Abstract:
A method of updating a Web site maintained by a web server capable of receiving and responding to requests for information from Web clients and coupled to a computer database comprising the steps of transmitting an encoded transmission comprising a first portion in the format of a facsimile communication intended to be converted into digital information suitable for being stored in the computer database and a second portion identifying a key to be used by the computer database for storing the digital information. Receiving the encoded transmission and converting the first portion into digital information having a predetermined format. Storing the digital information in the computer database using the second portion as a key to the computer database. Wherein upon receiving a request from a Web client, the Web server retrieves the digital information from the computer database and transmits the digital information to the Web client in a format compatible with the request received from Web client.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for interfacing with the Internet, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for interfacing, editing, and adding information to a website using a facsimile machine thereby permitting users without any programming skills to add and/or alter content on predetermined Internet websites. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An important use of computers is the transfer of information over a network of computers. The largest computer network in existence is the Internet. The Internet is a worldwide interconnection of computer networks that communicate using a common communications protocol. Millions of computers, from low end personal computers to high-end super computers are coupled to the Internet. 
     One of the more popular protocols used to communicate information over the Internet and also used in private company intranets is the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), which delivers documents typically in the form of a text document coded in a standard Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) such a document is called a Web documents. One or more related documents can make up a Web site. The network of computers that participate and support HTTP over the Internet is commonly referred to as the World Wide Web or the Web. 
     The Web is generally facilitated by a “Web Browser”. The Web browser receives HTML documents and renders the information in conformance with the instructions and data contained within the received documents. Although text based Web browsers exist, the more common and popular Web browsers provide users with a graphical user interface (GUI) to receive and interact with information on the Web. 
     The architecture of the Web follows a conventional client-server model. The terms “client” and “server” are terms of art used to refer to a computer&#39;s general role as a requester of data (the client) or provider of data (the server). The roles of client and server are dynamic. During one exchange of information a computer may be the server, but during another exchange of information, the same computer may be the client. 
     In the Web environment, Web browsers in conjunction with computers are in the role of clients and Web documents reside on Web servers. A Web browser opens a connection to a Web server and initiates a request for a Web document. The Web server delivers the requested Web document to the Web browser. The Web document may be static or dynamic. A static Web document exists prior to any request from a client. A dynamic web document is assembled after receiving a request for a client. Dynamic Web documents enable web servers to offer more personalized and specific information to users. 
     Information on the Web is identified by a Universal Resource Locator (URL). A URL specifies a server and a particular document on that server. Portions of Web documents contain hypertext links which are associated with URLs. The hypertext link enables users to retrieve other Web documents by selecting the hypertext link within the Web browser. The Web browser will then request the Web document identified by the URL which is associated with the selected hypertext link. 
     There has been an explosion of interest in the use of the World Wide Web and the Internet in general. A presence of some kind on the Internet with a Web site has become a requisite for conducting business in today&#39;s society. Moreover, businesses exclusive to the Web are being created in record numbers. 
     Companies that have a presence on the Web or those that have Web sites, usually employ specially trained personnel to maintain those Web documents and Web servers that comprise the company&#39;s Web sites. These personnel are called “Web Masters” and are trained in creating documents comprised of HTML code and graphics files and maintaining the Web servers that communicated to client computers requesting specific URLs. The knowledge and training required to create and maintain a Web site can be extensive and out of the reach of most online users and small businesses. 
     One of the great attractions of publishing on the Web is the immediacy of the medium. If one knows how to code text and images in HTML, then a page of an entire Web site can be updated corrected or even completely overhauled in a short time and instantly made available to the millions of people who currently have access to the Web. The prerequisite training is too difficult for many people, or people are simply unmotivated to study the information required. 
