Patent ID: 7898675

Claim:
An apparatus for receiving facsimile data from a Class 2 or 3 facsimile machine and packaging said facsimile data for delivery to an intended recipient over a computer network, said apparatus comprising: a self contained facsimile data receiver which generates a dial tone for said facsimile machine, wherein said facsimile data receiver is adapted to be connected to said facsimile machine and receives from said facsimile machine said facsimile data and the telephone number of said intended recipient of said facsimile data; a delivery address device coupled to said facsimile data receiver for deriving delivery address information from said telephone number; an image data restore device coupled to said facsimile data receiver for restoring said facsimile data to native facsimile image data; an electronic mail agent coupled to said delivery address device and to said image data restore device for converting said delivery address information and said native facsimile image data to an electronic mail compatible format; and a transmission device coupled to said electronic mail agent for transmitting an electronic mail message carrying said native facsimile image data to said computer network for delivery to the intended recipient.