Patent attributes
There is provided a method and system for initiating an information transmission, such as with faxing, e-mail, data streaming, or the like from a personal computer on a network having at least one networked multifunction machine. The method comprises the steps of invoking a fax command from a software program on a personal computer and then viewing a list of machines residing on the network which contain local address book information. Upon viewing the list, a machine is selected from the list and a search is conducted through the personal computer for a local copy of the selected machine's address book information. If no local copy exists, a local copy of the selected machine's address book information is created on the personal computer. The local copy of the selected machine's address book is then used to retrieve address book information for selecting a recipient of an information transmission.