     The present invention enables individuals and businesses to create or update the contents of a Web site using a fax machine, or a computer simulating a fax machine, or the like, without any knowledge of HTML or maintaining a Web server. Recently many patents have been issued relating to the Internet and other networking systems. None of these patents disclose the ability to maintain the contents of a Web site using a facsimile machine or the like to add or change text and possibly graphics. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,077, entitled Method and Apparatus for Searching for and Retrieving Documents Using a Facsimile Machine, discloses a method and apparatus that enables persons without computers to search the Web and retrieve documents. The user submits a search request via a facsimile machine. A computer reads the facsimile transmission to determine the search parameters. A search of content indexed from the Web is performed based on the search parameters. The results of the search are then transmitted via facsimile to the requesting party. This patent does not teach a method and apparatus for updating the contents of a web site using a facsimile machine. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,989, entitled Method and Apparatus for Adding and Altering Content on Websites, uses a telephone and interactive voice-response technology, database software, streaming audio technology to enable a user to create and modify web pages. The user interacts via the telephone to access predetermined and authorized features of the system. The patent does not disclose the use of a facsimile machine to transmit data to be used in updating a Web site. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,507, entitled Message Storage and Delivery System, enables users to receive facsimile messages, voice messages and data messages at a central office and then retrieve those messages from the central office using a computer with a Web browser connected to the Web. The patent does not teach the ability to update a web site using a facsimile transmission. The system disclosed in the patent uses the Web to retrieve messages that have already been delivered. The content of the message is irrelevant and remains unexamined. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A method of updating a Web site maintained by a web server capable of receiving and responding to requests for information from Web clients and coupled to a computer database comprising the steps of transmitting an encoded transmission comprising a first portion in the format of a facsimile communication intended to be converted into digital information suitable for being stored in the computer database and a second portion identifying a key to be used by the computer database for storing the digital information. Receiving the encoded transmission and converting the first portion into the digital information having a predetermined format. Storing the digital information in the computer database using the second portion as a key to the computer database. Wherein upon receiving a request from a Web client, the Web server retrieves the digital information from the computer database and transmits the digital information to the Web client in a format compatible with the request received from Web client. 
     In another embodiment according to the invention, the digital information describes a discount coupon intended to be printed and presented for redemption. 
     In yet another embodiment according to the invention the digital information describes a classified advertisement. 
     In yet another embodiment according to the invention, a system for of updating a Web site maintained by a web server coupled to a computer file system and capable of receiving and responding to requests for information from Web clients comprising a digital computer coupled to the computer file system and capable of receiving a facsimile transmission and having a conversion mechanism for converting portions of a facsimile transmission into a predetermined digital information format. Wherein upon receiving a facsimile transmission the conversion mechanism converts portions of the facsimile transmission into the predetermined digital information format and stores the digital information in the computer file system. Therefore the web server can retrieve the digital information from the computer file system in response to a request for the digital information from a Web client. 
     In yet another embodiment according to the invention, a system for of updating a Web site maintained by a web server capable of receiving and responding to requests for information from Web clients comprising a digital computer capable of receiving a facsimile transmission and having a conversion mechanism for converting portions of a facsimile transmission into a digital information format. Further comprising a computer database system coupled to the digital computer and coupled to the Web server and capable of storing digital information organized into records whereby each record is identified by a key. Wherein upon receiving a facsimile transmission the conversion mechanism converts portions of the facsimile transmission into digital information and stores the digital information in the computer database system. Thereby enabling the web server to retrieve the digital information from the computer file system in response to a request for the digital information from a Web client. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment according to the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another embodiment according to the invention. 
     FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b  are flow diagrams related to the invention 
     FIG. 4 is a block diagram of yet another embodiment according to the invention. 
     FIG. 5 a  is form that may be used in implementing the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 according to the invention. 
     FIG. 5 b  is a second part of the form shown in FIG. 5 a  according to the invention. 
     FIG. 5 c  is a third part of the form shown in FIG. 5 a  according to the invention. 
     FIG. 5 d  is another form that may be used in implementing the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 according to the invention. 
     FIG. 5 e  is a form that may be used in implementing the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 according to the invention by allowing a restaurant to automatically update its stored information. 
     FIG. 5 f  is a form that may be used in implementing the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 according to the invention. 
     FIG. 6 a  is a fourth form that may be used in implementing another embodiment according to the invention. 
     FIG. 6 b  is an example of the form shown in FIG. 6 a  having been marked according to the invention. 
     FIG. 6 c  is a representation of a world wide web page created from the information provided in the marked form shown in FIG. 6 b  and transmitted to a web client according to the invention. 
     FIG. 6 d  is another example for the form shown in FIG. 6 a  having been marked according to the invention. 
     FIG. 6 e  is a representation of a world wide web page created from the information provided in the marked form shown in FIG. 6 d  and transmitted to a web client according to the invention. 
     FIG. 7 a  is a fifth form that may be used in implementing another embodiment according to the invention. 
     FIG. 7 b  a another form similar to that shown in FIG. 7 a  that may be used in implementing another embodiment according to the invention. 
     FIG. 7 c  the form shown in FIG. 7 b  having been marked with information according to the invention. 
