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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to integrated voice, facsimile, and
electronic mail systems. More particularly, this invention relates to a
system which allows a user to input, access, and manipulate voice,
facsimile, and electronic mail data through a personal computer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Typically, office communications are stored in two formats, voice messages
and text messages (electronic mail, or E-mail). Recently, a third format,
facsimile communication, has become prevalent in the business community.
Generally, voice messages are stored and accessed via a dedicated voice
mail system connected to a private branch exchange (PBX) or directly to
the local telephone system. Text messages are usually stored and accessed
on a computer system separate from the voice message system and are
usually only accessible via another computer or terminal. Recent advances
in text to speech (TTS) conversion systems have made it possible to access
previously stored text messages via a telephone. However, these systems
are usually dedicated to text message access and to retrieving other
database information stored in text form within the computer system. As
depicted in FIG. 1, each of the office communications systems must be
separately accessed by a remote user.
Voice message systems, also known as voice mail systems, have become common
modes of communication amongst business persons and consumers alike.
Typically, a business organization will have a PBX direct a caller's
telephone call to an appropriate extension within the organization. If the
connection is not completed, the call is forwarded to a voice mail system
wherein the caller may leave a voice message in a "mailbox" having an
address corresponding to the extension called.
A commercially available system which provides the above basic messaging
functions plus a number of optional functions such as automated dispatch,
automated reception service, verbal bulletin boards, and paging is the
VoiceMemo II.TM. voice processing system. VoiceMemo II.TM. is a trademark
of Centigram Communications Corporation, San Jose, Calif. The stand alone
VoiceMemo II.TM. is capable of storing up to 960 hours of messages in
support of up to 10,000 users utilizing up to 120 telephone lines.
Design of voice mail systems, as in the VoiceMemo II.TM. system,
incorporates one or more microprocessors to control call distribution,
mailbox allocation, and user prompt upon playback. Typically, the voice
messages are digitized and stored on one or more hard disk drives. A user
may subsequently request the voice messages which the voice mail system
has stored. Upon user request, the microprocessor will access the disk
drive and have the digitized message or messages retrieved and converted
into an analog signal which is then played to the user. The user may then
command the system via the touchtone keypad of the telephone to delete the
message, forward it to another mailbox, or save it.
Optionally, the VoiceMemo II.TM. system can be integrated with a FAX card
for receiving and transmitting facsimile transmissions. The system, known
as FaxMemo.TM., is capable of storing, retrieving and manipulating
facsimile messages in much the same manner in which voice messages are
handled. Using this arrangement, a user can call the VoiceMemo II.TM.
system and be notified that a facsimile addressed to the user has been
received. The user may optionally save the FAX, delete it, print it to a
default printer located near the user's office, or have the FAX sent to
any FAX transceiver (machine) which the user designates by entering the
transceiver's telephone number.
In addition to voice mail systems and FAX machines, many offices have
electronic mail systems. Typically, a central computer system serves as
the host to the electronic mail system and the users interface with the
computer via terminals or a network of personal computers (PCs). Each user
has a mailbox within the system. The users of the central computer may
send messages amongst themselves by typing a message and addressing it to
the mailbox address of another user. Users outside of the network that are
not directly connected to the central computer may connect to the central
computer via a modem. Thus, outsiders using other electronic mail systems
may send messages to any known address within an organization's electronic
mail system via the modem.
However, until recently, the electronic mail systems could only be accessed
by a PC or terminal via direct connection or a modem. To overcome this
access hinderance, text to speech (TTS) translators are used to enable a
remote user to use a telephone to contact the electronic mail system and
have previously stored messages "read" to the user over the telephone.
Using the touchtone keypad, the user may optionally forward the message to
another electronic mail address, delete the message, or save it. These
systems are known in the art as interactive voice response (IVR) systems.
A commercially available IVR system which provides the foregoing basic
features is the Voice Gateway System (VGS).RTM. produced by Centigram
Communications Corporation, San Jose, Calif. VGS is a registered trademark
of the manufacturer. In addition to the standard features of a text to
speech system, VGS enables the user to respond to messages by sending
previously stored text passages to the sender of the message via the
electronic mail system to acknowledge receipt of the message. Also, the
IVR system can be used to select and access database information other
than electronic mail, such as catalog and sales information. The user may
enter data into the selected database via the touchtone telephone keypad.
