Abstract:
Integration of telecommunication message services and other communication services is achieved by notifying a first user of a shared telephone number of a received message (e.g., a facsimile message) by sending a notification message to the first user, e.g., using e-mail, voice and/or data communications. The user may be identified by a unique identifier appended to the shared telephone number. The notification message may comprise an attachment which includes the received message, or the notification message may comprise a computer network address of a location where the received message may be accessed. For the latter case, the computer network address is preferably a universal resource locator (URL) associated with a web page at which the received message may be accessed. The received message may be accessed by allowing the user to view the message, or it may be accessed by allowing a user to down-load the message in any of a number of forms. For example, the message may be down-loaded to hard copy output device, e.g., a receiving facsimile machine or printer, or it may be down-loaded to a storage medium for later retrieval by the user. In still further embodiments, the notification message may comprise the received message itself, e.g., where the received message is relatively small.
Abstract:
A transmission apparatus transmits e-mail to a reception apparatus through a network by selecting one of a communication method via a mail server and a communication method without intervention of a mail server. This transmission apparatus generates the e-mail and transmits, to the reception apparatus, the e-mail and information representing the reply method of a transmittal confirmation request in response to the e-mail. The transmission apparatus receives, from the reception apparatus in accordance with the reply method, a transmittal confirmation result in response to the transmitted e-mail.
Abstract:
Integration of telecommunication message services and other communication services is achieved by notifying a user of a communication system of successful receipt of a message (e.g., a facsimile message) by sending a confirmation message to the user, e.g., using e-mail, facsimile, voice and/or data communications. The user may be identified by a unique identifier, e.g., a telephone number. The confirmation message may comprise a facsimile message, an attachment which includes the received message or a computer network address of a location where information regarding the received message and/or the message itself may be accessed. For the latter case, the computer network address is preferably a universal resource locator (URL) associated with a web page at which the information and/or received message may be accessed. The information may allow the user to view the message (e.g., as marked up by the intended recipient thereof), and/or it may indicate whether the intended recipient has read, reviewed, down-loaded to a hard copy or other device or otherwise accessed the message.