receiving a digital signature comprises:

authenticating a user, the authentication comprising:

receiving a user name, a user password, and a user location through a secure communication channel; and

determining that the user possesses signatorial authority based on a pre-determined combination of user name, user password, and user location; and

retrieving a pre-stored signature image for the user in response to the authenticating.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the determining is further based on a pre-determined time window for authentication.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein generating the fax document comprises:

filling in predetermined portions of the fax document template with the received user input; and

filling in one or more address fields with a current address of a user, the current address determined by a geographic coordinates of the mobile device and a geographic referencing system.

19. A method comprising:

identifying a fax document template, the fax document template containing predefined configuration data for configuring transmission of a fax document;

providing, by a server, the fax document template for display on a user interface of a mobile device, wherein the mobile device is associated with a virtual private branch exchange (vPBX) user account;

receiving, at the server and from the mobile device, user input data from the mobile device based on the displayed fax document template;

receiving signature data associated with the user input data;

generating, by the server, the fax document based on the user input data received from the mobile device and the signature data including locking the generated fax document using the signature data to prevent the generated fax document from being subsequently modified, wherein generating the fax document comprises inserting information associated with the vPBX account into one or more fields in the fax document template, and wherein inserting information associated with the vPBX account comprises:

determining an extension associated with the vPBX user account, and

inserting information identifying the extension associated with the vPBX account into a corresponding field in the fax document template; and

transmitting, by the server, the fax document to one or more recipients identified through the user interface of the mobile device.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein:

receiving signature data includes retrieving a pre-stored digital signature from a database, the pre-stored digital signature being generated and stored in the database prior to receiving the user input data, and

generating the fax document includes inserting the pre-stored digital signature into the fax document.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising authenticating a user of the mobile device, where retrieving the pre-stored digital signature from the database is performed after authenticating the user of the mobile device.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein:

receiving signature data includes receiving a digital signature from a user of the mobile device through the user interface.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising comparing the digital signature with a pre-stored digital signature,

where generating the fax document includes inserting the digital signature into the fax document when the digital signature matches the pre-stored digital signature.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2023
From: RINGCENTRAL, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 062973/0194 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 18, 2013
From: RINGCENTRAL, INC.
To: RINGCENTRAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 031433/0612 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2010
From: VENDROW, VLAD; YOUNG, BRUCE; SHAH, PRAFUL; ELPINER, BORIS; SHMUNIS, VLADIMIR
To: RINGCENTRAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 024330/0704 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61117912 · Nov 25, 2008
Related Publication 20100128291A1 · May 27, 2010