CA2010277C - Interactive facsimile system and method of information retrieval - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION

This invention allows unmodified CCITT group 3 and 4 facsimile transceivers to interactively select and retrieve facsimile pages from a shared facsimile data base FAX server system ("FAX server"). The remote facsimile transceiver user marks a paper selector sheet form using a pencil or pen. The selector sheet is transmitted via the remote facsimile transmitter, preferably in a turn-around polling mode, to the FAX
server unit. The FAX server unit processes the facsimile signal rapidly, interpreting the selector sheet and selecting the pages desired to be retrieved prior to the normal CCITT Recommendation T.30 timeout, which would otherwise abort the line connection. The invention allows the requested information to be returned during the same telephone call. If turn-around polling is not available, then the FAX
server initiates alternative strategies culminating in an automatic callback with the information desired.
The capability created allows facsimile transceivers to be used as interactive terminals for selective retrieval of text and graphics, without requiring alphanumeric keyboard interaction or the need for manual intervention.

Description

20~ 7 INTERACTIVE FACSIMILE ~YST~M
AND METHOD OF INFOR~ATION RET~IEVAL

BackRround of the Inventlon 1. Field of the Inventlon Thls inventlon relates to a graphic retrleval capability for existlng CCITT Group 3 and 4 FAX
transceivers by the use of a novel lnteractive shared FAX retrieval server (hereinafter referred to as FAX
server ). FAX transceivers follow a common set of CCITT international standards. Adhercnce to thcse standards and protocols allows FAX transceivers from different manufacturers to effectively intercommunicate. The present invention relates to the intcractlve usc of an unmodificd FAX transcciver serving both as an inquiry terminal and as an output device for the retrieval of pages either storcd or created remotely. In particular this invention provides an inquiry proccss that uses a pcncil and paper input form to allow rapid retrieval of information and uses any existing CCITT FAX
transcelver.

2. Dcscription of thc Prior Art A PAX is often uscd for manual lnformation retrieval today in buslness. A voice telephone call.
or a facsimilc request is made to a clerk who then sends the requested pages to the caller by PAX.
Sometimes trade magazlne advertisemcnts list a dcdicatcd voicc telcphonc numbcr to encouragc inquircs where the caller is asked to supply their FAX number so that requested materlal can be returned by FA~.
Thc fastest return speed currently promiscd in the literature is "Ies~ than one hour." Graphic lnformation rctrieval for largc data bases, using a CRT dlsplay is oftcn uscd ln thc prior art.
Informatioll Is seleeted lntcractlvely uslng a full keyboard and a CRT display. Whcn thc deslrcd infor~atlon Is found, a prlnted copy ls then made.
Thc copy ls then clthcr scnt by FAX or by mall.
Perhaps the closcst relevant art to thc present lnvcntlon ls that of a FAX transeclver uslng passwords and operating in a polllng mode. Wlth password opcratlon for polling, the FAX transceiver wlth text to be sent can be set to require, prior to receptlon, a pre-agrecd four dlglt numeric "password". The four diglt privacy polling kcy, or password, is gencrally cntered vla a keyboard on the FAX trans~eivcr.
Howcver. as a praetical matter, thls is a highly constrained approach and not used in praetice in this manner as a selective retricval mcchanism.
Thc general avoidancc of highly constralncd keyboard selection to facilitate system use by untraincd potential users is advantageous. A pcncil and paper input seleetion means would allow widesprcad access to all uscrs. In partlcular, users that cannot, or prefer not to, usc a computer kcyboard would bc provldcd access to such a systcm. ~y allowing a pcnell, or a slmllar marklng dcvlcc, and papcr rctricval selector lnput dcvice, usc of thc system would be avallable cven wlthout trallllng, to opcn ncw interaetlve FAX rctrieval applleatlons that would serve the broadest posslble base of potentlal 2 ~ 7 users. Since there is a large population of FAX
transceivers in service today, each becomes a candidate for use as a retrieval terminal when used with the desired FAX server described above. Another improvement over the existing art that i8 advantageous wsuld be the ability of the system to return information sought immediately upon request, perhaps even during the requestor's telephone call. This would allow minimization of the telephone tolls paid by the FAX
server and would permit supporting applications where the user pays for the cost of delivery of the requested copies. The present invention provides such a system.
SummarY of the Invention Various aspects of the invention are as follows:
A FAX server apparatus for interactively providing requested portions of stored information to an inquiring CCITT FAX transceiver by means of a machine readable information selector sheet marked by the requesting party and transmitted by the inquiring FAX transceiver to the FAX server via telephone lines, said FAX server comprising:
CCITT modem means for communicating with said CCITT
FAX transceiver to electronically receive said transmitted selector sheet and to transmit the requested information thereto;
machine readable means for interpreting the machine readable markings on the selector sheet received by said CCITT modem means;
memory means for storing the information from which the requestor can select; and retrieval means under the control of said machine readable means for retrieving the information requested by the requesting party from said memory means and coupling the retrieved information to said CCITT modem means.

J
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- 201~7 - 3a -A method of information retrieval comprising the steps of:
a. marking a selector sheet to define the information requested;
b. transmitting the selector sheet of step a. via a CCITT FAX transceiver having a turnaround polling capability;
c. analyzing the selector sheet transmitted in step b. to determine the information requested;
d. transmitting a direction reversal signal to the CCITT FAX transceiver within the timing constraints window allowed by CCITT Recommendation T.30; and c. transmitting the requested information to the FAX transceiver of step b.
A FAX server apparatus for receiving instructions and data from a CCITT FAX transceiver by means of a machine readable information selector sheet marked by a transmitting party and transmitted by the FAX
transceiver to the FAX server via telephone lines to alter information stored by said FAX server by adding data, deleting data or modifying previously stored data, said FAX server comprising:
CCITT modem means for communicatinq with said CCITT
FAX transceiver to electronically receive said transmitted selector sheet and data;
machine readable means for interpreting the machine readable markings on the selector sheet received by said CCITT modem means; and memory means for storing data; and retrieval means under the control of said machine readable means for addinq data, deleting data or modifying data in said memory means in accordance with the markings on said selector sheet with said modified data being retrievable in subsequent independent requests from a FAX transceiver.

2~ ~2~7 - 3b -A FAX server apparatus for providing requested portions of stored information to an inquiring CCITT FAX
transceiver by means of one of a family of machine readable information selector sheet marked by the requesting party and transmitted by the inquiring FAX
transceiver to the FAX server via telephone lines, said family of selector sheets being known to said FAX
server, said FAX server comprising:
CCITT modem means for communicating with said CCITT
FAX transceiver to electronically receive said transmitted selector sheet and to transmit the requested information thereto;
machine readable means for interpreting the machine readable markings on the selector sheet received by said CCITT modem means, said machine readable means including:
identifying means for identifying mismarked and selector sheets that are not members of said known family of selector sheets;
memory means for storing the information from which the requestor can select; and retrieval means under the control of said machine readable means for retrieving the information requested by the requesting party from said memory means and coupling the retrieved information to said CCITT modem means.
CCITT FAX transceivers communicate with other FAX
transceivers via the public switch telephone network.
In the present invention, connection is made from any FAX transceiver to a remote FAX server. Via a FAX
transceiver, the user transmits an appropriately filled in selector sheet. The marked areas on the selector sheet are machine read and interpreted by the reception unit of a FAX server to determine what information is being sought by the user.

, , .

2~ ~2~7 - 3c -In one mode of operation, this is done prior to the FAX transceiver's "time-out", so that the designated information is returned to the requestor during the user's initiated telephone call. To do so preferentially requires that the FAX transceiver contain a turn-around polling option, and that very rapid processing take place within the FAX server, immediately upon receipt of the selector sheet. In this mode, the marked areas on the selector sheet are analyzed and selection of the desired pages made and returned prior to the time-out limitation present in ;~0~0;~77 ~, the CClT~ T.30 Recommendatlon.
The lnvention teaehes that the use of transmltted patterns rclatlvely lnsensltive to posltlonal allgnment, plus proper handshaklng, facllltates machlne recognltlon of marklngs of an lnco~ing seleetor sheet to allow the server to return the materlals requested to the caller quickly. Whlle ln one mode it ls assumed that the FAX transceiver has a turn-around polllng feature, lt ls also neeessary to serve all other FAX transceivers as well, lneludlng those that lack ally polllng capablllty and cven those that laclc c~lling subscriber identlflcatlon--an lnterll~l telephone number identifier that can be sent during the FAX transcelver's call sct up.
The FAX server of the present invention is designed to support all FAX transceivers that meet mlnimu~ CCITT standards regardless of any optional features that they laek. In the T.30 Recommendatlon the ealling FA.Y transceiver "wakes up" the called FAX
unit. The ca~led FAX unit rcplics with a list Or tl~e internal features, or facilities. that it supports.
The calling FAX transceiver then makes its decision as to feature cholees. The calling FAX transceiver can be viewed as the master and the called machine as the slave.
In the prcsent invention, intclligcncc is concentratcd nt thc FAX server, whilc thc FAX
transceivers arc rclativcly "dumb" deviccs. As the called FAX server does not dlreetly learn about the capabilitics of thc calling FAX transccivcr, this ls done by lnferenee. For example, if the ealling FAX
transceiver does not attempt to poll, then the FAX
server of the present inventlon assumes that the . ~. calling FAX transeeiver laeks polling capability. In thc prescnt lnvcntlon, a number of dlfferent options are inferred about the calling FAX transeeiver (e.g.

