Facsimile machine having multi-purpose data ports for signal routing and data management

Abstract

A facsimile machine that is capable of receiving, transmitting and storing both document images and data transfers, identifying the appropriate device the data transfer is intended for, and providing the data transfer to the appropriate device is disclosed. A facsimile machine is provided with one or more ports for coupling with other office equipment, such as, for example, postage meters, postage scales, personal computers, etc. Data transfers from a service center or the like are received by the facsimile machine and identified as to which device is the intended recipient. The facsimile machine can then send the data transfer to the intended device, or store the data transfer for sending to the intended device at a later time. Accordingly, only a single analog telephone line is required for all of the devices coupled to the facsimile machine.

1 . An office business machine comprising: 
 an input port adapted to be coupled to a telephone line;    a controller coupled to said input port;    a memory device coupled to said controller;    a plurality of module ports, each of said plurality of module ports adapted to be coupled to one of a plurality of equipment modules; and    an input/output controller coupled between said controller and said plurality of module ports,    wherein said controller is adapted to receive a data transfer intended for one of said plurality of equipment modules via said telephone line, determine said one of said plurality of equipment modules said data transfer is intended for, and route said data transfer to said one of said plurality of equipment modules.    
   
   
       2 . The office business machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said controller is further adapted to determine if said one of said plurality of equipment modules is available to receive said data transfer.  
   
   
       3 . The office business machine according to  claim 2 , wherein said controller is further adapted to store said data transfer in said memory if said one of said plurality of equipment modules is not available to receive said data transfer.  
   
   
       4 . The office business machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said controller is further adapted to receive data from said plurality of equipment modules and send said data to a service center via said telephone line.  
   
   
       5 . The office business machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of module ports includes a serial data port.  
   
   
       6 . The office business machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of module ports includes an infrared transceiver port.  
   
   
       7 . The office business machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of module ports includes a LAN port.  
   
   
       8 . The office business machine according to  claim 7 , wherein said LAN port is wireless.  
   
   
       9 . A method for routing a data transfer comprising the steps of: 
 receiving said data transfer at an office business machine, said office business machine having a plurality of customer equipment modules coupled thereto, said data transfer being intended for one of said plurality of customer equipment modules;    determining said one of said plurality of customer equipment modules for which said data transfer is intended;    determining if said one of said plurality of customer equipment modules is available to receive said data transfer; and    if said one of said plurality of customer equipment modules is available to receive said data transfer, routing said data transfer to said one of said plurality of customer equipment modules.    
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein if said one of said plurality of customer equipment modules is not available to receive said data transfer, said method further comprises: 
 storing said data transfer in a memory.    
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said step of determining said one of said plurality of customer equipment modules further comprises: 
 reading a header associated with said data transfer, said header specifying said one of said plurality of customer equipment modules for which said data transfer is intended.    
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said data transfer is from a service center and received by said office business machine via a telephone line.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of customer equipment modules includes a personal computer.