Patent EP0486160A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0486160A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-purpose public facsimile transmission terminal
Assignee: TouchFax Information Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1991-10-17
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2011-10-17
Abstract
Abstract A multi-purpose public facsimile transmission terminal otherwise known as a public fax terminal, employs a stand alone kiosk with a touch activated computer display color monitor presentation, advising the user of the operational steps to take in the use of the machine. The user initiates operation by inserting a credit card in a card reader and following the instructions presented on the monitor. A scanner mounted in the kiosk reads a document to be faxed and stores the image in the memory of a computer. Faxed transmissions are received and sent over telephone lines by a fax modem in the computer. Copies of faxed documents are provided by a plain paper laser printer, which also has the capability of providing copies of any scanned documents or any documents in the computer memory. The computer memory presents video advertisements and has stored business and message forms which can be retrieved and used as desired. An interface connection open to the exterior of the terminal connects to a computer such as a laptop computer, provided by the user to download and fax information in the memory of the laptop computer. The terminal may also be used to retrieve documents from a remote data base system.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. Massey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:19
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/0014; A; A47; A47B; A47B19/00; A47B19/04; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/18; G07F17/26; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/0035; H04N1/00405; H04N1/00408; H04N1/00411; H04N1/00413; H04N1/00477; H04N1/32; H04N1/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A public facsimile transmission device comprising: a) reader means for reading a credit card and enabling the functions of said device; b) a touch activated display screen for initiating and controlling functions of said device; c) flat bed scanner means for scanning a document to be copied and to be transmitted; d) modem means for transmitting a scanned document; and e) power and control means for operation of said reader means, screen, scanner means and modem means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A public facsimile transmission device comprising: a) reader means for reading a credit card and enabling the functions of said device; b) a touch activated display screen for initiating and controlling functions of said device; c) flat bed scanner means for scanning a document to be copied and to be transmitted; d) modem means for transmitting a scanned document; and e) power and control means for operation of said reader means, screen, scanner means and modem means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
117 words
A public facsimile transmission device comprising: a) a housing unit; b) a credit card reader for enabling the functions of said transmission device; c) a flat bed scanner for scanning a document to be transmitted; d) a fax modem for transmitting a scanned document; e) a computer operably connected to said scanner and said fax modem for storing and transmitting an image to be transmitted; f) a printer for printing copies of incoming facsimile images; g) a touch activated computer display screen for initiating and controlling functions of said device; and h) an interface connection open to the exterior of said housing unit for connection of a user supplied computer with said computer in said housing unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
A public facsimile transmission device comprising: a) a housing unit; b) a credit card reader for enabling the functions of said transmission device; c) a flat bed scanner for scanning a document to be transmitted; d) a fax modem for transmitting a scanned document; e) a computer operably connected to said scanner and said fax modem for storing and transmitting an image to be transmitted; f) a printer for printing copies of incoming facsimile images; g) a touch activated computer display screen for initiating and controlling functions of said device; and h) an interface connection open to the exterior of said housing unit for connection of a user supplied computer with said computer in said housing unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
185 words
A public facsimile transmission device comprising: a) a stand alone kiosk; b) a credit card reader open to an exterior of said kiosk for receiving and reading a use's credit card and enabling the functions of said transmission device; c) a touch activated computer display screen comprising a color monitorand control buttons associated therewith for initiating and controlling functions of said device; d) a scanner mounted in said kiosk for scanning a document to be transmitted, said scanner communicating with a scanner panel opening to the exterior of said kiosk; e) a computer mounted within said kiosk and operably connected to said credit card reader, said display screen and said scanner to receive and store a scanned document; f) a fax modem within said kiosk connected to said computer and operably connected to a telephone line for transmitting a scanned document; g) a plain paper laser printer connected to said computer for printing copies of incoming and outgoing facsimile images; and h) an interface connection open to the exterior of said kiosk for connection of a user supplied computer with said computer is said kiosk.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
185 words