20~ 77 wllether the calling FAX transcelver has turn-arollnd polllng; slmple polllng; or no polling at ~ll). The FAX server's response can be different In each case.
Some, but not all, FAX transcelvers contaln an internal telephone number identlficatlon described in CCITT Recommendation T.30 whlch should correspond to the internatlonal telephone number of the FAX
transeelver, lncluding country code. In praetice, the U.S. country code is rarely used. Sometimes even the area code ls misslng. And, usually the long distance diallng prefix ("l") is also miSSinK. ln some cases that have been encoulltered, the wrong telephone number is found, and in others a telephone number was never entered. A FAX tr~nsceiver with turn-around polling.
combined with a FAX server with rapid machine reading of the selector sheet and processin~ provides a sufficielltly short turn-aroulld timc to permit delivcry of the information sougbt on the same telephone call.
But if the FA.Y transceiver has only simple polling (i.e. it call either transmit, or receive on a single call. but not hoth), an alternative al)proacll is used.
If the FAX server seeks to have the user alone pay for the telephone calls, then two calls by the calling FAX
transcelver are requir~d. During the flrst call, the ~ 25 user trnnsmits a seleetor sheet that designates the ::~ infor~atlon requested. During the seeond eall by the user, in thc slmplc polling mode, the FAX server returns the materlal r~quested. There are ways that thc two calls can bc loglcally rclatcd automatlcally.
The intornal telephonc numbcr in the FAX transceivcr could bc uscd to associate thc two calls rcceivcd wlthin a short time window. Alternatively, the FAX
servcr can call back thc FAX transccivcr's intcrnal telephone nu~ber. Another fallbaek alternative is to rcquirc FAX transcclvcrs that lack a valid lntcrnal tclcphone number to put thcir actual telephonc numbcr 20~0~7~7 onto the sclector sh-~ct. The CClTT Reco~mcnda-ion T.30 calls for a 20 declmal dlgit number corresponding to the intcrnatlonal telephone number of the FAX
transcelver to be entered illtO the FA.Y transcelver by the user at the tlme of installatlon. That telephone number must be converted into a locally usable format by the FAX server before lt can be used in a call-back mode.
There ls one further potentlal compllcation.
Since the present invention seeks to serve all potential users, even those without prior access to a selector sheet or instructions, the FAX server of the present invcntion wlll also respond to thc tranSmiSSi0l1 of a blank sheet of paper In lleu of a selector sheet as a requcst for initial hclp. Thc response of the FAX server to a blank sheet is to send the assumcd novice user a "starter Icit" consisting of a selector shect and simple instructions. Add~tional copies of the selector sheet can be made on an office copier. Sometimes, lt will be necess~ry to get the starter kit to thc uscr without rclying upon the FAX
transceiver's internal telephone number ~i.e. the user has only a ]ow cost FAX transeeivcr with ~inimal capabilities and lacks an internal tclephone number capability).
To handlc this casc, the prcscnt invention uscs touch-tonc telcphonc transmission, receptlon and dctcction of thc standard dual frcquency toncs uscd by telcphonc systems for dialing. Sueh telephone dialing deteetion ls distinet from the FA~ proeess and protoeols. Anothcr cmbodimcnt of thc prcsent invcntion allows the FAX scrvcr to usc thc same telephone number for both FAX and voice telephone inquiry. To aeeomplish this when an ineoming call is - 35 reeelved by the FAX server, the eonnectlon is first made to the FAX modem. If the transmission eame from an automatlc transmlssion FAX transceiver, its halldshaklng would start by transmlttlng a calllng tone (CNG - thls ls all llO0 Hz tone transmltted with a period of 0.5 seconds on and three seconds off). If a time interval of longer than three seconds is observed without the presenee of the llO0 H~ tone, the FAX
server then assumes that the ineoming cnll is either a voice call or a manually operated FAX transcelver.
When n CNG tone ls detected, thc FAX modem ls engaged. If no calllng tone is detected, a DTMF (dual tone multlple frequellcy) detector is connecte(l to receive toueh-tone slgnals and a pre-reeorded or digitized voiee message transmits instructions to the ,- FA~ transcelver's user.
For example, these instructions advise a user of a manual transmltting FAX transceiver to press a touch-tone dial key `'1". The FAX server's modem ls then eonneeted and then transmits the CED (called station identification signal, a 2100 Hz tone). If the "l" key is not pressed. it is then assumed th~t a voicc telephone call is underway, and ins-ructions arc then provided to the user as to how to use the system. The user is then advised by a a voice message to enter their FAX transceiver's telephone number via the touch-tone keypad on their telephone. Specific ~, pages can be recalled by thls arrangement as well.
Thc touch-tonc approach is prlmarlly advantagcous in thc flrst ltcratlon of an intcractivc scrles and Icss so in latcr ltcratlons slncc thc lnltlal user would addltlonally be sent a selector sheet and instructions via thcir FAX transccivcr. Each such selector sheet sent by the FAX server would have the telephone number of the user's FAX transeeiver pre-imprinted thereon, in maehlne readable format.
~5 This thcn obvlatcs the nccd for morc than onc toueh-tone eall ln this manner. .~ost FAX transeelvers -8- 20~77 comc equipped with a tclcphone attnched that could be used for this applicatlon.
A posslble alternatlve to touch-tone diallng ls the use of speaker lndependent volce recognltlon. For cxample Texas Instruments publlcatlon SPRN 036, p.7, Feb. 1~89 descrlbes the SRS-l chlp for speaker lndcpcndent reco~nitlon of a 12 word vocabulary, adcquate to recognlzc all dlglts from O to ~ plus two scparators. Onc retrleval applicatlon that has becn encountered rcqulres periodlc retrleval of thc same page but updatcd in timc, such as a weathcr rcport.
In that case the 20 diglts reserved for thc FAX
transccivcr numbcr arc rcplaced by a 10 dlgit telephone numbcr and a 10 digit numbcr describing thc specific sct of pagcs desircd. Thc FAX scrver thus scparates the t~o components to identify the informatlon dcsircd and the telephonc numbcr of the FAX transcelver that is to receive the information.
Thc above techniques in various combinations achieve lnformation retrleval proccss conducted cntirely without manual lntcrvention. This ln turn allows evcry ordinary FAX transceiver to becomc an intcractlvc data terminal. The rcqucstcd informatlon `~ ls returned durlng the same telephone call, or during an lmmedlately subsequent call. If desired, the ma~or communlcatlons costs can be borne solely by the calling party to allow slgnificant new hlgh volumc business applications to beco~e economlcally vlablc.

Hrief DescriDtion of the Drawin~s ; 30 Fig. 1 ls a block dlagram of one of a plurallty of PAX transccivcrs connccted to a singlc FAX servcr of the present lnventlon for information retrieval.
FigC. 2a-2c are pictorlal reprcsentations of several selector sheets which could be used to select 2 ~ 7 7 g information to be retrieved from the FAX server of Fig. 1.
Fig. 2f is a pictorial representation of a frame input selector sheet for adding data to the stored data base of the FAX server of the present invention.
Fig. 2g is a pictorial representation of a follow-up selector sheet provided to the user as the last page in the material provided to use the present invention for advertiser follow-up.
Fig. 3 is a simplified flow chart of the process of retrieving pages of information from the system of the present invention.
Fig. 4 is a graphical representation of the functioning of an example of a machine readable interpretation of a user entered selector sheet.
Fig. 5 is a flow chart of an example of a machine readable interpretation of a selector sheet of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a flow chart of the options by which the FAX server determines the "address" for all FAX
transceivers found in practice.
; Figs. 7a-7b constitute a flow chart showing the process to determine and respond to the different FAX
transceivers as a subset of Fig. 6.
Fig. 8 is a block diagram of a physical configuration of the hardware units comprising the server of the present invention.
- Figs. 9a-9c show a series of shortened selector sheets for use with the present invention.
Fig. 10 is a flow diagram that illustrations the operation of the present invention in another mode of operation.
Figs. lla-llb are a flow chart of the use of touch-tone/audio recognition as a method of selection and user identification.

~ o 20~277 Dc-alled Dcscrlption of thc Prefcrrcd Embollimcllts Throughout the following discusslon numerou9 abbrevi~tloIls of stand3rd facsimlle terms arc uscd.
Table I provldes a deflnltlon of those ter~s.