     FIG. 7 d  is a representation of a world wide web page created from the information provided in the marked form shown in FIG. 7 c  and transmitted to a web client according to the invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a representation of a web page that enables businesses to make discount coupons or advertisements available on the Web using a facsimile machine. 
     FIG. 9 is another form according to the invention that allows a clothing retail store owner to describe coupon parameters and make them available on the Web. 
     FIG. 10 is a representation of a web page that enables individuals to make classified ads available on the Web using a facsimile machine. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention enables non-technical persons who have no training in producing HTML code or images to alter or update the textual, graphical and other information available on a web site using a facsimile machine. In addition, the present invention enables any person, technical or not, to make textual, graphical or other information immediately available on the World Wide Web using a facsimile machine. 
     As used herein the term “Internet” is the worldwide interconnection of computer networks that communicate using a common communications protocol 
     As used herein the terms “World Wide Web” or “Web” refer to the network of computers that participate and support the exchange of information using the Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP) over a local area network or the Internet. 
     As used herein the term “Web server” refers to a computer connected to the World Wide Web that accepts requests for information and transmits the requested information using the communications protocol requested. For example, most requests to a Web server will be request information in a format that conforms to the Hypertext Markup Language specification and is transmitted using the HTTP protocol. 
     As used herein the term “Web client” refers to a computer or computer software program that is connected to or capable of communicating over the World Wide Web and sends requests for information to Web servers. Generally a Web client takes the form of a computer program called a Web browser that receives information in response to requests for information and is capable of displaying the information in conformance with instructions and code contained therein. A Web client is, however, not limited to a Web browser. Other forms of Web clients are used to transmit requests for information to Web servers. These Web clients are also generally computer software programs that retrieve web pages and review the contents therein. They are also called web agents, search engines, spiders, webbots and others. 
     As used herein the term “computer database” may be a file based database, relational database or any other type of database that is capable of storing and retrieving information upon request. A “computer file system” is a computer database that is maintained by the computer&#39;s operating system and stores and retrieves information using a file name as the key. 
     As used herein the term “digital information” refers to information in a format capable of being manipulated by a digital computer. For example information in ASCII format is common for the manipulation of text information by a computer. Digital information in BMP, JPEG, GIF, PIC, PNG formats are examples of digital graphics formats that are also capable of being manipulated by a computer. These formats and others may be stored in a computer database in their respective formats or converted to another format according to the parameters of the computer database. 
     As used herein the term “Web site” refers the information that is made available to the World Wide Web by a web server in response to receiving a request for information. Web sits are generally identified by a Universal Resource Locator or “URL” which identifies a specific computer on the network and specific information. If the URL only identifies the specific computer then the Web server will generally transmit a default response. 
     As used herein the terms “record” or “database record” refers to a group of related items generally referred to as “fields” and that are identified as being stored together in a computer database. The fields or items that make up a database record may not be physically stored together but are logically grouped or related for retrieval from the computer database. 
     As used herein the terms “key” or “database key” refers to information that identifies a particular record in a computer database. The key is generally one or more fields in the database record that uniquely identify that database record. A database key does not have to be unique but may be matched in several database records also. 
     Embodiment 1 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the invention. A form document  101  is transmitted by a facsimile device  105  over communication lines  110  to computer  115  that is capable of receiving a facsimile transmission. Form document  101  may contain textual information, graphical information, or other types of information. Facsimile device  105  may be a dedicated facsimile machine, or a computer having the capability of sending facsimile transmissions or some other device capable of sending facsimile transmissions. Communication lines  110  may be telephone lines, the Internet, a local or wide area network or any type of telecommunications link. 
     Computer  115  extracts the textual information, graphical information or other type of information from the facsimile transmission and converts the information into a predetermined digital information format, such as ASCII text, a graphics format such as BMP, PIC, GIF, JPEG, PNG, or other graphics format. Computer  115  performs the conversion by using tools such as Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software and form reading software. The facsimile transmission may contain information that is converted into text such as ASCII text. Further, the facsimile transmission may contain portions that are converted into a graphics format such as BMP, PIC, GIF, JPG, PNG, or any other computer graphics format. The converted information is then stored in the computer file system  120  in separate files or in a single file. 
