E-Mail/Fax In-Box Indicator

E-Mail/Fax In-Box Indicator

      Disclosed is a device for automatically receiving e-mail/Fax.
The subject device indicates arrivals of e-mail/Fax, and keeps
indicating the information after the computer is powered off.  With
this device, e-mail/Fax client system can be automated as the
following example:
  1.  The computer is powered on by a wake-up timer.  The computer
       needs to have a Power-On timer or Resume timer, and it is to
be
       powered on every day.
  2.  E-mail/Fax client program logs in its mail server.  The
Mail/Fax
       program needs to have the auto-pilot feature so that it can
dial
       (if necessary) and connect to the server, and then it logs in
       automatically.
  3.  The arrival count of Mail/Fax is displayed on the device.  The
       Mail/Fax program receives the new message (Mail/Fax) by
       auto-pilot, and indicates the count of the received messages
on
       the device.
  4.  The Mail/Fax program logs out, and the computer is powered off.
       After receiving the new messages, the Mail/Fax program logs
out
       from the mail server.  Then the computer is powered off.  The
       device is still indicating the arrival count.

The above process can be performed automatically in an unattended
environment.  The user can know the e-mail/Fax arrivals without
powering on the computer.

      In general, computers at home are not powered on for...