Abstract:
The present invention provides a method and system for generating a cover page for a fax job. The method comprises the steps of sending a fax job with cover page information to a DID for fax generation and transmittal. The fax job and cover page are suitably separated into two separate jobs prior to submission to the DID. The fax job is then preferably sent to the raster image processor of the DID before the cover page job so that when the cover page job is generated, the number of generated pages has already been determined. After bitmap images are created of both the fax job and cover page job, the fax job and cover page job are suitably swapped and combined into one job such that the cover page job bitmaps precede the fax job bitmaps. After combining the two jobs, the single fax job is suitably sent to a recipient.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention pertains generally to digital imaging devices, and more particularly to a method for generating a cover page for a facsimile transmission.  
           [0002]    Digital imaging devices (“DID”) are complex machines that often perform a plurality of functions. DIDs suitably include devices such as printers, fax machines, scanners, copiers, multi-functional peripherals (“MFPs”), and other like peripheral devices. In addition, DIDs are suitably connected to a network or directly to computer. When a user at a computer communicates with a DID, either directly or over a network, at DID device driver is accessed which is linked both to the computer operating system (“OS”) and the DID. Device drivers are pieces of software that enable computers to communicate with peripheral devices. In doing so, they are responsible for accessing hardware registers of the device. Device drivers often form part of the lowest level of an operating system (“OS”) kernel, with which they are linked when the kernel is built. OS also accept loadable device drivers that can be installed after the OS is running.  
           [0003]    In the case where the DID performs fax functions, the fax properties of the DID for a fax job are suitably set through a fax driver stored on a computer. These fax properties suitably include whether or not a cover sheet is generated by the fax driver and DID. In addition, if a cover sheet is to be generated, the fax properties suitably include the particular information to be included on the fax cover sheet. The various options for cover sheet information selection can cause the cover sheet for a fax to become two or more sheets, depending on the information on the cover sheet. Consequently, when a document is sent from a computer to a DID processing, the total number of pages of the document and cover sheet combination suitably varies. It would be preferable if the fax driver and DID were capable of determining the total number of pages of the document and cover sheet combination.  
           [0004]    Furthermore, when a fax job is generated from a software program (i.e. spreadsheet software, word processing software, text editors, etc.) on a computer (“PC fax) the software program does not necessarily calculate the number of pages to be printed. Consequently, the number of pages to be printed in the fax document may not be determined when a fax driver sends a fax to a DID for processing. Therefore, generating a fax cover sheet that includes a number representing the number of pages in the fax document to which the cover sheet corresponds is problematic. It would be preferable if the fax driver and DID were capable of generating the total number of pages of the fax document regardless of the software program from which the fax job originated. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is a flow chart representing the general process for faxing a document and a cover sheet according to the present invention;  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 is a flow chart representing the procedure for processing, organizing and preparing a single fax job from two received fax jobs, a first corresponding to a fax document and a second corresponding to a cover page;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 is a diagram representing a presently preferred embodiment of network system for faxing a document and a cover page according to the present invention;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 4A is an example of a screen associated with a fax driver for selecting fax properties for faxing a document; and  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4B is an example of a screen associated with a fax driver for selecting cover sheet information for faxing a cover sheet with a fax document. 
     
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for sending a facsimile transmission. The method suitably comprises sending a first fax job corresponding to a fax document to a fax controller and sending a second fax job corresponding to a fax cover sheet to the fax controller. The method further comprises receiving the first fax job and second fax job at the fax controller and then generating processed images of the first fax job and of the second fax job. The processed images are then suitably combined such that the processed images of the second fax job precede the processed images of the first fax job. After combining the processed images into a single fax job, the fax job is suitably sent to a recipient.  