TA~LE I
ABBREVIATION SUMMARY
CCITT = Consultlve Committee for lnternatlonal Telegraphy and Telephone Scrver Unlt Sends:
CED = Callcd Statloll Idcntlficntlon DIS = Dlgltal Identlficatlon Slgna1 Server Unit Receives:
DCS = Dlgltal Commal)d Signal TRAINING = Slgnal Used to Sct Mode~ Paramctcrs Server Unlt Scnds:
CFR = Confirmation to ~cceivc DTC = Digital Transmit Command CIG = Calling Subscribcr Idcntlfic.ttion CSI = Called Subscriber Idcntiflc~tlon ' Simplificd Block Diagram - Rcfcrrin~ to Flg. 1 therc is shown thrcc major blocks in an overall system block diagram: a FAX
transceiver 10; a tclco swltch 12; and a shared FA~
i server 20. FAX transceiver 10 ls representntive of conventlonal FAX transcclvcrs and is provldcd for thc requester to request and recelve copies of selected informatlon that is prestored ln a sharcd FAX server 20. In a multlllne environment, typlcal of the present invention, the telco switch 12 (telephone eompany switching equipment) lnterconnects one or more FAX transceivers 10 via llnes 14a-14e to a plurallty of input lines 16a-16c of FAX server 20. The multiple linc system ls the most efficient appllcatlon for thc present invention, however, the concept ls equally applicable to a single line system.

20~277 The typical FAX tr~nsceiver 10, as shown in Fig.
1, lncludes a sc~nner 32 for readln~ a document 30 and form~tting the informatlon therefrom in a gr~phIc~l ; electronlc format, plxel by plxel, llne by llne. The gr~phleDlly formatted signal is then transferrcd from sc~nner 32 to data compressor 34 beforc being ~pplled .~ to modem 36 for transmisslon to telco swltch 12 ~nd server 20. Mode~ 36 also functions to receive a slgnal from server 20 via telco switch 12. The received signal is transferred from modem 36 to data decompressor 38 where the rcceivcd slgnal is decompressed before being trDnsferred to printer 40.
Printer 40 in turn converts the electrollic signal recelved by lt to a format for prlntlIlg the data cncoded ln thc electronic signal on media 42.
Fig. 1 further shows that shared FAX server 20 includes modcms 22a-22c which communic.~te with ~ines 16a-16c ot telco switch 12. Internally, each of modems 22a-22c is conncctcd to transfcr the incoming sign~l to the machlne reading (mark scnse/OCR) system 24. Thc output signal from the machinc rcadablc system 24 is then coupled to data selector 26 where the addrcsses for the desired information are deeoded. The decoded addresses are then coupled to disk semory 28 where the desircd data has been previously stored ln compressed form by known techniqucs. The selectcd data is thcn transferrcd from disk memory 28, to the approprlate modem 22a-22e from whlch thc lnformatlon was rcqucsted, for transmlssion to the requester vla the assoclated llne 16a-16e.
Thc FA% transcelvcr 10 optlcally scans cach page to be transmltted, convertlng thc input raster image into a compressed format as descrlbed ln CClTT
Reeom-endatlon T.4 for the Group 3 FAX transeeivers, and Rccommcndation T.5 for the Group 4 FAX

-12- 2 ~1 02 7'7 transcelvers. The digit31 output slgnal mo(lulates a CCITT V.29 modem 36, whlch operates at 9600/7200/4800/2400 blts per second, dependlng upon the llne quallty encountered durlng the call. The standard V.2~ modem used In facsimile systems Is a half duplex devlce. Slgnals are flrst sent In one dlrectlon between the facsimlle transceiver and the server 20. Alternatlngly, thls dlrectlon of data flow Is reversed to allow receptlon of "hand shaklng", or coordlnatlng slgnals, and thence Image transmlsslon ln : .:
accordance wlth the T.30 Recommendatlon.
Images are sent ln T.4 Recommendation conlpressed format, so that It Is necessary to expand the Imagc into ~ ~ull raster for prlnting at thc FAX trallsceiver 10. The FAX scrver 20 is shown interfacing with a - bank of V.29 modems 22a-22e to simultaneously support multlple FAX transceivers 10. Ilo~ever, only a single - modem is required for slngle line oper~tion. (In the case of Group 4 maehines, this termination eould occur at 64 Kilobit/sec or other speeds.) A shared machlne reading system 24 operates upon the reccivcd signals, senses the markings on a selector sheet electronically from a bit map of the selector sheet, alld Interprets the user marklngs on each selector sheet page (discussed more completely below). The value of these markin~s are translated lnto data commands to detcrmlnc thc locations of thc storcd data to bc retrieved and 9ent to the calling FAX transcelver 10.
In thc lntercst of data storagc cconomy, this lnformntlon ls preserved ln eompressed format, and need not be expanded at the time of transmlsslon.

Seleetor Sheets Flgs. 2a-2e show examples of selector sheet formats that may be uscd in various versions of the present invcntion. Fig. 2a shows a samplc ~.
, .

20~2~

adv(~rtlse~cnt 44 from a trade magazine with an Informatlon retrleval number encoded ln a bar code 46 which is printed thercwlth. Addltionally, ~pacc 58 Is provlded for the requestor to cnter a na~e and ~ddrcss for the advcrtlscr to follow-up, If thcy so choosc.
Each of Figs. 2b-2e ShGWS a dlfferent selector SllCCt format each containlng a numbcr of flelds. Those .- flclds may be marked by pencll, pen or simllar marking deviccs.
10If a rcader wishes to obtain more information on a product advertised in a trade magazine whcrcin thc advertiscmcnt 44 includes the Informntlon retricval number encoded ln the form of a bar code 46 as in Flg.
2a, the rcader simply removcs the advcrtiscmcnt, or advertisements, of interest, complctcs thc namc alld addrcss fields 58 below the bar code 46, calls thc information retrieval number provlded in the magazine, and transmits at lcast the bar code portions of each of the advertisements of interest via a FA~
transcciver 10. FAX scrver 20 then decodes thc bar codes and transmits a copy of the lnformation stored in mcmory 28 to thc reader's FAX transceiver I0. In lieu of a bar code, it ls possible to mechanically read and recognize an entire advertiscmcnt to indicatc the lnformatlon deslred without the necessity of a bar code label.
In Plg. 2b sclcctor shcct 54 allows abbrcviated rcqucsts for products advertlscd in trade ~a~azines, prc-numbcred govcrnmcntal forms, ete. Thc rcadcr fllls in an address field 58 and marks by hand printed -charactcrs up to thrce rctricval nqmbers of pruducts, or forms, of intercst, and thc telcphonc numbcr of the rcqucstor's FAX transccivcr if it lacks turn-around polling. These numbers ean be reliably interpreted by FAX scrvcr 20, provided thc charactcrs arc constraincd to follow the baek ~round pattern gulde prlnted as -14- 2~

