Facsimile front end router

A method of connecting a facsimile transmission device to a facsimile store-and-forward service device, comprising the following steps:

• storing a representation of a telephone number of a facsimile store-and-forward service device,
• storing representations of log-on and password information for authorizing access by a facsimile transmission device to said facsimile store-and-forward service device,
• maintaining receptivity to an off-hook condition signal received from said facsimile transmission device,
• providing to said facsimile transmission device, responsive to a detected said off-hook condition signal, a dial tone signal,
• thereafter maintaining receptivity to commencement of receipt of a first destination identifying signal from said facsimile transmission device,
• terminating said dial tone signal responsive to detected said commencement,
• thereafter collecting and storing a set of destination identifying signals including said first destination identifying signal,
• providing an off-hook signal on a telephone line,
• transmitting over said telephone line, responsive to a dial tone received on said telephone line, signals representing said stored store-and-forward service device telephone number,
• transmitting on said telephone line, responsive to signals indicating establishment of a connection on said telephone line to said store-and-forward service device and to signals received from said service device, signals representing said stored log-on and password information and said stored collected set of destination identifying signals,
• transmitting a fax mode invoke signal on said telephone line,
• enabling a communication path between said facsimile transmission device and said telephone line,
• maintaining receptivity to an on-hook signal from said facsimile transmission device,
• providing an on-hook signal on said telephone line responsive to a detected said on-hook signal.

A communications front-end router, comprising

• a keypad, two communication ports, signal receive and transmit circuitry, signal detection circuitry, signal generator, and signal storage, all interconnected for the transmission of information among them,
• said router being responsive to signals input through said keypad representing a telephone number of a store-and-forward service device to store a representation of said service device telephone number in said signal storage,
• said router being responsive to signals input through said keypad representing access authorization information to store a representation of said access authorization information in said signal storage,
• said router being responsive to an off-hook condition signal received at a first said communication port to provide at said first communication port a dial tone signal, and to provide at the second said communication port dialing signals representative of said stored service device telephone number,
• said router being responsive to receipt of a set of destination identifying signals at said first communication port to store a representation of said signals in said signal storage,
• said router being responsive to signals received at said second communication port indicating establishment of a connection to said store-and-forward service device to transmit at said second communication port signals representative of said stored access authorization information and of said stored set of destination identifying signals, and a data transfer mode invoke signal,
• said router being thereafter responsive to an on-hook signal received at said first communication port to provide an on-hook signal at said second communication port.

A facsimile front-end router, comprising

• a keypad, two communication ports, signal receive and transmit circuitry, signal detection circuitry, signal generator, and signal storage, all interconnected for the transmission of information among them,
• said router being responsive to signals input through said keypad representing access authorization information to store a representation of said access authorization information in said signal storage,
• said router being responsive to an off-hook condition signal received at a first said communication port to provide at said first communication port a dial tone signal, and to provide at the second said communication port signals requesting service from a facsimile store-and-forward service device,
• said router being responsive to receipt of a set of destination identifying signals at said first communication port to store a representation of said signals in said signal storage,
• said router being responsive to signals received at said second communication port indicating establishment of a connection to said store-and-forward service device to transmit at said second communication port signals representative of said stored access authorization information and of said stored set of destination identifying signals, and a fax mode invoke signal,
• said router being thereafter responsive to an on-hook signal received at said first communication port to provide an on-hook signal at said second communication port.