     A Web client  150  transmits a request to the Web server  125  for the Web document that contains the converted information extracted from the facsimile transmission of form document  101 . The request is transmitted over the network  130  to the Web server  125 . The Network  130  may be the Internet, a company intranet, a local area network, or a wide area network. Upon receiving the request from Web client  150 , the Web server  125  retrieves the converted information from the computer file system  120  and transmits it to the Web client  150 . If the information is not already formatted in the format requested by the Web client  150 , such as HTML format, then the Web server  125  formats the converted information appropriately to a suitable format and transmits it to the Web client  150 . 
     Embodiment 2 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b  are flow diagrams showing the steps of operation according to the invention. A form document  201  is transmitted by a facsimile device  205  over communication lines  210  to computer  215  that is capable of receiving a facsimile transmission, as shown in box  255  in FIG. 3 a . The form document  201  contains textual information, graphical information or some other type of information. The computer  215  receives the transmission, as shown in box  258  in FIG. 3 a . Facsimile device  205  may be a dedicated facsimile machine, a computer having the capability of sending facsimile transmissions or some other device capable of sending facsimile transmissions. Communication lines  210  may be telephone lines, the Internet, a local or wide area network or any type of telecommunications link. 
     As shown in box  260  of FIG. 3 a , Computer  215 , through the use of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software and form reading software, extracts the information from the facsimile transmission and converts it into a predetermined digital information format such as ASCII text, or a graphics format such as BMP, PIC, GIF, JPEG, PNG or some other graphics format. In addition the form document  201  may contain selection information that must be indicated by marking a particular choice. The digital information is stored in a computer database  220 . The facsimile transmission may contain identifying information that is used to identify the record of the computer database  220  in which to save the information, as shown in box  263  of FIG. 3 a . The identifying information is converted and the related information is stored according to the parameters of the computer database and the identify ing information being used as a database key. 
     A Web client  250  transmits a request to the Web server  225  requesting a Web document containing the digital information that was saved in the computer database  220 , as shown in box  265  of FIG. 3 b . The request is transmitted over the network  230  to the Web server  225 . The Network  230  may be the Internet, a company intranet, a local area network, or a wide area network. Upon receiving the request from Web client  250 , the Web server  225  retrieves the information from the computer database  220 , as shown in box  268  of FIG. 3 b . After retrieving the information from the computer database  250 , the Web server  225  formats the information into the format requested by the Web client  250 , as shown in box  270  of FIG. 3 b . The Web server  225  then transmits the formatted information to the Web client  250  over the network  230 , as shown in box  273  of FIG. 3 b.    
     Embodiment 3 
     The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4,  5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c ,  5   d ,  5   e  and  5   f  enables owners of a restaurant  301  to maintain a presence on the World Wide Web  305  for the restaurant  301  with up to date accurate information without having to hire a Web Master or personnel knowledgeable in creating and HTML documents. A web host  308  maintains a Web server  310  that is connected to the World Wide Web  305  and accepts requests from a Web client  306 . Implementation of the restaurant Web host  308  enables the restaurant  301  to update the information maintained by the Web host  308  and make the information available almost instantaneously on the World Wide Web  305 . 
     The Web host  308  is capable of maintaining information for multiple restaurants. The web site, transmitted to a Web client  306 , may allow a user of a Web client  306  to search for restaurants based upon predetermined search parameters. A user of a Web client  306  would then be able to view the specific information about each restaurant that met the search parameters. 
     In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the Web host  308  has a URL of www.menuhost.com and is referred to as MenuHost.Com. The URL is not limited to www.menuhost.com and may be any domain name or IP address that enables a Web Client  306  to access the Web server  310 . 
     A restaurant  310  requests registration forms such as forms  510 ,  515  and  520  shown in to FIGS. 5 a ,  5   b , and  5   c  from MenuHost.Com  308 . The forms are of the type that is commonly used in many fields. Ovals are used to select a category and blocks are used for the entry of alphanumeric information. A darkened oval indicates selection while an undarkened oval indicates nonselection. While the specific forms and information are specific to the embodiment according to the invention, the structure and standard entry mechanisms used to indicate information are conventional. 
