Method and system for facsimile delivery using dial-up modem pools
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorDoug Rollins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for communicating a facsimile (fax) message over a computer network. A user initiates the sending of the fax to a recipient fax transceiver located outside the user's local-toll area of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). A first fax transceiver transmits the fax to a first server, wherein the first fax transceiver and the first server both are located in the same local-toll area. The first server then transmits the fax via the Internet to a second server, which is located in the same local-toll area as the recipient fax transceiver. The second server, having an inbound, dial-up access modem pool, is configured to process and transmit the fax via the local PSTN to the recipient fax transceiver.
Claims41
A method of communicating a fax message via a computer network, the method comprising:
- receiving the fax message by a server having at least one dial-up modem;
- determining availability of the dial-up modem;
- and
- sending the fax message via the dial-up modem to a receiver.
A system for communicating a fax message via a computer network, the system comprising:
- means for receiving the fax message, wherein the receiving means is in communication with at least one dial-up modem;
- means for determining availability of the dial-up modem;
- and
- means for sending the fax message via the dial-up modem to a receiver.
A program storage device storing instructions that when executed by a computer performs the method comprising:
- receiving the fax message by a server having at least one dial-up modem;
- determining availability of the dial-up modem;
- and
- sending the fax message via the dial-up modem to a receiver.
A method of communicating a fax message via a computer network, the method comprising:
- transmitting a fax from a first fax transceiver to a first server;
- forwarding of the fax by the first server, via a computer network, to a second server having a plurality of dial-up modems;
- receiving and storing the fax at the second server;
- determining availability of each of the dial-up modems;
- queuing transmission of the fax for a period of time, and determining availability of each of the dial-up modems upon expiration of the time period, if none of the dial-up modems is available;
- sending the fax via a selected one of the dial-up modems, determined to be available, to a second fax transceiver, wherein the second fax transceiver is physically located in the same local-toll area, of a public telephone network, as the second server.
A program storage device storing instructions that when executed by a computer performs the method of communicating a fax message via a computer network, the method comprising:
- transmitting a fax from a first fax transceiver to a first server;
- forwarding of the fax by the first server, via a computer network, to a second server having a plurality of dial-up modems;
- receiving and storing the fax at the second server;
- determining availability of each of the dial-up modems;
- queuing transmission of the fax for a period of time, and determining availability of each of the dial-up modems upon expiration of the time period, if none of the dial-up modems is available;
- sending the fax via a selected one of the dial-up modems, determined to be available, to a second fax transceiver, wherein the second fax transceiver is physically located in the same local-toll area, of a public telephone network, as the second server.
A system for communicating a fax message via a computer network, the system comprising:
- a server that is configured to receive the fax message, wherein the server is in communication with the computer network;
- at least one dial-up modem, in communication with the server, configured to send the fax message to a receiver;
- and
- a communication link for delivery of the fax message to the receiver.
A system for communicating a store-and-forward fax message via a computer network, the system comprising:
- a server that is configured to receive the fax message, wherein the server is in communication with the computer network;
- a plurality of dial-up modems, in communication with the server, configured to send the fax message to a receiver;
- a module executing in the server for processing the fax, wherein processing the fax comprises:
- storing the fax in a memory;
- determining the availability of the each dial-up modem in the plurality dial-up modems;
- queuing the fax for later delivery if none of the dial-up modems is available;
- and
- sending the fax message via one of the dial-up modems to a receiver;
- and
- a communication link for delivery of the fax message to the receiver.
A system for communicating a store-and-forward fax message via a computer network, the system comprising:
- means for receiving the fax message, wherein the receiving means is in communication with the computer network;
- means for processing the fax, wherein processing the fax comprises:
- storing the fax in a memory;
- determining the availability of at least one dial-up modem;
- queuing the fax for later delivery if the at least one dial-up modems is unavailable;
- and
- sending the fax message via the at least one dial-up modem;
- and
- means for delivering the fax message to a receiver;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.