shown on selector sheet 54.
Recognltlon of the mark~ngs by FAX scrvcr 20 must be done with an occas~onal expectatlon of poorly formed markings. In Flg. 2c-2e, marklllg blocks with a series of fiduclary posltlon lndlcators 56 are used to provlde some lmmunity to errors that might otherwise ba caused by minor skewlng of the selector sheet or by minor size changcs of the array when users dupllcate the selector sheets on offlce copiers.
Other machinc readable arrangements, such as those using Fourier Trallsformation character recognition schemcs. to avoid posltion de~endcnce can also be used. The only constraint is the effic~cy of the machillc re~ding character recognltioll alKori~hms for poorly formed and transmitted indicia. The intcractive naturc of the proccss allows correction of errors by informing the caller that the input was ambiguous or unreadable.
The selector sheets illustratcd in Figs. 2c and 2d nre electronic versions of thc "bingo" postal cards 48, bound into magazines. These cards 48 allow abbrcviatcd rcquests for products advcrtised in thc magazines with the only differcncc bctween thcm being thc additlon of field 60 in Fig. 2d for the optlonal lnclusion of tlle sender's FA~ number when turn-around polling is not a feature of the sender's FAX
transceiver. To use either of the cards of Figs. 2c and 2d. the rcadcr fills in addrcss ficld 58, shades ln thc squarcs 62 on the card correspondlng to the retrieval numbers found in the product advertlsemellts of interest. and optionally shades in squares 60 for thc scnder's FAX transccivcr numbcr. The card is then transmltted as discussed above ln relation to Fig.
2a. To enter the telephone nu~ber. one square in each column in the approprlatc row ls to be flllad ln. In Fig. 2d the number 987/654-3210 is entered by way of ' ' - 1 s - 20~0~77 cx.~mplc. Slmllarly, ficld f)2 ls fur thc cntry of a - plurallty of "bingo" numbcrs, as shown In Flgs. 2c and 2d thc numbcrs 0-139 may bc sclcctcd from. By way of cxample, the numbers 3, 16, 22, 25, 2~, 44, 5~, 60, 61, 87, 101, 127 and 133 havc becn sclcctcd ln Fig.
2d.
Refcrrlng ncxt to Flg. 2c thcrc Is shown another selcctor sheet format. Thls sclector sheet includcs thrce ficlds: thc namc and addrcss ficld 58, and thc I0 optional FAX transcclver tclcphonc number flcld 60 (both of which wcrc dlscusscd abovc), and ficld 64 for thc cntry of a plurality of sclccted retrlcval numcrals. Flcld 64 is shown as having thrcc sub-flclds, 64a-64c. Each of thc sub-flclds is capable of displaying a numbcr from 0-9~9. By way of cxamplc, sub-field 64a ls cncoded wlth the numcral 7,45].
Flg. 2f shows a rcprcsentative covcr shcct to be uscd by thc owner, or an advcrtlscr, to add/rcmovc/
modify information to or in thc data basc storcd on dlsk 28 of FA~ servcr 20 by mcans of a FA~
transccivcr. Thc form includcs thrcc fields. Flcld 67 is for thc manual entry of informatlon to identlfy thc advertlscr. Flcld 68 is an lnformational ficld to ~- 25 ldentifY the information necdcd to bc entered lnto cach of sub-ficlds 66a-66f. Sub-fields 66a-66c are completcd as was dcscrlbed above for sub-fields 66a-66c of Flg. 2c. In sub-ficld 66a the starting addrcss ln thc memory of disk 28 wherc thc data is, or ls to bc, storcd ls cntcred. Sub-ficld 66b ls whcre the information rctrleval numbcr (bingo numbcr) of that information is cntercd. Sub-ficld 66c is for thc cntry of a page count of thc numbcr of pagcs that are included, or to bc included, in thc me00ry for that retrieval numbcr. Thc number to be entcrcd in sub-field 66d is a password number for access to read : -16~ 277 any pa~cs alrcady storcd ~t thc selcctcd ~ddrcss loc~t~on, and thc numbcr to bc cntcrcd In sub-flcld 66c Is ~ sccon~ password numbcr th~t will allow the user to rcDd lnto and wrltc out of the selcctcd n~emory addrcss. Flnally, sub-fleld 66f i9 provldcd to sclcct the functlon that the uscr wlshes to pcrform: to ~dd, rcmovc or modify pagcs to, from or ln the mcmory; or to deslgnate a page as a front or back cover p~ge.
Once thc input form of Fig. 2f is complcted, lt ls placed on top of thc pagcs to bc addcd to, or modlfled in, the data base, thc stack of pages are transmlttcd vla a FAX transcclver lO to FAX server 20. If pagcs arc to bc rcmovcd, thcn the form of Flg. 2f is transmlttcd, as abovc, ~lone. The machlnc rcading systcm 24 thcn rcads thc form and dccodcs thc passwords to sce if they correspond to those of the mcmory addrcss speclficd on thc form. If thc p~sswords and thc address arc in agrecmcnt, thcn thc functlon sclcctcd in sub-fleld 66f ls performed.
Fig. 2g shows a represcntativc follow-up form that FAX scrvcr 20 might bc progr~mmcd to providc to thc uscr at thc end of the transmission of data p~ges via FAX transccivcr 10. FAX server 20, storcs ln memory 28 cach uscr's FAX transceivcr telephone number ~nd assigns a transactlon number when thc user makes an lnitial request for lnformatlon. That transactlon number is coded lnto thc three columns of fleld 70 by FAX server 20. If the requcstor wlshes to have a rcpresentatlve of the advertlser follow-up on the lnquiry, the user would completc the approprlate blocks of field 71 and retransmit the form of Fig. 2g . to FAX server 20. FA~ server 20 will then store that - request ln memory 28 together wlth the user's earlier supplled address and telephone number data from field ;~ 35 58 of the sclector shcct orlginally used by the user.
FAX server 20 ls ablc to make that associatlon by ~Oi~77 -l7-mcans of thc transaction numbcr in flcld 70 and by matchlng the FAX number identiflcatlon provldcd wlth thc t~ans~isslon of thc form of Fig. 2g wlth thc FA~
ldcntlflcatlon number previously stored wlth th~ flcld 58 data. This rcquest for nddltlonal informatlon is then available ~or later prlnt-out, or recall, by the advcrtiser.
Other rcsponsc card formats may require thc user to place check marks in a serlcs of small printed boxcs correspondlng to answers to qucstlons. Whcre the potentlal populatlon of items to bc selected from ls large, and where the number of itcms dcs~rcd on n sin~le call ls small, the blocks can be organized to al~ow the marklng of multl diglt numbcrs. For example, a data base Oe lO,OOO,OOO entrles would rcquirc only 7 X 10 or 70 bloclcs per itcm to be rctrieved.
In Figs. 2a-2f an address title block 58 is shown on the selector sheet. With postal mall return systems such addrcss titlc bloclcs are, of coursc, mandatory. In the present invention thcre are sltuations wherc sclector shccts may be uscd that do not require the usc of an address ficld, since the calling FAX transcciver 10, in accordancc with CCITT
Recommendation T.30, transmits a calling station identification number. This exchanged information tag . by general practice corrcsponds to thc tclephonc numbcr of the calllng party's FAX transceiver 10. In such cases the CSI can be used as the return address.
Thus, there are appllcations cncountered in the use of FAX server 20 where no address field is used, slnce that information is in effeet built into the facsimile transmission process, by virtue of the Recommendation T.30 requircment. In practice some minimum cost FAX
transceivers laek provislon for an internal telephone number. Some FAX transccivcrs havc never becn -18- 20~Q~77 prograomcd with tho corrcct tclcp~lonc numbcr, ~r ally tclephonc number at all~ Also, ratllcr than us~ng the intcrnatlonal telcphone numbcr ln accordnncc wlth thc T~30 Rccommcndatlon, only thc local numbcr or thc area codc plus thc local number is found In practicc in thc U~S~ ~o be able to call back, lt has becn found that it is ncccssary for FAX servcr 20 to modify thc CSID~
Por c~amplc, thls would lncludc addlng a "1" for out of arca code calls, and stripplng off thc prcflxcs for ; 10 local arca code calls~ Additlonal changcs arc ncccssary for lntcrnational usc, which includcs thc additlon of thc lntcrnational acccss codc and the country codc~

Uscr Opcrat~on Fig. 3 ls an opcrational flow diagram of FAX
scrver 20 of the prescnt inventlon as vicwcd by thc uscr of FA~ transceivcr 10~ Thc incoming comprcsscd data is rccclved by receiver 74 of modem 72 from tclcphonc linc I6~ The data is thcn storcd (bloclc 80) in a RAM 78. ~AM 78 is thcn intcrrogatcd by comprcssor/dc-compressor 84 whcrc a fast cxpandcr 86 ls used to decompress the data transmitted by the ~ uscr. Thc elcctronic bit map of thc uscr cntcrcd sclcctor shect ls then elcctronlcally passcd to the machinc rcading subsystcm 90 whcrc thc rctrlcval numbers cntercd in a constraincd form or ln shaded squares, or other machlnc rcadablc formats, arc dccoded elcctronlcally and passed to block 94 whcrc a table look-up functlon ls pcrformcd to convcrt thc retrleval numbcr to an address ln mcmory where thc rcqucstcd data ls storcd. Thc addrcss ls thcn applicd to block 92 to scck thc address location on dlsk 98.
Intcrprctcr 90 also transfcrs the wrlttcn namc and address lnformation from fleld 58 to addrcss lnformation comprcssor 88 bcforc that lnformation is ~1~277 storcd on disk ~8 for latcr rctrlcval for follow-up by thc advcrtlser. Thc rcqucstcd pages are thcn rcad from dlsk 98 and passed to RAM 78 (block 82~ In comprcsscd form for transmlsslon to thc uscr (block 7~) by modcm 72.
Whllc ~ local mc~ory unit 98 is describcd, ~
rcmote data base could bc uscd as well. In some cascs wherc thc pagcs to be transmittcd contaln vcry rcccnt Informatlon. a rcmote computer is lnterrogatcd and thc latest lnformatlon uscd to form thc page ls trallsmltted upon rcqucst. Thus thls systcm n~ay also scrvc as an output devlcc for a largc distrlbutcd computer rather than a flxed sizcd mcmory as may lnadvcrtclltly bc suggcstcd by this simp]~ficd explanation of the systcm.
If thc uscr has only thc tclcphonc numbcr of thc sharcd FAX scrvcr 20 and no sclcctor shcct at thc outsct, FAX scrvcr 20 would usc a modc whcrcin a selcctor shect ls provlded on thc flrst tclcphone cal]. In that modc thc Icnown tclcphollc numbcr of FAX
scrvcr 20 would be dialcd by thc user and thc user - wou~d scnd a blank pagc to FAX scrvcl 20. Durlng transmlsslon of this pagc, the user would, in the prcferrcd opcratlng ~odc of thc prcscnt invcntion, enable thc turn-around polllng function of thc uscr's FAX transccivcr I0.
The FAX scrver 20 receives and analyzes the incoming imagc. If the incomlng page cannot be intcrpreted as a valid marked selcctor sheet, then a blank selector sheet is immcdiatcly rcturncd to thc FAX user on the same telephone call. Thus the system cffcctivcly bootstraps itsclf to prov~dc thc missing selcctor shect. Once a copy of thc selcctor shcct ls in hand, thc uscr may make a~ many additional copies of the selector sheet using an officc copier as desircd. When thc sclector shcct is propcrly fillcd 201~277 in and transmitted, the requested pages wlll be qulekly returned during the same telephone eall lf the user's FAX transeeiver has turn-around polling capabllltles.
The machlne readlng system 24 of Flg. I contalns hardware and software to perform the functlons of blocks 80-90 of Fig. 3. Slmilarly, data selector 26 of Flg. 1 performs tlle funetlons of bloeks 92 and 94 of Fig. 3, Address Field Processing Tlle selector sheet eontains a fleld for the m.~iling .~nd telephone addresses o~ the information requestor. This field can be filled ~n by pcncil, pen, or typewrlter. The state of the art of optical character recognltion is not adequate at this date for accurate reliable conversion of unconstralned handwritin~. Thus FAX server 20 retains the address ~ field as a separate faesimlle based image. The area - occupied by the label field is relati~ely small.
Thus, this image may be stored and transmitted at relatively low cost, combined with the digital data derived from the eonstrained numbers in tlle bingo A'~ fields. As an example, a eopy of an information request for a produet eould be sent by FAX to the loeal 8alc9 department. This transmission mlght conslst of a FAX imagc of the address field plus the interprctcd blngo ficlds.