     Forms  510 ,  515  and  520  are used when an account for a restaurant has not been created by MenuHost.Com. Once an account has been created then forms  530 ,  535  and  540  which contain the account id  524  for the respective restaurant are used to update information about the restaurant. MenuHost.Com  308  delivers the registration forms  510 ,  515  and  520  to the restaurant  310  by facsimile or by other means such as hand delivery or by the postal service. Restaurant  310  marks the forms  510 ,  515  and  520  with the requested information. Restaurant  310  then transmits the prepared forms  510 ,  515  and  520  by facsimile to MenuHost.Com  308 . The facsimile transmission is received by computer system  320 . Computer system  320  is capable of receiving a facsimile transition. Computer system  320  identifies the type of form, extracts the textual, graphical, and choice selection information from the facsimile transmission and converts the information into a predetermined digital format capable of being manipulated by a digital computer such as ASCII for the textual information, a graphics format such as GIF, JPEG, PNG, PIC, BMP or some other graphics format for the graphical information, and a boolean indicator, enumerated type or the like for the choice selection information. Computer system  320  may use optical character recognition (OCR) algorithms or specialized OCR and form software to perform the extraction and conversion of the textual, graphical or choice selection information. 
     The TELEFORM (TRADEMARK) software product is an example of computer software that is capable of receiving a form that has been transmitted by facsimile and extracting and converting the information contained therein for storage in a computer database. Other software products and tools exist that perform generally the same function and may also be used. The technology used by the TELEFORM (TRADEMARK) software is known in the art. The forms to be transmitted are created using the TELEFORM (TRADEMARK) software. TELEFORM (TRADEMARK) maintains a database concerning the forms created. When a form is received it contains information that identifies the form. TELEFORM (TRADEMARK) maintains a separate database that identifies created forms. TELEFORM (TRADEMARK) is then able to identify the information contained on the form received from restaurant  301  and store the specific textual, graphical or choice selection information in a specified computer database  325 , keyed on a specific field such as the restaurant name or PIN number issued by MenuHost.Com. 
     In the present embodiment, TELEFORM is able to identify forms  510 ,  515 ,  520 ,  530 ,  535  or  540  by bar codes  512 ,  517 ,  522 ,  524 ,  521 , and  526  respectively. The forms are generally described to the form conversion software prior to accepting forms for conversion. This enables the form conversion software such as TELEFORM (TRADEMARK) to maintain very specific information about each form and thereby enable the form conversion software to maintain accuracy in the conversion process. 
     After identifying the forms, TELEFORM (TRADEMARK) is then able to determine that information obtained from the characters in blocks  531  within group  536  indicate the name of the restaurant and should be stored in the computer database  325  as the restaurant name field for the database record for the identified restaurant. Similarly, TELEFORM (TRADEMARK) is able to determine that the information within group  537  represents the Business Days and Hours of operation for the restaurant identified by blocks  531 . The extracted textual, graphical and choice selection information is stored as fields of the record in the computer database  325  created for the identified restaurant. TELEFORM (TRADEMARK) can also determine the information indicated in the other blocks and selections for storing in the computer database  325 . 
     To change the current state of information maintained by MenuHost.Com  308 , restaurant  301  may transmit a set of forms  530 ,  535 , and  540  with the new information. The Identification number  532  and identification bar code  533  identify the restaurant. The information is extracted and converted. The computer database  325  is then updated with new information and the old unchanged information is left in place. 
     Form  535  in FIG. 5 e  is similar to form  515  in FIG. 5 b , except form  535  is used to update the digital information in a computer database  325 . Form  535  has a barcode  533  and id number  532  that uniquely identifies a restaurant. Therefore the information indicated and marked on form  535  will be used to update the computer database record for the restaurant associated with the account bar code  533  and id number  532 . 
     Form  540  in FIG. 5 f  is similar to form  520  in FIG. 5 c , except form  540  is used to update the digital information in a computer database  325 . Form  540  has a barcode  533  and id number  532  that uniquely identifies a restaurant. Block  770  is used to include a graphic or any other type of information that the restaurant wants to make available to the Web. The information placed in the block  770  of form  540  in FIG. 5 f  will appear on the Web as it appears within the block. Therefore the information inside block  770  will be used to update the computer database record for the restaurant associated with the account bar code  533  and id number  532 . 
     Because the restaurant information is stored in the computer database  325  as textual, graphical and choice selection information, the Web server  310  may access the information to perform searches in response to requests or selections made by a Web client  306 . The information may then be formatted in conformance with requests made by Web client  306  and transmitted to a Web client  306 . For example the information may be formatted into an HTML document and transmitted using the HTTP communications protocol to a Web client  306 . 
     Embodiment 4 
     Another embodiment according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 6 a - 6   e . This embodiment may be used independently or as an improvement to Embodiment 3. Restaurants oftentimes have daily specials, sometimes referred to as “Today&#39;s Special”, “Kid&#39;s Special” or “Special Events”, which consist of one or more items available at a reduced or special price. Informing the public of which items comprise the specials is critical to the success of a restaurant&#39;s promotional program. 