A public facsimile transmission device comprising: a) a stand alone kiosk; b) a credit card reader open to an exterior of said kiosk for receiving and reading a use's credit card and enabling the functions of said transmission device; c) a touch activated computer display screen comprising a color monitorand control buttons associated therewith for initiating and controlling functions of said device; d) a scanner mounted in said kiosk for scanning a document to be transmitted, said scanner communicating with a scanner panel opening to the exterior of said kiosk; e) a computer mounted within said kiosk and operably connected to said credit card reader, said display screen and said scanner to receive and store a scanned document; f) a fax modem within said kiosk connected to said computer and operably connected to a telephone line for transmitting a scanned document; g) a plain paper laser printer connected to said computer for printing copies of incoming and outgoing facsimile images; and h) an interface connection open to the exterior of said kiosk for connection of a user supplied computer with said computer is said kiosk.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
A public facsimile transmission and copy terminal comprising: a) a housing unit; b) a credit card reader for enabling the functions of said terminal; c) a scanner for scanning a document to be transmitted; d) a fax modem for transmitting a scamed document; e) a computer operably connected to said scanner and said fax modem for storing and transmitting an image to be transmitted; f) a printer for printing copies of incoming facsimile images; and g) a touch activated computer monitor for initiating and controlling functions of said device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
A public facsimile transmission and copy terminal comprising: a) a housing unit; b) a credit card reader for enabling the functions of said terminal; c) a scanner for scanning a document to be transmitted; d) a fax modem for transmitting a scamed document; e) a computer operably connected to said scanner and said fax modem for storing and transmitting an image to be transmitted; f) a printer for printing copies of incoming facsimile images; and g) a touch activated computer monitor for initiating and controlling functions of said device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The terminal set forth in claim 4, wherein: a) said computer contains a programmable memory for receiving facsimile images.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The terminal set forth in claim 5 wherein: a) said computer memory contains non-facsimile image documents for selection by a terminal user and print-out on said printer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The terminal set forth in claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein: a) said printer is a plain paper printer and prints incoming facsimile images on plain paper.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
145 words
A public fax terminal and network comprising: a) a housing unit; b) a credit card reader enabling the functions of said terminal; c) a scanner for scanning a document to be transmitted; d) a fax and data modem for transmitting a scanned document; e) a computer operably connected to said scanner and said fax and data modem forstor- ing and transmitting an image to be transmitted; f) a printer for printing copies of incoming fax images and for printing copies of documents from said scanner; g) a touch activated overlay and monitor for touch initiating and controlling functions of said terminal; h) said computer having a memory containing a selection of pre-stored documents for selection and use in said terminal; and i) a remote computer accessible by said fax and data modem and having in its memory a selection of user services for said terminal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
145 words
A public fax terminal and network comprising: a) a housing unit; b) a credit card reader enabling the functions of said terminal; c) a scanner for scanning a document to be transmitted; d) a fax and data modem for transmitting a scanned document; e) a computer operably connected to said scanner and said fax and data modem forstor- ing and transmitting an image to be transmitted; f) a printer for printing copies of incoming fax images and for printing copies of documents from said scanner; g) a touch activated overlay and monitor for touch initiating and controlling functions of said terminal; h) said computer having a memory containing a selection of pre-stored documents for selection and use in said terminal; and i) a remote computer accessible by said fax and data modem and having in its memory a selection of user services for said terminal.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of utilizing a public computer terminal comprising the steps of: a) touching a touch sensitive screen of a computer monitor; b) selecting from among an array of options one or more of the following: i) faxing a document; or ii) receiving a faxed document and accomplishing the selection; and c) paying for the use of said public computer terminal by the presentation of a credit card to a credit card reader.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of utilizing a public computer terminal comprising the steps of: a) touching a touch sensitive screen of a computer monitor; b) selecting from among an array of options one or more of the following: i) faxing a document; or ii) receiving a faxed document and accomplishing the selection; and c) paying for the use of said public computer terminal by the presentation of a credit card to a credit card reader.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method set forth in Claim 9 wherein said array of options includes: a) copying a document supplied by the user of said terminal, retrieving a business form from the memory of said computer, and retrieving information from a remote central data bank networked with said public computer terminal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.