Maehlne Readln~ Interpretation Fig. 4 graphieally illustrates the eleetronie - 30 reading of a user entered seleetor sheet by the general maehine readable system 24 (Fig. 1) and the maehine readlng subsystem ~0 (Fig. 3). In neither instance is thc sclcctor shcct rccrea-cd in a hard print-out for reading by thc mark scnsc unlt 24 or 20~02'~7 9~. ~acl) operatcs electronlcally on the uscr entered selector shect ~n the form of 2 decompressed blt map.
The procedure Illustrated in Fig. 4 Is for a sclector sheet such as those shown In Flgs. 2c-2g whcre there are flduciary position lndicators 56 whlch identlfy the rows and columns of thc reglons where the user ls to enter the retricval numbcr(s) of lntercst.
Thc lnt~rsectlon of the columns and rows dcflned by lndlcators 56 identify blank squares which thc uscr shades in where the square corrcsponds wlth the retrleval number of intcrcst. Indlcators 56 are used so that the mark sense lnterpretatlon can first locate the portion of the rcccived document that includcs maehine readablc lnformatlon. This ls necessary to malce ad~ustments for thc sclector sheet being feed at an angle, or If the maclllne readable portion is located other than at a spceifie loeation on the page.
For purposes of illustration, tlIe fidueiary position indleators 56 orientcd horizontall~ across thc top of Fig. 4 are labelled "H", "1". "2", etc., ~nd thosc oricntcd vertically down thc lcft cdge of Fig. 4 arc labclled "V", "1". "2", etc. At thc intersection of cach of the numbcred horizontal and vertical columns dcflned by the eorrcsponding indlcators 56 is a blank squarc 185. In this example, threc of thosc squares, 172-176, havc been shaded to lllustratc thc shadlng of such squarcs by a uscr. In - normal operatlon a FAX transcciver 10 scans thc user lnputtcd documcnt a slnglc plxel line at a timc with eaeh s~uare of a seleetor shect bcing six to eight pixcls in hcight and twelvc to sixtccn plxcls in width. Slnee the FAX transeelver beKins lts scannlng in the uppcr lcft corncr of thc documcnt bclng transmitted, FAX servcr 20 assumes that the first pixcl, or scan, lincs in the decomprcsscd bit map arc from thc top of the documcnt tran9mltted with thc -22- X~ 7 scanning havlng been conducted from Ieft to ri~ht, top to bottom.
Machine reading units 24 and 90 are programed to flrst identlfy the horlzontal row of fiduclary pos~tion indieators 56 by sensing the oecurrence of a plurallty of approximately equally spaced plxel bursts each containing an approximately equal number of pixels in each burst in substantial alignment wlth simllar bursts in a plurality of contiguous pixel llnes. From this information the vertical limits for the squares that have been potentially filed by the user are defined (e.g. left and right edges 182 an 184 of horizontal indicator 56 labeled "3"). As scanning progresses, the vertical indle~tor 56 tllat has been numbered "1" is detected in the same way that the horizontal indieators 56 have been identlfied yielding the upper horizontal limit 178 to the first row of squares that could have been completed by the user prior to transmlttlng the selector sheet. As scanning continues to the right, in this example. the shaded squarc 172 is encountcrcd by cach scan line that defilles the vertical indicator 56 numbered "1". The mar1~ sense software identifies this square by checl~ing its loeation against the vertieal limits that were earlier identified while eontinuing to look for the lower horizontal limit 180 of the vertieal indieator 56 in this row. Subscquent rows arc sl~ilarly eheeked. Thus, glven the vertleal and horlzontal limits on eaeh of the user flled squares, the software ean ldentify the retrleval number eneered by the user via the seleetor sheet. Other teehniques eould be similarly uscd instead of the fiduciary position indicator teehnlque diseussed above. A eonfined loeation approaeh as diseussed ln relation to Fig. 2b, or bar eode seanning as diseussed in relation to Fig.
2a eould be used.

~:0~ 77 Flg. 5 is a flow chart of the maehllle readlng procedure for identifying the user seleeted retrleval numbers as dlscussed In relatlon to Flg. 4. In Flg. 5 the procedure begins at STAR~ bloek 186. The scallnlllg of the bit ~ap is started ln the upper Ieft corner of the doeument and proceeds from left to rlght (bloek 188) followed by the scannlng of the next line from right to left (block 190). The consecutive llne ! scannlng eontinues untll the upper alld lower limlts of - lO the X, or horlzont~l, fiduciary position indicators 56 are identifled (block 1~2). Bloeks 1~0 and 192 are eycled through repeatedly untll the lower llmlts of the horizontal fiduclary position indlcators 56 are ldentlfled. The right and Ieft limits of each of the lS horizontal flduclary position indicator 56 arc then recorded (block 194). Scanning continues at block 1~6 until the top limit of the next Y fiduciary position indlcator 56 is identlfied and it's position recorded at block 1~8. Next the darkness level of each active matrix area is compared to a threshold level line by line (bloclc 200). The consecutive line scannin~
continues until the upper and lower limits of all of the Y, or vertical, fiduciary position indicators 56 are identified (block 202). If all of the Y blocks have not been identified, flow returns to block ~96 for the eontinuation of the proeess through bloeks 1~6-200. When the scannlng is complctc (block 204), flow proeeeds to bloek 206 where eaeh of the aetlve matrix areas defined by these X and Y limits ~here a user may have filled in thc squarc arc eheeked to see if thc pixel density within cach of those areas is greater than a threshold density level (bloek 20G).
If the threshold level is exeeeded, the bloek is read as havlng been so marked and the eorrespo~dlng rctricval numbcr for cach such squarc ls outputtcd to data seleetor 26. Next, bloek 210 tests to determine 2 9 ~

if there are additional mar)c sense areas on the same page. If there are flow returns to block 190 to decode those areas, if there are no additional mark sense areas on the page then flow is returned to block 188 to begin the reading of the next mark sense card.
Other types of input selector sheets either with constrained fields, or other electronically identifiable information fields could be read directly from the bit map data in a similar fashion. The actual form of machine reading used is not germane to this invention and the above description is intended primarilv for explanatory purposes. Machine reading is a widely known operation with numerous known techniques for performing this operation.

Polling Options Fig. 6 is an options chart showing the system alternatives for serving FAX transceivers 10 with different capabilities. The options, or decision, tree presents the different approaches used by the present invention to cope with each of the various FAX
transceiver configurations currently in use. The detailed flow charts of Figs. 7a, 7b and 11 describe the data flow within the blocks of Fig. 6 in detail. Those in Figs. 7a and 7b are shown here within a dotted-outline identified as 228, and those of Fig. 11 are shown within a dotted-outline identified as 230~ The block 231 is representative of the entire population of all FAX transceivers and is divided into those FAX
transceivers having a polling capability (block 232) and those without (block 234). The next level considers turn-around polling (block 236). Here only a single telephone call placed via FAX transceiver 10 is required for complete operation. However, where FAX transceiver 10 has simple (non-turnaround) polling (block 238) then two sequential calls are required by #~ . . .~

2~1 ~2~7 - ~5 -the calling FAX transceiver as shown. The case where FAX transceiver lO lacks polling or the user prefers not to use polling (block 234) is divided into two cases.
The first case includes FAX transceivers that have a valid calling station user identification number (block 240), while the second case includes those FAX
transceivers that either lack a calling subscriber user identification number, or holds an incorrect number (block 244). In the later case a selector sheet can be used to transmit the telephone number (block 246). This again requires two telephone calls. The first is a call by FAX transceiver 10 to the FAX server 20. The second call is a reverse call placed by the FAX server 20 to transmit the information requested. Another response to the situation where the user lacks a valid calling subscriber number (block 244) is an alternative telephone path (block 248). A touch-tone telephone dial transmitting dual tone multiple frequency signals (block 250) can be used or voice recognition of digits can accomplish the same objective (block 25~). In both of these cases, one call is made via a voice telephone together with a return call by FAX server 20.

