Standalone telephone answering machine with store and forward facsimile

Abstract

A store and forward facsimile function is incorporated into a standalone telephone answering machine. The facsimile function automatically interfaces with all PC facsimile application software to retrieve data representing fixed graphic material, the facsimile messages, stored in the memory of the telephone answering machine. Flash memory storage of the telephone answering machine is used to store the received facsimile messages. A facsimile LED on the unit blinks to indicate the number of facsimile messages that are stored in memory. A FAX upload button on the machine initiates uploading of the stored facsimile messages to the user's PC through a DTE/DCE interface. The processor in the telephone answering machine sends a simulated ring signal to the facsimile application software in the PC to activate it into uploading the facsimile messages stored in memory, according to FAX CLASS 2 protocol. When the telephone answering machine is in standalone mode, incoming facsimile messages will be stored in the memory of the telephone answering machine. The modem used in the standalone telephone answering machine switches from idle to voice active mode or facsimile active mode in response to hardware flow control signals on the DTE/DCE interface and a received facsimile calling tone.