     This embodiment enables a restaurant to make its specials available on the Web almost instantaneously by transmitting via facsimile to MenuHost.Com its special menu and an identity indicator. 
     FIG. 6 a  shows a form  550  defined by comer borders  573 . The corner borders  573  enable recognition software such as TELEFORM to determine the outer boundaries of the form received via facsimile transmission. A restaurant, as described in embodiment 3, prepares the form  550  to include the restaurant&#39;s representation of the special menu. The information contained in box  565  will be converted into a graphics file format. Therefore, the restaurant has control of the visual representation that will be made available on the Web. Selection circle  557  indicates that the information contained in box  565  is for a “Today&#39;s Special”. 
     Selection circle  560  enables a restaurant to also make available on the Web a “Kid&#39;s Special” menu. The darkening of selection circle  560  instead of selection circle  557  indicates to the recognition software that the information contained in box  565  should be stored under the Kids Special field of the computer database in the record with a database key identified by bar code  555 . Bar code  555  identifies the particular restaurant transmitting the form  550  and is converted into a value that is used as a computer database key. 
     Similarly, selection circle  563  enables a restaurant to make “Special Events” information available on the Web. The darkening of selection circle  563  indicates to the recognition software that the information contained in box  565  should be stored under the Special Events field of the computer database in the database record with a database key identified by bar code  555 . 
     Identification number  553  is used by the recognition software to identify the particular form that is being received and converted. Using comer borders  573  and identification number  553 , the recognition software is able to determine where the predetermined areas of information on the form are located and which fields of a particular computer database record to which those areas of information are associated. 
     Form  550  in FIG. 6 a  has alphanumeric characters  567  which may represent the name of the restaurant and alphanumeric characters  570  which may represent the telephone number of the restaurant transmitting form  550  to MenuHost.Com. These representations enable human identification of the intended restaurant for the form and may be secondary computer database keys if the primary database key indicator bar code  555  is not legible. The computer database would be able to find the appropriate computer database record by searching on restaurant name or telephone number. 
     FIG. 6 b  shows a form that is similar to form  550  in FIG. 6 a . Selection oval  772  is darkened to indicate that the information in box  773  contains the “Kid&#39;s Special” for the restaurant identified by bar code  774 . The information in box  773  will be converted into a graphic and stored in a computer database as the Kids Special for the restaurant identified by bar code  774 . FIG. 6 c  shows a representation of a web page that would be transmitted to a web client requesting information about the Kids Special for the restaurant. The graphic  775  is a representation of the image placed by the restaurant in box  773  of form  771 . 
     FIG. 6 d  shows a form  779  that is similar to form  550  in FIG. 6 a . Selection oval  776  is darkened to indicate that the information in box  777  contains the “Special Events” for the restaurant identified by bar code  774 . The information in box  773  will be converted into a graphic and stored in a computer database as the Special Events for the restaurant identified by bar code  774 . FIG. 6 e  shows a representation of a web page that would be transmitted to a web client requesting information about the Special Events for the restaurant. The graphic  778  is a representation of the image placed by the restaurant in box  777  of form  779 . 
     Embodiment 5 
     Another embodiment according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 7 a - 7   e . This embodiment may be used independently or as an improvement to Embodiment 2 or Embodiment 4. Restaurants may want to offer the public incentives for dining. Oftentimes such incentives take on the form of coupons. A customer tenders the coupon to the restaurant and receives the value printed thereon. The main concern of the restaurant is getting the coupon into the hands of potential customers. 
     This embodiment enables a restaurant to make discount coupons available on the Web almost instantaneously by transmitting via facsimile to MenuHost.Com a description of the coupon incentive being offered and allow MenuHost.Com to make the coupon available on the Web. In addition, the coupon could be transmitted over the Web in such a format for printing onto paper. 
     FIG. 7 a  shows a form  600  defined by corner borders  603 . The comer borders  603  enable recognition software such as TELEFORM to determine the outer boundaries of the form received via the facsimile transmission from the restaurant to MenuHost.Com. A restaurant, such as that described in embodiment 3, prepares the form  600  for transmitting to a Web host such as MenuHost.Com. The restaurant has control of the coupon parameters that will be made available to the public and can create or change coupons available on the Web using the simplicity of a facsimile machine. 