For instance, the data entry capability is useful for sales persons to
enter order information from remote locations. In this form, information
residing in the database is accessed for read out as well as modified
(written to) by the user's touchtone keypad input.
An office having both an electronic mail system with a TTS translator,
i.e., an IVR system, and a voice mail system forces the users to remember
a number of separate commands and access codes for each system. In
addition, separate phone calls must be placed or call transfer used to
access each system, this is a cumbersome approach.
It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to provide a
system and method of integrating voice mail systems and IVR systems such
that a single call can be placed to access information stored in both
systems.
Another objective is to enable a single instruction set to be used to
retrieve and manipulate voice and text messages within a comprehensive
voice mail/electronic mail system.
Another object of the invention is to enable a single instruction set to be
used to retrieve and manipulate voice and text messages within a
comprehensive voice mail/electronic mail system.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system and
method of integrating voice mail systems, and their corresponding
facsimile handling features, with a text message system through a personal
computer so that information from both systems may be entered, retrieved,
and manipulated through the personal computer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In summary, the present invention is a communication system comprising a
voice message system for storing and retrieving voice messages and
facsimile data, a computer database accessing system for storing and
retrieving text messages from a separate computer system and for
converting the text messages into voice messages, and a personal computer
which allows a user to generate and receive voice messages, facsimile
data, and text messages. The systems are integrated via a network which
coordinates the functions of each individual system. Additionally, the
input/output ports of the voice message system and the computer database
accessing system are connected in a parallel fashion to a personal
computer. In this configuration, a user may access voice messages,
facsimile messages, and text messages through the personal computer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Additional objects and features of the invention will be more readily
apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims when
taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art apparatus depicting the separate
access paths required to interact with a voice message system and a text
message system;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3A is a detailed block diagram of the invention depicted in FIG. 2;
FIGS. 3B, 3C, and 3D depict computer interfaces which may be employed in
the apparatus of the invention.
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram depicting the operation of the
preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing the process by which a voice
message system mailbox number is correlated with the host computer user
identification to facilitate automatic login to the host computer;
FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the process by which electronic mail messages are
received and answered using the invention;
FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the process by which an electronic mail message
is forwarded as a facsimile transmission using the invention;
FIG. 8 depicts the network message format;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the invention incorporated into a practical,
multi-user system; and
FIG. 10 depicts an alternative embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 11 depicts a computer interface which may be used in conjunction with
the messaging function of the invention.
FIG. 12 depicts a computer interface which may be used in conjunction with
a wake-up feature which may be used in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 13 depicts an apparatus for providing an interface between a text
message system, a voice message system, and a personal computer.
FIG. 14 provides a top-level description of the control sequence which may
be exercised in accordance with the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of a prior art office
communications system. Shown are a text message system 100, e.g., an IVR
system, being distinctly separate from a voice message system 102, e.g., a
voice mail system. Each system is accessed via different telephone lines
104, 106 and requires the user to make two calls to access information
stored within each system or to use a call transfer feature of the PBX to
transfer the user's call from one system to the other. In a PBX, the
transfer feature is known in the art as a flash hook transfer.
Generally, the text message system 100 provides access to a separate host
computer 108 wherein the electronic mail or other database information is
stored. The text message system 100 is, in general, a means to facilitate
computer database access and should not be construed to be limited to text
access alone. The database may store text messages as in an electronic mail
system or it may store sales or other data. The host computer 108 may be
the server of a Local Area Network (LAN).
In operation, the user calls the system 100, logs in via a user number and
password, and is prompted to use the touchtone keypad to command the
system 100 to accomplish specific functions. Initially the user will be
told by the system 100 how many text messages are addressed to the
previously entered user number and how many of those have not been played
previously. By touchtone command the user may request a message or
messages be played via the text to speech translation subsystem. Replies
to the messages are accomplished by requesting the system to send
previously stored or "canned" messages to the sender's electronic mail
address. These pre-stored messages are typically very simple
acknowledgements such as "message received", "message received, I'll get
back to you when I return to the office", etc.
