The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 09, 1997
Filed:
Jul. 06, 1994
Franklin Fite, Jr, Bellevue, WA (US);
Kurt D DelBene, Bellevue, WA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for enhancing the capability of office machines, namely fax machines, includes coupling the office machine to a personal computer and enabling the office machine to access enhanced features supported in the personal computer. After identifying whether the personal computer is available and determining the capabilities it supports, the office machine can operate in an enhanced mode using the resources of the personal computer and can advertise its enhanced capabilities to other machines. The office machine still retains its ability to operate stand-alone mode if the personal computer is not available.