Detailed Flow Chart The detailed flow chart of Figs. 7a and 7b considers a number of cases marked A, B, C, D and E
which are described in a block in the upper right hand corner. In each of the above-identified cases, the first four blocks of Fig. 7a are always traversed.
All calls to FAX server 20 are initiated by a user (block 104), the ring is detected (block 106), the FAX
server 20 goes off hook (block 108), and the telephone line is monitored to determine if the call is a voice call or a modem to modem call (block 110). The 20~8~77 proccss of dctcrmll)lng whcthcr thc lncomlng cnll ls a non-FAX call is dcscrlbcd ln dctall ln Flg. 11, as ls thc proccsslng of a voicc or touch-tonc call or manual FAX transcclvcr. Thc handshaklng proccss that ls thc 5 hcart of the proccss ls dcscrlbcd brlcfly ln block 112 . and ln detall below. In the followlng the arrows rcprcscnt thc dlrcctlon of thc slgnals llstcd.

TABLE II
Normal: Callin~ Unit Scndin~
to the Callcd Unlt Calllng Called CNG ------------__________________>
CNG is an audiblc tonc whlch thc calling unit scnds to - indlcatc that it is an automatcd unlt. Thls tone ls lS 1100 Hz that is altcrnatcly OII for 0.5 scconds ~hcn off for 3 scconds. The prlmsry purpose of thls slgnal ls to indicatc to a human thst a FA~ machinc is calllng -- in thc casc of a FAX machinc which is on an cxtcnsion of a PBX.
~---------------------------------- CED
~hcn thc called station answcrs thc phonc, it scnds thls signal back. This tone is 2100 Hz, and lasts for - brtwecn 2.6 and 4.0 scconds. The callcd unit thcn dclays for about 75 milliseconds beforc continuing.
~---------------------------------- DIS
` Thc DIS (Dlgltsl ldcntlflcatlon signal) consists of three baslc parts. The flrst port slgnsls thc dcslrcd data rate, how wldc thc rccording wldth can bc, how long the pagcs can be, etc.
The sccond part of DIS ls the callcd subscribcr identification (CSI). It is OPTIONAL, and is the lntcrnatlonal telcphonc numbcr of the callcd subscrlber. This ficld allows only diglts and the space obsrrctor.

-$:

-27- 2~0277 The thlrd part is the non-stand;lrd faclllties fielù
(NSF). It, too, ls an optlonal fleld.
DCS ------------------------------>
(Sent lf the calllng unlt wlshes to transmlt) This is called "command to receive." The calling unlt commands the answering unlt to reeeive.
TSI ---------(optional)----------->
Followlng DCS, the ealllng unlt may also send TSI
whlch indieates that the following Information ls the identlfleatlon of the transmltting statlon. TSI ls supposed to be the international telephone numbcr lncluding telephone country code, area code, and subseriber number. It is eneoded the same way as the CSI and allows only dlglts and the space charaeter.
~SS ---------(optional)----------->
Followlng the optional TSI, tl-e called unit may also scnd an optional NSS field which is a command to the other end as to how to use the nonstandard faclllties that were expressed in the NSF field earlier.
TCF ---~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Following thc optional ~SS field, the cal~ing unit sends the digital command TCF which is all zeros for 1.5 seconds. It indicates thot training has begun.
<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~------------------ CFR
The confirmation to receive signal (CFR) indicates the pre-message proeedure has been eompleted and that message transmisslon may bcgin.
If tralnlng was not succcssful (in the vicwpolnt of thc callcd unlt~, it scnds failure to traln (FTT) baek which causes training to bcgin agaln.
message ---------------___________>
The ealling FAX machine thcn transoits the message.
__________ _ >
Post-message response, onc of thc following:
11] EOP (end of proccdurc): thls was the last page, , " ~

-28- 20~2~
. . .
~2] MPS (multipagc signal): thcrc arc morc p-lgCS, which wlll be sent assuming a posltlvc rcsponsc to this signal, [3] EOM (end of mcssagc): this was thc last pagc of this mcssage, but that wc want to do somethlng clsc. This is thc w~x that turnaround pollln~ is done. Followlng acknowlcdgmcnt of this slgnal, - communlcations picks up back at thc DIS stagc, How Rcgular Polling Works CNG ----------________________ >
<---------------------------------- CED
<---------------------------------- DIS
CIG ----------________________ >
This is the calling station identlfication. It is cncoded thc samc as thc CSI and TSI.
DTC ------------_-________________>
This is callcd thc Digital Transmit Command -- it commands the receiver to transmit.
~SS --- --------_________>
This signal is thc command responsc to thc information contained in thc NSF ficld.
<---------------------------------- DCS
This is thc responsc to thc DTC command. It commands the calling unlt to recelve. From thls point forward.
cvcrythlng is Just lilcc thc rcgular transmission diagrammcd above, only wlth the arrows revcrscd.

'.
:

. .' ",f' 20~277 TABLE IV
How Turnaround Polling Works Thcre arc two halvcs to turnaround polllng. Durlng thc f~rst half, thc calllng machlne transmlts a pagc to the callcd unit. During the second half, the called unlt transmits back to thc calling unlt. At the end of the first half (i.c. aftcr the page has been sent from the calling to the callcd unlt), thc calllng unlt sends an EOM mcssagc. The called unlt then responds wlth MCF tmeSsagc confirmation).
Following message conflrmatlon, lt gocs back and begins at the CSI stage (l.c. It acts ~ust llke It answcrcd the tclephone agaln). Thc calling unlt ls smart enough to know that it's doing the second half of turnaround polllng and it scnds the norm~l signals to do polllng.
Thus, turnaround polllng rcally isn't anythlng more thall a slightly dlffercnt behavior that ~ccurs between the machines in response to the EOM signal.
---________ It is through the handshake function that the parameters of the intertransmissioll between the FA~
transceiver 10 is cstablished and FA~ server 20 is informcd whcthcr transceiver 10 has polling capabilitics. If FAX transceiver 10 has turn-around polling, thcn thcrc will not be a traIlsmisslon of a DTC command immediately (block 114) and flow will bc transferred to block 116~ At bloek 116 the Input shcct is rcad and testcd to sec if it is a valid rcquest for lnformation bloek 118). If the input shcct is a blank shcet or an approvcd data selcctor sheet for use wlth the lnstallation, flow continues to block 126 to dctcrmino if thc DTC command has been reccived ln the allottcd timc. If FAX transceiver 10 has turn-around polllng, that signal will havc bccn rceclved and eontrol will bc transferrcd to bloek 134 whcrc thc us~r's rcqucst is proccsscd and thc rcqucsted information is transmittcd to the uscr. If 20~0277 thc uscr transmlttcd a complctcd sclcctor shcct thcn thc lnformation sent will be thc sclectcd informatlon, howcvcr, if thc uscr transmittcd a b~ank shcct to FA~
scrvcr 20 will sond the user ~ selcctor shcet for usc In sclcctlng thc desircd information durlng a subscquent call.
If the uscr s transcclvcr 10 has cithcr slmplc polllng or no polllng and has madc thc flrst telephone call to rcqucst lnformation, the data flow is blocks 104-118 ~nd 126 as for the turn-around pollillg situatlon. Thc diffcrcncc ls that thc DTC comman(l will not havc bcen rccclved at block 114 or at block 12~ wlthin thc allottcd timc. Thus flow contlnucs from block 126 to block 136 wherc FAX scrvcr 20 lS rccords thc IISCI- s transceivcr s tclcphonc numbcr either from thc transmitted CIG signal, or by rcading thc numbcr from thc appropriatc ficld on thc sclcctor shect transmittcd by thc user. Ncxt, FAX scrvcr 20 hangs up (block 138), starts a tlmcr ~block 139) and control rcturns to block 104.
If thc uscr s transccivcr 10 has simplc po~llng and thc uscr calls FAX scrvcr 20 back within thc timc limit of thc timcr (block 139), FAX transccivcr 10 will transmit a DTC command to FAX scrver 20 (block 114) and FAX scrvcr 20 will comparc thc CIG or ; tclcphone number of FAX transcelver 10 wlth thosc - storcd in thc prcvious tl~c pcrioA (block 130). If thc cocparison ls truc and the uscr requestcd data during tho prcvious call, f low shifts to block 134 whcre the u~er ls scnt the rcqucsted pages. If thc ; uscr trans~ittcd a blank pagc durlng thc pcrvlous transmlsslon then flow contlnues to block 132 to providc tbe uscr with a blank selcctor shcct.
~f the user s transcciver 10 docs not havc polling, or lf thc uscr did not call back within thc timc provided (block 140) by the timcr (block 139), '. ~

20~ 77 PAX scrvcr 20 wlll call the user's transeelver 10 uslng the stored CIG or telephone number (block 142~.
Whco the connectlon Is made, FAX servcr 20 w~ll scnd only a mlnlmum number of pages of those requested by thc user or a blank selector shcet if the user transmltted a blank page durlng the flrst call (block 144).
Ne~t, If the user has the approprlate passwords to allow thcm to alter some or all of the data stored In FAX servcr 20, that ean be done remotely by transmlttlng a data ehange seleetor sheet to FAX
scrver 20. In thls way the user can add to, or delete from, the data stored In the memory of FAX server 20.
The flow for thls opera~lon bcgllls wlth bloclcs 104-118. At block 118 the data chan~e sclector sheet is recognized as not a valid request for data and f~ow Is dlrected to block 120 where the input form Is tested to ~etcrmine i~ it is a valid form for altering the data stored ln FAX serv~r 20. If it ls, the user is allowed to alter the stored data as desircd (block 122). However, if the user was somehow able to get to block 120 wlthout the appropri3te authorized form to chalIge the stored data (e.g. lncorrect password) flow is directed to bloek 124 where the user Is warned and the system operator ls advlsed as to the unauthorized attempt to alter the data stored in FAX server 20.

