Facsimile service

In a switched communications network connectable to a plurality of facsimile sources and facsimile destinations, the network comprising storage, a method of transmitting facsimile image signals, comprising the steps of:

• in response to receiving from a communication source an identification of a communication destination, determining that the communication source is a source of facsimile image signals;
• in response to said determining, establishing a connection in the switched communications network from said source to said storage;
• responsive to establishing said connection, transmitting the image signals over the connection from the facsimile source to the storage;
• and
• transmitting the image signals over the network from the storage to the identified destination.

A communications network comprising:

• a first switch, comprising means for storing facsimile signals, for receiving and transmitting facsimile signals;
• a second switch for connection to a source of facsimile signals;
• the second switch controlled by a program for transmitting a destination indication and facsimile signals received from said source to said first switch in response to determining that the source is a source of facsimile signals and to receiving signaling information from the source representing said destination indication;
• the first switch storing the facsimile signals for subsequent transmission to a third switch connected to a destination for the facsimile signals, said destination specified by said destination indication.

In a public switched communications network connectable to a plurality of facsimile sources and facsimile destinations, the network comprising storage, a method of transmitting facsimile image signals comprising the steps of:

• dialing a number for identifying a facsimile destination, from a facsimile source into the network;
• determining that the source is a source of facsimile image signals;
• establishing a connection from the facsimile source to the storage;
• transmitting the image signals from the facsimile source to the storage;
• transmitting a number representing the destination to the storage;
• transmitting a number representing the source of the facsimile image signal to the storage;
• transmitting a first message to a switch connected to the destination, the message comprising a facsimile message received indication;
• responsive to reception of a second message from the switch connected to the destination, deferring transmission of the image signals from storage;
• responsive to reception of a third message from the switch connected to the destination, transmitting the image signals from storage to the facsimile destination;
• and
• transmitting a fourth message from the storage to the source, identified by the number representing the source, the fourth message comprising data confirming the transmitting to the destination.