     Form  600  enables a restaurant to choose from coupon selections  630 ,  633 ,  635 , and  637  by darkening the selection circle  636  associated with the chosen coupon selection. Except for coupon selection  633 , the coupon selections have parameters which are customizable by the restaurant. Box  620  of form  600  indicates the general appearance of the coupon. Because forms are specific to the restaurant with identifying indicia such as bar code  605  and name  640 , the name and location information about the restaurant may also be placed on the coupon form that is used by the restaurants to submit their discount coupon directives to a Web host like MenuHost.Com described previously. 
     Coupon selection  630  enables a restaurant to offer a discount coupon for a percentage or specific dollar amount off the cost of either lunch, dinner, or any one menu item. If coupon selection  630  is chosen the restaurant must also choose between lunch, dinner or any one item by selecting the appropriate selection circle  614  in box  613 . In box  615  the discount numerical amount must also be provided in numeral edit boxes  616 . The appropriate selection circle  617  must then be darkened to indicate the appropriate unit of measurement for the discount numerical amount in edit boxes  616 . 
     Coupon selection  633  enables a restaurant to make available a coupon in which the patron can receive a complimentary menu item when a second menu item of equal or greater value is purchased. To offer this type of coupon the restaurant must darken the selection circle  636  associated with coupon selection  633 . 
     Coupon selection  635  enables a restaurant to offer a coupon that invites the patron and a guest to enjoy one lunch or dinner entree with a certain amount either percentage or dollar amount off the regular price. Coupon selection  635  also enables the restaurant to set a maximum discount amount by indicating in numeral edit boxes  616  the maximum amount and the unit of measurement in selection circles  617 . The discount is entered in numeral edit boxes  611  with the unit of measurement, percent or dollars, indicated by selection circles  612 . 
     Coupon selection  637  enables a restaurant to offer a coupon enabling a patron to buy one menu item and get the second choice free or for half off the listed price. The selection of free or half off is made by darkening the appropriate selection circle  624  in box  623 . 
     Generally, coupons have an expiration date after which a restaurant will not honor the discount printed thereon. Form  600  enables a restaurant to choose the expiration date and indicate the chosen date on the discount coupon by entering the month in numeral edit boxes  626  and the day in numeral edit boxes  627  in form box  625 . If no date is entered then no expiration date will appear on the coupon made available on the Web. 
     A restaurant may wish to disclaim a coupon that is other wise valid during peak times such as holidays or weekends. Form box  628  enables a restaurant to have indicated on the coupon that the discount offer is not valid on holidays and/or weekends by darkening the appropriate selection circles  629 . 
     Generally coupons are made available to the public for a certain period of time after which an analysis of the effectiveness of the offer is made. The restaurant can indicate in box  606  of form  600  the period of time in which to make the coupon available on the Web. After the expiration of the indicated period the coupon is no longer made available on the Web by MenuHost.Com. Form box  606  has numerical edit boxes for providing a post from date and a post to date. The month and day to begin making the discount coupon available on the Web is entered in numerical edit boxes  607  and  608  respectively. The month and day to stop making the discount coupon available is entered into numerical edit boxes  609  and  611  respectively. These values are extracted and converted by the recognition software and stored in the computer database record associated with the restaurant identified by bar code  605 . 
     Form  600  in FIG. 7 a  has alphanumeric characters  645  which may represent the name of the restaurant and alphanumeric characters  643  which may represent the telephone number of the restaurant transmitting form  600  to MenuHost.Com. These representations enable human identification of the intended restaurant for the form and may be secondary computer database keys if the primary database key indicator bar code  605  is not legible. The computer database would be able to find the appropriate computer database record by searching on restaurant name or telephone number. 
     FIG. 7 b  shows another a form  780  similar to form  600  in FIG. 7 a . Form  780  has replaced form boxes  606 ,  610 ,  615 , and  625  with form blocks  781 ,  782 ,  783 ,  784  and  785 . Form  780  uses oval selections to enable the restaurant to enter information instead of using edit blocks. Oval or circular selections or preferable to edit blocks. Edit blocks requires the restaurant to mark a alphanumeric character in the block the computer software must then convert this information into its digital representation usually ASCII. The accuracy of the conversion depends largely on the legibility of the alphanumeric character. If the person marking the edit box does not form the characters fully and carefully, the accuracy of the conversion degrades. Whereas when using an oval or circular selection the conversion software or device recognizes two choices darkened or not darkened. The TELEFORM or other software has information indicating what each available oval or circular selection represents on the form. Thus, if an oval is darkened then the software knows exactly what information was selected. In addition using oval or circular selections instead of edit blocks ensures that the data received will be formatted correctly. The restaurant identifies the specific information but leaves the format up to the software. For example, choosing a date as shown in form block  785  lets the computer determine what format to store the date, either numerical with month, date, year (mm/dd/yy) or (mm/dd/yyyy). 