- Hardware ImpIementatlon Fig. 8 is a bloek diagram of an implementation of FAX server 20 of the present inventlon. This implementatlon lneludes a mlcro-processor 160 eonnected vla bus 161 to a ROM 157, a RAM 158, a dlsk '; controller 166, an lmage processor board 148, and FAX
modems 150-156. Also lneluded is a plurallty of hard : disks and their assoelated drive ~eehanisms 168a-168d whieh lnterfaee wlth dlsk eontroller 166. Optionally, 2~)Z77 FA~ server 20 may lnclude a CRT dlsplay 162 alld a data compressor 170 each connected to dat~ bus 161, and a scanner 172 whlch lnterfaces with data compressor 170. Also shown ls a power supply 164 to provlde electrleal power to each eomponent of the system outllned above. A typlcal lmplementatlon would be by means of an IBM A~ personal computer which is shown enclosed by llne 146 wlth eaeh of the eomponents shown belng elther standard elements of sueh a computer or off the shelf ltems that are lnterfaced to computer 146 vla the bus 161.
In eomparlson, the elements of Flg. 8 correspond by functlon wlth the elements of Flg. 1 as follows:
dlsks 168a-168d to disl< 28; disk eontroller 166 to data selector 26; processor 160, RAM 158, ROM 157 and the related software to maehine reading system 24, and modems 150-156 to modems 22a-22e.
'"~.' NSF Interactive ~ode Figs. ~-9c show another format for a selector sheet 174 for use with the present inventiol- in any of its modes of operation, however, this shortened form is neeessary. for the mode of operation diseussed below with respect to Flg. 10. Selector sheet 174 eontalns four eonstrained data fields 178-184 and a last page Indicator box 176. Ficlds 178-182 arc eaeh for cntry of up to a four dlglt data retrleval numbcr, and ficld 182 ls provided for thc optional inclusion of the thc tclcphone number of thc uscr's tralIsceivcr 10. As dlseussed above, when polling is used and FAX
transcclver 10 sends a CSI signal, it is not neccssary to includc a number in field 184. Block 176 is ineluded for lndieating the last sheet belng transmitted ln the mode of operation discussed below ln rcspcct to Flg. 10.
For transccivcrs that havc thc NS~ (Non Standard 20~(3277 Facllltles) capablllty of CCITT T.30 anl1 tu~ ound polllng, lt ls posslble to make the FAX transeelver 10/FAX server 20 eombination truly Interaetlve. The NSF mode allows turn-around between FAX transeeiver lO
and FAX server 20 without waltlng for the normal tlme out perlod to explre. Thls proeess ls further aecelerated by uslng a short form of the seleetor sheet slmllar to the on shown in Fig. 9a. To save even more tlme, tl-e tralnl11g between FAX transcelver lO and FA~ server 20 ls overlapped wlth the lmage interpretation functlons. After modem tralnlng has occurred ln each directlon, it can be avolded for eae lnterQctive reversal by recalling the modem parameters for the last transmission.
This arrangement in essence keeps the ehanncl open allowing the system user to mark the next seleetor sheet. If the seleetor sheet has an cnù of transmission block 176 whlch can be marked to indicate the end of transmlssio11, that can rcd11cc the telephone con11ect time. Without an indicat~on of the end of transmission, a long time-out period, on the order of a minute or two, is needed to terminate the transmlsslon. The above discussion assumes that a CCITT V~29 half duplex modem is used for the facsimile trans~ission~ If a fuII duplex mode~ ls used the operation ean be further overlapped~
In Pig. 10 a tiee/runetlon flow ehart is shown for ` thc opcration of transceivcr 10 and FAX server 20 when : the shortened seleetor sheet and the NSF funetlon of : 30 transeelver 10 ls utllized to make thls an inter~etlve data transfcr s~stcm~ Inltially thc uscr lnstructs FAX transeelver 10 to dlal FAX server 20 (block 186) whleh ls immcdlatcly followed by the handshakc and tralning signals tbloek 188)~ The user next transmlts ~ first shortened seleetor sheet llke that of Flg~ 9a (bloek 190), ~hleh ls reeelved by FAX server 20 (bloek 20~0277 1~2) at substantlally thc samc tlmc. Thc sample selector sheet of Flg. 9a shows the user rcquestlng lnformation that is associatcd witll rctrlcval number 3027 and has provlded the transcelver telephone number cvcn though that is optional whcn polling exists between FA~ transcelver lO and FAX scrvcr 20.
Pollowlng thc transmisslon of thc first selcctor shect, transcelver 10 lmmedlately scnds the turn-around signal (block 1~4), thcn the modcm Or FAX
scrvcr 20 scnds thc neccssary tralnlng slgnals (block 196) to kccp thc two units lntcrconncctcd. FAX scrvcr 20 then sends the user the pagcs that correspond to thc data rctricval numbcr sclcctcd by thc user Thosc pages arc recclved by the user (block 200) ~nd FAX
scrver 20 scnds thc turn-around SigllA] (bloclc 202) Since thc ~'SF mode ls bcing utili7.cd, the uscr has up to a minute or so to complctc thc next sclcctor shcct (block 20q). The user thcn transmits thc next complcted sclector shect 176 (block 206) which is receivcd by FAX scrver 20 (block 208). Immcdiately aftcr scnding the second sclector shect, transccivcr lO sends thc turn-around signal (block 210). Server FAX 20 thcn scnds thc requcstcd data (block 212), as above, thc data is received by the user (block 214), and FAX servcr 20 agaln scnds thc turn-around signal (block 216). Thls procedure continucs until the user sends a sclector shcct 174 on which box 176, thc last page lndicator, is checked (block 220). FAX server 20 reccivcs that sheet (block 222), and both FAX
transcelver 10 and FAX server 20 thcn tcrminatc the transmission (blocks 224 and 226). As a rcsult of the NSF function many of the varlous stcps of the intcraction bctween FAX transceivcr 10 and FAX servcr 20 occur at substantially the same tlmc as illustrated in Fig. 10.
Figs. 11a-llb arc a dctallcd flow chart of thc 2 ~ 7 7 process of separating FAX signals from voice/DTMF
signalling instructions. Reference is made to block 110 of Fig. 7a, which is shown in further detail in blocks 260 and 262. An examination is made whether a calling tone has been received from block 108 of Fig. 7a within a three second period (block 260). If so, then it is assumed to be a signal from an automatic send FAX
transcei~er. An acknowled~ing CED signal is then sent (block 262) to block 112 of Fig. 7a. Otherwise, the incoming call is assumed to be a voice or manual FAX
call (block 264).
A voice announcement inquires whether voice instructions are desired (block 264). If so, key 2 on a touch-tone telephone is pressed, in response, by the user. A DTMF detector (block 266) detects this request, and this is followed by voice instructions (block 268) before continuing to block 272. If the user did not press key 2 when passing through block 264 to ask for instructions, the user is then asked in block 270 whether he or she is using a manual FAX transceiver, if so the use is instructed to press key 1. Upon doing so a CED is transmitted and detected at block 262.
Otherwise control moves to block 272 where the user is asked if they wish to receive a specific page or pages via FAX transceivex 10.
If key 3 is depressed the DTMF detector detects the request (block 286) and the user is asked to enter the item number of the item desired (block 288). If the requested number is misentered or not followed by the appropriate end symbol, the user is given three more tries to enter the number (blocks 290 and 292) before exiting the subroutine (block 308). If an appropriate number is entered at block 288, control proceeds to block 278. The portion of the operation from this point forward is discussed below.
If key 3 is not depressed the user is asked in 2~277 -3~-block 274 whether printed lnstructlons ~re deslred, ~nd, If so, ~ selector sheet is dellvered upon pressing key 4. Upon detection of the key 4 ~gl)al DFMF slgnal In block 276, n request to asc~rtaln the caller's telephone number is then m.~de (block 278).
At block 278 the user ls osked to enter the telephone number of thelr FAX trnnsceiver. The user is glven a total of three attempts to do so (blocks 2~8 and 30U) and upon failing to do so the subroutlne ls cxlted (block 308). If the telephone number is entered, then control proceeds to block 280.
The user is next instructed to hang up and to await the tr~nsmission of the requestcd matcrials (blocks 2~0, 302, 304 ond 306). If the user fails to hang up the tclephone after being instructed twice to do so (block 306) control passes to block 308.
If at block 274 the user did not enter a "4" an opportunlty is presented to call a hum~n operator during normal business hours (block 282) by pressing key ~. at which time a voice connection ls made to the operator (block 284). If a "6" is not entered in response to block 282. control transfers to block 296 where the user ls given thrce chances to make one of the seleetions from bloeks 264, 270, 272, 274 and 282.
If the user fails to make one of those selections during any of those allotted tries, control proceeds to EXIT (block 308), as it does upon eompletion of the voiee eall at bloek 284.
While this invention has been deseribed in terms of several ~odes of operatlon, lt i9 eontemploted that persons reading the preeeding descrlptions and studying the drowings will reollze various alterations and modifications. It is therefore intended that the following appended clalms be interpreted as ineluding all such alterations and ~odirications as fall wlthin thc truc splrit and scopc ot thc prcscnt Invcntlon.