Typically, the text message system 100 will be connected to one or more
host computers 108 directly, but a modem 109 can also be used to permit
the user to connect to remote computers 111 to read electronic mail or
access databases stored therein. This arrangement provides the user with
great flexibility in manipulating database information in a variety of
locations via a telephone.
The apparatus and process of accessing the databases of a host computer via
a telephone is old in the art. A representative patent of such a system is
U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,583, entitled VERBAL COMPUTER TERMINAL SYSTEM, issued
to Groner et al. on Dec. 29, 1987 and assigned to Centigram Communications
Corporation of San Jose, Calif. To provide telephone access to computer
information, text to speech subsystems have become prevalent. A
representative text to speech apparatus patent is U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,216,
entitled TEXT TO SPEECH SYNTHESIS SYSTEM AND METHOD USING CONTEXT DEPENDENT
VOWEL ALLOPHONES, issued to Malsheen et al. on Dec. 18, 1990. Each of these
patents are incorporated herein by reference.
In addition to the text message system 100, office communications systems
typically include a voice message system 102 as depicted in FIG. 1. These
systems are accessible via telephone such that voice messages may be
retrieved and manipulated via touchtone commands. A patent which is
representative of voice message systems in general and herein incorporated
by reference is U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,752, entitled ELECTRONIC AUDIO
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM issued to Mathews et al. on Feb. 1, 1983.
In addition to the standard voice message systems 102 which enable callers
to record messages which are subsequently replayed, forwarded, or deleted
by the user via a telephone 113, recent developments have enabled
facsimile (FAX) messages to be stored as image files within the voice
message system storage, i.e. disc drive, represented by reference numeral
110 in FIG. 1. These FAX messages may be manipulated in the same manner as
the voice messages. The user, upon the system instructing him or her that a
FAX has been received, may forward the FAX to any number to which a FAX
transceiver in the form of a FAX machine or other FAX receiving system is
attached, forward the FAX image file to another voice mail address, have a
hard copy printed on the office FAX machine 112, or delete the FAX. These
basic functions and more are available in the FaxMemo system manufactured
by Centigram Communications Corporation of San Jose, Calif.
Referring to FIG. 2, depicting the preferred embodiment of the invention, a
network 200 is disposed between a computer database accessing means for
storing and retrieving text messages and a voice message means for storing
and retrieving voice messages (voice message system 102) Interface
apparatus 202, 204, 206, 208 for connecting each system to the telephone
lines, i.e., linecards 204, 206, TTS 202, and FAX input/output ports 208,
are connected together such that a single telephone line 210 may access
both systems. In the depicted preferred embodiment, the computer database
accessing means is a text message system 100 accessing a host computer 108
resident electronic mail system. Alternatively, the user, in addition to
accessing electronic mail, can access specific database information that
is stored in a text format. Additionally, the host computer system 108
does not have to be maintained as an external unit, but can be integrated
into the text message system 100.
As will be more fully described below, a remote computer system 111 is
coupled to the text message system 100 and the PBX via a modem 109,
alternatively, the remote computer system 111 is directly coupled to the
host computer 108 through a local area network (LAN) bus 113. The remote
computer system 111, will also be referred to as a "personal computer". As
used herein, "personal computer" refers to any IBM-standard personal
computer, Apple-standard computer, or workstation. The personal computer
111 includes known components such as a monitor 111A, a keyboard 111B, a
mouse 111C, a speaker 111D, and a microphone 111F. The personal computer
also includes an ethernet card 111F, or other network card, and a modem
109. The personal computer 111 is also supplied with a sound board 111G.
The speaker 111D and microphone 111E may form a portion of the sound
board. A Microsoft Multi-Media PC sound board may be used. The Microsoft
MultiMedia PC sound board is sold by Micrsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash.
FIG. 3A depicts in block diagram form the internal structure of the text
message system 100 and the voice message system 102 as well as the local
area network 200 which bridges between the two systems. These block
diagrams are based upon the VoiceMemo II.TM. and Voice Gateway
Systems.RTM. manufactured by Centigram Communications Corporation;
however, the use of these systems as the basis for the following
discussion should not be construed as limiting the invention to use with
only these systems. As will be described, the local area network 200 which
coordinates the operation of the systems and creates a comprehensive
communications system having both text and voice message manipulation
capabilities is applicable with almost any text message system and voice
message system having sufficient memory and microprocessors to be host to
the local area network software.
