Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus that allow users having access to a facsimile (fax) machine to send, receive, and manage e-mail easily. If the user selects a 'Direct Receipt' receive mode, e-mail is automatically sent to his fax machine, where it is automatically printed out and can be read. If the user selects 'Receipt on Demand' mode, the user calls a predetermined telephone number and answers voice prompts to instruct the system where to fax his (held) unread e-mail. The user can also be notified of unread e-mail being held, via pager or telephone. In either case, the fax received by the user contains the contents of the e-mail message intended for the user. To send e-mail from his fax machine, the user uses an 'address book' of e-mail addresses, each of which is associated with a fax telephone number (also called an 'internet fax number'). If the user sends a fax message to an internet fax number associated with a particular recipient in the user's address book, the system sends an e-mail message containing the contents of the fax message to the recipient associated with the internet fax number.

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First Claim