US 2006/0232827 A1 · FACSIMILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

A system and method for facilitating facsimile transmissions has one or more store and forward facilities, each associated with a plurality of subscriber facsimile machines, typically coupled over the switched telephone network. The store and forward facsimiles include a computer for controlling operations and mass data storage equipment. A subscriber to the system delivers an outgoing facsimile message to the store and forward facility with which it is associated, which records the fax message together with data as to originating facsimile machine and destination facsimile machine. The store and forward facility then delivers the facsimile message to the intended receiver facsimile machine, either directly or through another store and forward facility. If unsuccessful on an initial attempt, the store and forward facility periodically retrys to send the facsimile message. The system also provides spooling of all facsimile messages for an intended receiver machine, which are all transmitted upon making connection with the receiver machine. Subscriber mailboxes are provided as part of the mass storage, which can be accessed by a subscriber to have his messages delivered to any facsimile machine he designates. Secure facsimile transmission is achieved through use of subscriber PIN numbers. Broadcasting, redirecting messages and cost accounting can also be achieved by the system and method.

Claims23

Dependent claims

One or more computer readable media storing instructions that upon execution by a computer cause the computer to deliver a facsimile image by performing the steps comprising of:

a) associating each telephone number of a first plurality of telephone numbers on a switched telephone network with an intended recipient of a first plurality of intended facsimile recipients;
b) receiving a telephone call directed to one of the telephone numbers of the first plurality of telephone numbers as a result of a sender dialing one of the telephone numbers;
c) answering the received telephone call and interacting using facsimile protocol with an originating fax machine on the other end of the call;
d) during the call, receiving from the originating fax device a fax message, using facsimile protocol;
and
e) directing the fax message to one of the destinations selected from the group consisting of (i) an electronic mailbox defined in a computer storage and associated prior to the receipt of the call with a particular recipient and with the particular one of the plurality of telephone numbers and (ii) a fax receiving device.

3 more elements

One or more computer readable media storing instructions that upon execution by a computer cause the computer to operate as a facsimile store and forward facsimile accessible through a switched telephone network by performing the steps comprising:

a) assigning to each system subscriber of a plurality of system subscribers a destination telephone number, wherein the dialing of the destination telephone number of each system subscriber results in the related telephone call being switched by a switched telephone network to the store and forward facility;
b) receiving over time at the store and forward facility a plurality of telephone calls, each call of said plurality of telephone calls being switched to the store and forward facility by the switched telephone network as result of a sender dialing one of the destination telephone numbers, whereby each such received call results in an originating telephone call connection being made;
c) receiving during the originating telephone call connections, at the facsimile store and forward facility, facsimile messages from transmitting facsimile machines;
d) storing the facility messages at the facsimile store and forward facility;
e) receiving at the facsimile store and forward facility a call from paperless facsimile device;
and
f) transmitting facsimile messages stored in the facsimile store and forward facility from the facsimile store and forward facility to the paperless facsimile device.

4 more elements

One or more computer readable media storing instructions that upon execution by a computer means within a store and forward facility having a mass storage means for storing facsimile messages and coupled to a switched telephone network for receiving facsimile messages from transmitting facsimile machines, wherein the stored instructions cause the computer means to control operation of the store and forward facility to facilitate facsimile communication between a transmitting facsimile machine and an intended receiving facsimile machine by performing the steps comprising of:

a) assigning to each system a subscriber of a plurality of system subscriber a destination telephone number, wherein the dialing of the destination telephone number of each system subscriber results in the related telephone call being switched by the switched telephone network to the at least one store and forward facility,
b) defining mailboxes in the mass storage means associated with particular system subscribers,
c) receiving over time at the store and forward facility a plurality of telephone calls, each call of said plurality of telephone calls being switched to the store and forward facility by the switched telephone network as a result of a sender dialing one of the destination telephone numbers, whereby each such received call results in an originating telephone call connection being made,
d) receiving during the originating telephone call connections, at the at least one store and forward facility, facsimile messages from transmitting facsimile machines,
e) recording the received messages in the mass storage means together with information indicating the respective transmitting facsimile machine and the respective intended receiving facsimile machine,
f) storing facsimile messaged intended for the particular system subscribers in their respective mailboxes, and
g) in response to instructions received from a system subscriber, transmitting via the switched telephone network facsimile messages stored in that subscriber's mailbox to a facsimile machine designated by that subscriber in the instructions.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facsimile telecommunications system and method

Life of this patent

Facsimile telecommunications system and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23