In operation, a caller can dial the phone number (or extension number) of a
user and be connected to the voice message system 102 via the linecard 206
in the event the user does not answer the telephone. A number of
prerecorded prompts and transient messages such as a greeting and
instructions on how to reach a receptionist or leave a message are stored
in disk memory 400. These are accessed by the speech file administrator
402, a subprogram which is executed by the voice message system
microprocessor 404. The prompts are played in a sequence which leads the
caller through the process of leaving a message for the user. The account
administrator 406, a subprogram executed by the microprocessor 404, places
the message in the user's mailbox which corresponds to his or her
extension. Typically, the mailboxes are located upon one or more hard disk
drives 408, but with advances in technology, it is foreseeable that optical
disks or some other mass storage device will be useful for mailbox
allocation in the future.
In addition to the voice message, a facsimile may be transmitted by a
caller and stored in a mailbox. For instance, the caller may call an
extension and be directed to the voice message system 102. The prompt menu
will include a prompt which enables the caller to command the system 102,
by depressing a specific key on the telephone touchtone keypad, to prepare
to receive a facsimile. The caller may leave a voice message as an
introduction and then send the FAX to the desired mailbox. The FAXcard 208
receives the facsimile data and the FAX RCV/SND administrator 410, a
subprogram executed by the microprocessor 404, tags the digital image file
which represents the facsimile as a speech file to be stored in a mailbox
location on the disk drive 408. The file is stored in digital format at
the user's mailbox address rather than automatically printing a hard copy
as is done by most office FAX systems.
Since the operation of electronic mail systems is old in the art, their
operation will only be briefly reviewed. The host computer's electronic
mail or E-mail system receives messages from senders, the functional
equivalent to a caller in the voice mail system operation. Typically, the
senders utilize personal computers (PC) or terminals which are connected
directly to the host computer 108 or via a local area network (LAN). Each
sender has a unique local address usually designated by a unique character
string to identify the PC or terminal as well as a character string
representing the host computer. This enables senders using other computers
in other networks to connect to remote hosts via a modem and address
messages to users on many networks other than the sender's own network.
The sender's text messages are stored on a hard disk associated with the
host computer of the user to whom the message is addressed. Typically, the
user may receive the message by connecting to the host computer and
retrieving the text message via a computer or terminal. In addition, the
network host computer may include communal databases which users may
access with their terminals or PCs to update data stored therein.
In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, to retrieve
any of the messages recorded by senders or callers, a user makes a single
telephone call via a touchtone telephone 113, or through computer 111. As
previously stated, computer 111 is equipped with a microphone 111C, a
speaker 111D, and a sound board 111G to process audio input and output
data. In this embodiment, the keyboard 111B operates as a touchtone
keypad. In other words, instead of relying upon the numerical input of a
touchtone keypad on a telephone, the numerical entries on the keyboard
111B are relied upon for this function. FIG. 3B depicts a menu which may
be displayed on monitor 111A. The menu provides a number of options which
may be used to operate computer 111 effectively as a touchtone telephone
113. These features will be described below.
In the preferred embodiment, the call is initially handled by the voice
message system 102 via linecard 206. However, in the alternative, the call
can be handled initially by the text message system 100 via linecard 204
and the following description of the master-slave arrangement would
function with the voice message system 102 being the master and the text
message system 100 being the slave. Thus, voice and FAX messages may be
manipulated as before without interaction with the text message system 100
via the network 200. However, the network 200 is constantly utilized to
update the message counter 412 in the voice message system 102 with the
number of text messages which are stored and the number that have not been
previously read. Thus, the text message system 100 constantly monitors the
electronic mail system on the host computer 108 for message activity. When
a message is added, read, or deleted an updated count is sent via the
network 200 to the voice message system message count memory 412
corresponding to the user's address where the change occurred.
Referring to FIG. 4, the user logs into the voice message system 500 by
entering their voice mailbox number and password 502, either through the
touchtone digits of the telephone 113 or the keyboard 111B of computer
111. FIG. 3C depicts an interface structure which may displayed on monitor
111A to obtain the required Mailbox ID and Password information, which is
entered through keyboard 111B. The voice message system 102 informs the
user of the number of text, voice, or FAX messages 504 which are stored
and how many have not been played previously. This may be done audibly
over the telephone 113 or through the sound board 111G of computer 111.
