Patent · US Expired

Distributed facsimile information system and method

US5341222A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
12References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 18, 1992
Grant dateAug 23, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 18, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S379/905
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A distributed facsimile information system for providing information subscribers with documents and other requested information. The system includes a central processing unit in communication with a central data base and a number of satellite data bases at remote locations. The central data base includes a plurality of data files containing digitally stored documents and other information, and each of the satellite data bases includes some of the data files contained in the central data base. A terminal including a touch-tone phone and a facsimile machine is situated at the location of each information subscriber. A request for information is made via the touch-tone phone, and the system prompts a user through a series of menus for input of information identifying the particular document requested. The central processing unit then determines which of the data bases contains the document and is closest to the requestor's terminal for transmission of the document.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.