     Form block  781  represents the percentage discount that will be had if the coupon is tendered by a consumer. There are two columns,  786  and  787 . Column  787  represents the ones place for the percentage and column  787  represents the tens place for the percentage. Form block  781  allows for the range of 0-99. FIG. 7 c  shows form block  789  of form  790  with circular selections  791 ,  792 , and  793  darkened. The position of circular selection  793  indicates that the numeric value indicated by selection circles  791  and  792  is a percentage.  791  represents a zero (0) for the ones place and  792  represents a two (2) for the tens place. Thus indicating a percentage of twenty (20) percent. Had the user been forced to write numerical value there would exist a greater opportunity to introduce errors into the process. The numerical value could be interpreted as a different value and end with dissatisfied customers who were unable to redeem coupons for higher values than what the restaurant had intended. 
     Form box  794  is to indicate a percentage or dollar amount. Lines  795  and  796  associate form block  794  with coupon selection choice  797  and  799 . The coupon selection choices  797 ,  798 ,  799 , and  800  are mutually exclusive. Therefore, one form entry block may be used for multiple coupon selection choices. 
     Form block  801  and  802  as marked indicate that the coupon should be made available on the Web from June 22 until July 14. Similarly, form block  803  as marked indicates the date until which the coupon will be valid. 
     FIG. 7 d  shows the coupon  805  displayed by a web client upon requesting from the web server or menuhost.com. The coupon  805  corresponds to the information indicated in form  790  in FIG. 7 c.    
     Embodiment 6 
     Another embodiment according to the invention enables businesses to make discount coupons and advertisements instantaneously available on the World Wide Web using a facsimile machine. FIG. 8 shows an example of web page that has graphical boxes  710 - 715  that are assigned respectively to participating businesses. Using the technology as described herein, each participating businesses may transmit via facsimile machine its respective discount coupon information or advertisement information to the web host. The web host then extracts the discount coupon information or advertisement information and converts it into an appropriate digital format for transmitting to a requesting web client. The Web Page as shown in FIG. 8 would be transmitted as HTML using the HTTP communications protocol. 
     FIG. 9 shows a form  850  for marking information for a discount coupon tailored for use by a retail clothing store. Form block  851  enables the category for the coupon to be selected the choices indicated in form block  851  are not limiting but are only set forth as examples. Form block  852  enables a store owner to place a general description for the coupon that will be displayed on the Web. Item description form block  852  is preferable because there exists many more variables than in a restaurant as disclosed. Form block  853  shows the general layout of the coupon that will be made available for display on the Web. Form block  854  enables the store owner to indicate the value of the discount coupon using dollars or percentage as the unit of measurement. Form block  855  enables the store owner to indicate the range of dates between which the coupon will be valid. Form block  856  enables the store owner to indicate the range of dates between which the coupon should be made available on the Web. The information is received and identified by bar code  857  and stored according to store associated with bar code  857  and id number  858 . 
     Embodiment 7 
     Similarly, instead of discount coupons or advertisements for business the same technology and implementation can be used to make classified advertisements available on the World Wide Web. FIG. 10 shows a web page in which individual classified adds can be transmitted and displayed by a requesting web client using the technology described herein. Individuals transmit their classified information by facsimile to the web host computer. The web host computer then extracts the information from the facsimile transmission and converts it into the appropriate textual or graphical digital format, such as ASCII for text or GIF, JPEG, PNG, PIC, or BMP for graphics formats. A web client requesting to view classified ads is transmitted an HTML document using HTTP that when displayed may resemble that shown in FIG. 9 with the individual ads being displayed in ad boxes  750 - 755  respectively. 
     There has been described herein novel system and methods. It is evident that those skilled in the art may now make numerous uses and modifications of and departures from the specific embodiments described herein without departing from the inventive concepts. Consequently, the invention is to be construed as embracing each and every feature and novel combination of features and steps present or possessed by the system and methods herein disclosed and limited solely by the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Changes may be made in the various elements or assemblies or components or in the steps or in the sequence of steps described herein without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.