Integrating E-mail and FAX

[Stefan Mochnacki]

We want to integrate our network with a FAX system. Specifically, we want
to:

(1) Scan documents with a scanner, load into a computer and send out as a
    FAX on the dial-up telephone system from one node on the network,

(2) Receive incoming FAXes on one node, then distribute them to
    recipients.

(3) Convert e-mail messages or other text files to FAX compatible format
    on any computer, then forward them to the FAX node for phone transmission.

(4) Print FAX files on laser printers (Postscript) and on conventional
    dot-matrix printers attached to IBM-compatible PC's.

It clearly would be ideal that no further human intervention would be
needed after a user has initiated a send, and that reception and
redirection be automatic.  However, I can see that a human operator
probably would be needed to look at a screen image of the cover page of
each FAX to initiate forwarding of received FAXes.

Has anyone seen such a setup or developed one ? We may be able to
integrate PC-based solutions using Sun 386i's or S-Bus cards on SS1's.
What about a system using a standard serial port ? Even a VME-based
system?

I will summarize if there is anything out there like this.

Stefan W. Mochnacki          INTERNET - stefan at centaur.astro.utoronto.ca
Astronomy, U. of Toronto     UUCP - {uunet,pyramid}!utai!helios.physics!stefan
Ph. (416) 884-9562           BITNET - mochnacki at utorphys.bitnet