Alternatively, the monitor may visually display the various messages, as
shown in FIG. 3D. The prompt menu 506 enables the user to connect to the
text message system 100 by depressing a single touchtone key or remain
within the voice message system 102 to manipulate voice messages and
facsimile messages as described previously. Boxes 505 and 507 shown in
FIG. 4 list the primary functions of the voice message system 102. These
primary functions may be displayed on monitor 111A, as shown in FIG. 3D.
Selection of these functions may be achieved through standard graphical
user interface techniques such as "pointing and clicking" with a mouse
111C or entry of a letter corresponding to a designated function. The user
interface of FIG. 3D allows one to select a voice message by pointing with
a mouse 111C or manipulation of the cursor through keyboard 111B
operations. Each message may be played through speaker 111D of computer
111 by using a text-to-speech (TTS) program, as previously described.
Upon depression of a predetermined key, communications system control is
passed to the microprocessor or microprocessors 414 in the text message
system 100 via the network, step 508. Alternatively, the system can be
configured such that control is passed automatically, without user action,
upon call connection to the voice message system 102. In addition to
passing control, the voice message system passes the user's mailbox number
and password to the text message system. Subsequently, the text message
system uses a cross reference table 510 as shown in FIG. 5 to correlate
the voice message mailbox number 600 to a text message system user ID 602.
If the correlation is not found, the user is told so via a verbal error
message 604, over telephone 113, or through a verbal message played on
speaker 111D, or by a text message displayed on monitor 111A. If the ID
602 is found, the text message system 100 will automatically log the user
into their electronic mail account on the host computer 108, step 512, via
the communications card 416. If the user has more than one electronic mail
account on the same host or different hosts, the text message system 100
will request that the user depress a special key combination to access the
desired host and account.
At this point a description of the network operation is necessary. The
network 200 is a commercial software product which provides multi-tasking,
multi-user, and local area network (LAN) capabilities entitled QNX
Operating System that is produced by Quantum Software Systems Ltd. of
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. QNX resides in the RAM memory 418, 420 of both
the text message system 100 and the voice message system 102. QNX is used
in this application for its multi-tasking and LAN capabilities which
enable QNX to coordinate the various tasks executed on each of the message
systems via an ARCNET local area network link between the systems in such a
way that a substantially seamless, integrated text and voice communication
system is created.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, control of the integrated
system is passed from the microprocessor(s) 404 in the voice message
system 102 to the microprocessor(s) 414 in the text message system 100.
Thus, a master-slave relationship is established via the network operating
through the ARCNET LAN link between the systems. More specifically, the
main voice message application program 422 enters a slave mode, ready to
execute any commands sent to it via the ARCNET LAN connection. The
commands are issued by the text message system microprocessor(s) 414 as
the text message system 100 becomes the master entity controlling call
processing. Typically, the first command issued is a request for the voice
message system 102, to send the user's voice mailbox number to the text
message system 100.
Subsequent to the initialization of the master-slave relationship, the
script processor program 424 becomes the main application program within
the text message system 100. The QNX network or QNET function establishes
a control system to execute functional tasks in either of the message
systems in a coordinated fashion. In other words, tasks which are
programmed to be executed by the operating systems of the individual
message passing operating systems, e.g., UNIX, are executed by QNET in an
administrative role.
To implement the QNET coordinating function, each of the basic tasks
accomplished by the text and voice message systems 100, 102 is assigned a
unique task identification number. The task ID is assigned by the QNX
Operating System using its "clearing house" feature. Upon system
initialization, each task is published by name within the "clearing house"
and is assigned a task ID. If either system does not know the task ID of a
task it desires to execute, it goes to the clearing house and uses the
task name to find the task ID used to execute the task. Once this process
is completed for an individual task, the requesting system remembers the
task ID number and does not use the clearing house on subsequent
executions.
A script or scripts 426 are executed by the script processor 424 in the
text message system 100 to control the step by step process of retrieving
and playing text messages or interacting with a database as the user
requests such activity via the touchtone keypad, or keyboard 111B. The
scripts 426 may be uniquely tailored for a specific user or set of users.