         [0011]    Also in accordance with the present invention, there is preferably provided a system for generating a cover page for PC faxing in a network environment.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]    Turning now to FIG. 1, a flowchart generally depicting a process for faxing a document and a cover sheet in accordance with the present invention is provided. The general flow  100  commences at start block  102  and continues to process block  104 . At process block  104 , a user invokes a fax command to fax a fax document. Progression then flows to process block  106  where the user adds a cover sheet to the fax job. Flow continues to process block  108  where the fax job is submitted for faxing. Flow progresses to process block  110  where the fax job is separated into two fax jobs, a first fax job for the fax document and a second fax job for the cover sheet. Progression then continues to process block  112  where the first and second fax jobs are image processed. Flow then progresses to process block  114  where the image processed jobs are combined into a single fax job. Flow then continues to process block  116  where the single combined fax job is sent to a recipient, after which progression flows to termination block  118 .  
         [0013]    Turning now to FIG. 2, a flowchart is provided representing a procedure for processing, organizing and preparing in accordance with the present invention a single fax job from a first received fax job corresponding to a fax document a second received fax job corresponding to a cover page. The general flow of the combination process  200  commences at start block  202  and continues to process block  204 . At process block  204 , a first fax job corresponding to a fax document is received. Progression then flows to process block  206  where a second fax job corresponding to a cover sheet is received. Flow continues to process block  208  where the first fax job is image processed. Flow progresses to process block  210  where the second fax job is image processed. Progression then continues to process block  212  where the order of the first and second image processed jobs is swapped. Flow then progresses to process block  214  where the image processed jobs are combined into a single fax job, after which progression flows to termination block  216 .  
         [0014]    Turning now to FIG. 3, a system diagram illustrating a DID in a network environment for faxing a document and cover page in accordance with the present invention is provided. The network  300  is illustrative of a LAN or WAN environment in which a preferred embodiment is provided. Connected to a network  300  are a computer  302  and a DID  312 . The network  300  is suitably any network and is suitably comprised of physical and transport layers such as illustrated by a myriad of conventional data transport mechanisms such Ethernet, Token-Ring™, 802.11(b), or other wire-based or wireless data communication mechanisms as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. The DID  312  is in data communication with a data transport system  300  through a network interface  314 . The data transport system  300  is also placed in data communication with the computer  302  through network interface  306 . Thus, a data path between DID  312  is in shared data communication with computer  302 . It should be noted that while the preferred embodiment of the present invention is a network system having a computer and a DID, the present invention includes systems having a DID and computer connected directly to one another through a port such as a parallel port, serial port, USB port, or any other data transport mechanism as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0015]    The computer  302  is suitably any type of computer, but is preferably a PC running an on a Windows, Unix, Macintosh, or Linux based operating system. The computer  302  is suitably a thin client or a thick client. The computer  302  is preferably equipped with a software program  304 , a fax driver  308 , and a network interface  306 . In addition, the computer  302  suitably comprises an address book  310  stored on internal storage or is data communication with a server, DID, or computer upon which an address book  310  is stored. For embodiments where the computer  302  is a thin client, any or all of the software program, fax driver, and address book are suitably stored on a server, the DID, or other device connected to the network transport  300 .  
         [0016]    The DID  312  is suitably any device which is capable of processing images for faxing as will be appreciated to one of ordinary skill in the art. Preferably, the DID  312  is a network MFP, or an MFP connected to a computer, although walk-up fax machines, copiers, and MFP&#39;s that lack PC fax functionality are contemplated in the present invention. The DID  312  suitably comprises a network interface  314 , fax engine  316 , and controller  318 . The controller  318  suitably comprises an image processing module  320 , which is preferably a raster image processor (“RIP”). The controller  318  also suitably comprises a fax module  324  and storage  322 , which is suitably a hard disk or random access memory (“RAM”). The controller  318  preferably acts as a fully functional server with the necessary hardware and software that ensure proper operation of the DID  312  as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art.  
         [0017]    In the presently preferred embodiment, a user invokes a fax command from a software program  304  on a computer  302  to initiate the faxing procedure. The user is suitably a client, network administrator, developer or any person with access to the DID  312 . In addition, the initiation of document faxing procedures is suitably enabled by an automated process or software program, such as maintenance or automation software. It should be understood that the software program  304  is not limited to any particular application of type of application. The software program is suitably any type of program, including office suite software, text editors, or even the operating system itself, e.g. printing from a DOS environment.  
