Patent ID: 7489423

Claim:
A method of transferring digital image data signals between a computer equipped with send/receive driver communications software and a facsimile machine to cause said facsimile machine to operate as a printing device, comprising the steps of: (a) coupling the facsimile machine to the computer through a bi-directional direct connection via a passive link; (b) conditioning the facsimile machine to receive print image data from the computer; (c) conditioning the computer for initiating transmission of print image digital data to said facsimile machine of a document to be printed by said facsimile machine; (d) upon activating the send driver communications software of the computer the print image digital data from the computer is transferred without interruption through a receiving port of the facsimile machine, whereby the print image digital signals of the computer are processed by the facsimile machine into signals for printing.