For instance, a user or group of users who never use the sales database
would have a script assigned to their user IDs which does not provide them
the prompt option of accessing the sales database.
As discussed above in reference to FIG. 4, QNX operating system control is
initiated upon special command of the user at the main menu 506.
Thereafter, functions of both message systems can be executed in any order
via QNET as indicated by arrows 514 in FIG. 4. The functions or tasks
listed in FIG. 4 are meant to be exemplary and should not be construed as
limiting the invention in any manner. Similarly, the functions shown in
FIGS. 3B, 3C, and 3D are exemplary in manner.
FIG. 6 depicts the process of playing an electronic mail text message and
responding to the message via both a pre-stored written message(s) and a
voice message to the electronic mail sender's voice mailbox. User login
and transfer of control is accomplished as discussed above in connection
with FIG. 4, steps 500, 502, 504, 506, 508, and 510. If the look up table
does not find a proper user ID for the host computer 700, a SAY command
will be sent to the voice message system to preload an error message in
the telephone linecard common memory and a PLAY command will play the
error message to the user 702. The message may be played to the user over
speaker 111E. Alternatively, the SAY command may be used to generate a
text message which is displayed on monitor 111A.
When the message is complete, the system operation continues in the text
message system at step 704. The DONE command, executed automatically,
releases control of the system from QNET and returns the user to voice
message system control in the same logical step where the user pressed the
digit for text message system access within the main menu 506.
If the proper ID is returned, host login is accomplished at step 512. In
operation and referring to FIG. 3, the speech file administrator 428
retrieves and plays the stored prompts 430 as commanded by the support
system algorithm 432. The support system 432 coordinates the TTS card 202
operation with the prompt operation to choose text messages to be played.
As the prompts are played, the user interacts with the system 100 via
either linecard 204 or 206. The linecards interpret user touchtone
commands, and equivalent keyboard 111B commands, and are capable of
dialing out-going calls at the user's request. The task management
operation of the network 200 controls which linecard is used for user
interaction during each task execution. The TTS card 202 will read each
E-mail message as requested, step 706 in FIG. 6. If one is accessing the
system from a computer 111, the E-mail message may be either displayed on
monitor 111A or be played over sound board 111G.
Afterwards, the system 100 will prompt the user about the mode of response
708. The user may request that one of the pre-stored text responses stored
on disk memory 434 be sent via electronic mail to the address of the sender
710. Choice of the response is menu driven. However, if the user desires to
respond to the sender via a voice message 712, QNET will initiate the voice
message recording task (REC.sub.-- VM) in the voice message system 714. The
voice mailbox of the sender is determined via the correlation table, FIG.
5, and the voice message system connects the user automatically to the
proper mailbox. Once the message has been recorded and saved in the
recipient's voice mailbox, QNET returns to the text message system and
requests whether the user wishes to read another message 716. If not, the
user is finished and hangs up the receiver, or logs off the computer 111.
This act initiates the BYE command which returns control to the voice
message system 718 and initiates the HANG UP task 720. From here, the
voice message system awaits the next call, or logon.
FIG. 7 depicts the process of forwarding an electronic mail message to a
FAX transceiver. The process is essentially identical to that which is
shown in FIG. 6 through to step 512. After login to the host computer is
accomplished, the user, through a menu driven process through the
telephone or computer monitor 111A, selects an electronic mail message and
indicates to the system the desire to forward that message via facsimile
transmission, step 750. Note that the voice message system contains the
FAX card; therefore, all facsimile transceiving functions are conducted
through that system. The voice message system requests from the user the
telephone number to which the FAX is to be sent or whether the default FAX
machine should be used, step 752. The electronic mail message is
transferred from the text message system to the voice message system 753
and converted from a text format into a facsimile format 754. Finally, the
voice message system connects via the phone system to the desired FAX
machine and sends the facsimile at step 756. Upon accomplishing the
transmission, the process continues within the text message system. The
user may continue text message manipulation 758, i.e., read mail, FAX
other messages, etc., or hangup, steps 718, 720.
Table 1 summarizes the tasks which the text message system may request the
voice message system to accomplish.
TABLE 1
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SYNCHRONIZATION TASKS
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