Computer implemented method and apparatus for receiving facsimile messages using an indentifier appended to a shared telephone number

Abstract

Integration of telecommunication message services and other communication services is achieved by notifying a first user of a shared telephone number of a received message (e.g., a facsimile message) by sending a notification message to the first user, e.g., using e-mail, voice and/or data communications. The user may be identified by a unique identifier appended to the shared telephone number. The notification message may comprise an attachment which includes the received message, or the notification message may comprise a computer network address of a location where the received message may be accessed. For the latter case, the computer network address is preferably a universal resource locator (URL) associated with a web page at which the received message may be accessed. The received message may be accessed by allowing the user to view the message, or it may be accessed by allowing an user to down-load the message in any of a number of forms. For example, the message may be down-loaded to hard copy output device, e.g., a receiving facsimile machine or printer, or it may be down-loaded to a storage medium for later retrieval by the user. In still further embodiments, the notification message may comprise the received message itself, e.g., where the received message is relatively small.