         [0018]    In a presently preferred embodiment, a user invokes a fax command by selecting a “fax” command from a menu of command options. When a fax command is executed, the current file, screen becomes the fax document. Optionally, a user suitably invokes a fax command via a keyboard, such as may be required in a text-based user interface, or by executing a “hotkey,” or via a mouse or other user input device, as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art. When a fax command is executed from a software program  304 , the fax driver  308  is accessed. The fax driver  308  causes a fax properties window of the type shown in FIG. 4A to open. While the presently preferred embodiment employs a properties selection window or box, it is within the scope of this invention for a fax properties selection mechanism to be of any form as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.  
         [0019]    In a preferred embodiment, the fax driver  308  activates a fax properties window  400 . Furthermore, the properties window  400  preferably has a plurality of tabs  402  for selecting groups of properties. Preferably, upon selecting one of the tabs  402  a recipient for the fax is suitably selected from an address book. Other properties, such as resolution, paper size, department code, paper orientation, and fax scheduling are also suitably selected as is shown in FIG. 4A. The address book is suitably a local address book  310  on the computer  302 , or any address book accessible by the computer  302  over data transport network  300 .  
         [0020]    In addition, upon selecting another one of the tabs  402 , information for a cover sheet to be included with the fax document is suitably selected. As shown in FIG. 4B, such information suitably comprises the type of cover sheet, the subject, a message, sender information, reference information, or recipient information, which suitably comprises recipient name, company, department name, or fax number. While there is no selectable property shown in FIGS.  4 A and  4 B for a number of pages, the fax cover sheet preferably lists the number of pages included in the fax document.  
         [0021]    After the fax properties are selected, the fax driver  308  suitably prepares the fax document and cover sheet for faxing. Preferably, the fax driver  308  creates two fax jobs, a first fax job for the fax document and a second fax job for the fax cover sheet. The fax driver  308  suitably sends the first fax job and then the second fax job to the DID  312  through network interface  306 , across data transport network  300 , through network interface  314  and to the controller  318 . The fax driver  308  preferably transmits the first and second fax jobs in non-bitmap image form.  
         [0022]    After receipt of the non-bitmap image fax jobs, the image processor  320  of the controller  318  processes the fax jobs to convert them to image files as will be apparent to one skilled in the art. In the presently preferred embodiment, the image processor  320  is a raster image processor. The fax document job is preferably image processed before the fax cover page job. The controller  318  then preferably determines the number of pages in the fax document job after the image processor  320  processes the job. Upon determining the number of pages, the controller  318  preferably inserts a reference to the number of pages of the fax document into the non-bitmap image form fax cover sheet job before the fax cover sheet job is image processed. The image processor  320  then processes the fax cover page.  
         [0023]    After both the fax document and fax cover page jobs are image processed by the image processor  320 , the controller  318  preferably combines the processed jobs. The processed jobs are preferably combined such that the second job, the fax cover page, maintains its internal order but precedes the first job, the fax document. For example, if a ten page fax document is sent with a two page cover sheet, the two page cover sheet is essentially added to the front of the ten page fax document to form a single twelve page fax job.  
         [0024]    After combining the two image processed jobs into a single image processed fax job, the controller preferably sends the fax job to storage  322  pending scheduling and fax device availability. The storage  322  is preferably a fax queue. The controller suitably enqueues and dequeues image processed fax jobs through scheduling as will be appreciated by one who is skilled in the art.  
         [0025]    A dequeued fax job is suitably sent by the controller fax module  324  to the fax engine  316 , where the image processed fax job is suitably transmitted to a recipient.  
         [0026]    Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It will be appreciated that various changes in the details, materials and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the area within the principle and scope of the invention as will be expressed in the appended claims.