Patent ID: 6894811

Claim:
A method of creating a scanning capability from a facsimile machine to a computer, with scanned image digital data signals transmitted through a bi-directional connection via a passive link between the facsimile machine and the computer, comprising the steps of: by-passing or isolating the facsimile machine and the computer from the public network telephone line; coupling the facsimile machine to the computer; conditioning the computer to receive digital facsimile signals representing data on a scanned document; and conditioning the facsimile machine to transmit digital signals representing data on a scanned document to the computer, said computer being equipped with send/receive driver communications software enabling the reception of scanned image signals from the facsimile machine, said transmitted digital facsimile signals being received directly into the computer through the bi-directional direct connection via the passive link, thereafter, said computer processing the received digital facsimile signals of the scanned document as needed.