Claims (23)

1. A FAX server apparatus for interactively providing requested portions of stored information to an inquiring CCITT FAX transceiver by means of a machine readable information selector sheet marked by the requesting party and transmitted by the inquiring FAX transceiver to the FAX server via telephone lines, said FAX server comprising:
CCITT modem means for communicating with said CCITT
FAX transceiver to electronically receive said transmitted selector sheet and to transmit the requested information thereto;
machine readable means for interpreting the machine readable markings on the selector sheet received by said CCITT modem means;
memory means for storing the information from which the requestor can select; and retrieval means under the control of said machine readable means for retrieving the information requested by the requesting party from said memory means and coupling the retrieved information to said CCITT modem means.

2. A FAX server apparatus as in Claim 1 with said CCITT FAX transceiver having turnaround polling capability, wherein:
the combination of the operation times of said machine readable means and said retrieval means is sufficiently short so as to permit the analysis of the received selector sheet and the retrieval of the requested information to permit the transmission of a polling direction turnaround signal within the turnaround delay of said CCITT FAX transceiver to allow retrieval of the requested information during the telephone call initiated by the requestor via said CCITT
FAX transceiver.

3. A FAX server apparatus as in Claim 1 with said CCITT FAX transceiver containing a valid calling station identification number, said FAX server further comprising:
identification means coupled to said CCITT modem means for analyzing and converting the received calling station identification number into a valid local telephone number of said CCITT FAX transceiver, and for dialing said valid local telephone number for connecting said FAX server to said CCITT FAX transceiver to transmit the selected information to the requestor via the CCITT FAX transceiver from which the request was originally made during a second telephone call.

4. A FAX server apparatus as in Claim 1 with said selector sheet containing spaces for the requestor to enter the telephone number of said CCITT FAX
transceiver, said FAX server further comprising:
analysis means coupled to said machine readable means for converting said telephone number entered on said selector card into a valid local telephone number of said CCITT FAX transceiver, and coupled to said CCITT
modem means for dialing said valid local telephone number for connecting said FAX server to said CCITT FAX
transceiver to transmit the selected information to the requestor via the CCITT FAX transceiver from which the request was originally made during a second telephone call.

5. A FAX server apparatus as in Claim 4 which further comprises form generation means coupled to the CCITT
modem means for generating a selector sheet that contains the telephone number of a calling CCITT FAX

transceiver for transmission to said calling CCITT FAX
transceiver.

6. A FAX server apparatus as in Claim 1 with said CCITT FAX transceiver containing a unique digital identification number having a first field containing a digital value uniquely identifying the information to be retrieved, and a second field containing the telephone number of the FAX transceiver to which the requested information is to be transmitted, said FAX server further comprising:
decoding means coupled to said CCITT modem means for decoding the fields of said unique digital identification number and for dialing said valid local telephone number for connecting said FAX server to said CCITT FAX transceiver to transmit the selected information to the requestor via the CCITT FAX
transceiver from which the request was originally made during a second telephone call, and coupled to said retrieval means to select from the memory means the information requested in the identification number.

7. A FAX server apparatus as in Claim 1 further comprising:
communications means coupled to said machine readably means for accessing a remote computer based information system with the capability of creating information pages on-line data in response to the information request for transmission to the FAX
transceiver.

8. A FAX server apparatus as in Claim 1 wherein:
said memory means includes a data base organized in the form of pages of information; and said retrieval means has an up-date mode for adding or deleting pages of information to or from the memory means by sending a selector sheet having appropriate markings together with the pages of information that are to be added to or deleted from said data base.

9. A FAX server apparatus as in Claim 1, wherein:
said CCITT modem means includes:
means for determining if said CCITT FAX
transceiver is using turnaround polling, or has transmitted a usable calling station identification number; and said machine readable means includes:
means for decoding a telephone number of said CCITT FAX transceiver from said selector sheet if said CCITT modem means does not detect the existence of turnaround polling or a usable calling station identification number.

10. A FAX server apparatus as in Claim 1 wherein said machine readable means is capable of reading:
one or more printed fields on said selector sheet that are to facilitate and constrain requestor markings to improve machine reading speed and accuracy.

11. A FAX server apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said machine readable means is capable of reading identifying symbols of the information requested from one or more of the fields on said selector sheet.

12. A FAX server apparatus as in Claim 1 wherein said machine readable means is capable of reading at least a portion of a preprinted page containing an unique illustration as said selector sheet.

13. A FAX server apparatus as in Claim 1 wherein said machine readable means can uniquely recognize a bar code label on said selector sheet.

14. A method of information retrieval comprising the steps of:
a. marking a selector sheet to define the information requested;
b. transmitting the selector sheet of step a. via a CCITT FAX transceiver having a turnaround polling capability;
c. analyzing the selector sheet transmitted in step b. to determine the information requested;
d. transmitting a direction reversal signal to the CCITT FAX transceiver within the timing constraints window allowed by CCITT Recommendation T.30; and c. transmitting the requested information to the FAX transceiver of step b.

15. A FAX server apparatus for receiving instructions and data from a CCITT FAX transceiver by means of a machine readable information selector sheet marked by a transmitting party and transmitted by the FAX
transceiver to the FAX server via telephone lines to alter information stored by said FAX server by adding data, deleting data or modifying previously stored data, said FAX server comprising:
CCITT modem means for communicating with said CCITT
FAX transceiver to electronically receive said transmitted selector sheet and data;
machine readable means for interpreting the machine readable markings on the selector sheet received by said CCITT modem means; and memory means for storing data; and retrieval means under the control of said machine readable means for adding data, deleting data or modifying data in said memory means in accordance with the markings on said selector sheet with said modified data being retrievable in subsequent independent requests from a FAX transceiver.

16. A FAX server apparatus as in Claim 15 wherein:
said memory means includes a data base organized in the form of pages of information; and said retrieval means up-dates the data stored in said memory means by adding, deleting or modifying pages of information to, from, or in, the memory means in accordance with said markings on said selector sheet and pages of information that accompany said selector sheet that represent the data that is to be added to, or modified in, said data base.

17. A FAX server apparatus as in Claim 15 wherein said memory means is a computer system.

18. A FAX server apparatus as in Claim 1 wherein said memory means is a mini-computer system.

19. A FAX server apparatus for providing requested portions of stored information to an inquiring CCITT FAX
transceiver by means of one of a family of machine readable information selector sheet marked by the requesting party and transmitted by the inquiring FAX
transceiver to the FAX server via telephone lines, said family of selector sheets being known to said FAX
server, said FAX server comprising:
CCITT modem means for communicating with said CCITT
FAX transceiver to electronically receive said transmitted selector sheet and to transmit the requested information thereto;
machine readable means for interpreting the machine readable markings on the selector sheet received by said CCITT modem means, said machine readable means including:
identifying means for identifying mismarked and selector sheets that are not members of said known family of selector sheets;
memory means for storing the information from which the requestor can select; and retrieval means under the control of said machine readable means for retrieving the information requested by the requesting party from said memory means and coupling the retrieved information to said CCITT modem means.

20. A FAX server as in Claim 19 wherein said identification means causes a starter kit to be sent to said requesting party when said requesting party transmits a blank sheet to said FAX server.

21. A FAX server as in Claim 19 wherein said identification means causes a message to be transmitted to said requesting party when a mismarked selector sheet or a selector sheet that is not a member of the known family of selector sheets has been received informing the requesting party of the receipt of said mismarked or unknown selector sheet by said FAX server.

22. A FAX server as in Claim 19 with said selector sheets including at least one fiduciary mark to identify the orientation of said selector sheet, wherein said machine readable means of said FAX server adjusts the reading of said selectors sheets in accordance with said fiduciary marks to properly read the marks placed on said selector sheets by said transmitting party.

23. A FAX server as in Claim 19 with said selector sheets including at least one machine readable field for entry of the telephone number of said transmitting FAX, wherein:
said machine readable means of said FAX server also reads the telephone number of the transmitting FAX;
said memory means stores the telephone number of said transmitting FAX decoded by said machine readable means; and said FAX server further includes recall means for recalling transmitting FAX telephone numbers from said memory means for later transmitting information to said transmitting FAX.