Facsimile data transmission over a low data rate network by one dimensional decoding and two dimensional re-encoding

A method for minimizing a data bottleneck in a Low Data Rate Network (LDRN), said LDRN having a first side and a second side, said data bottleneck including a quantity of bottlenecked data, said method comprising:

• sending, from a first FAX machine to said first side of said LDRN, a data stream encoded in an image data format;
• uncompressing said sent data stream, whereby said sent data stream is converted into a bit mapped image having image data;
• processing said bit mapped image such that said image data is reduced by an amount of data corresponding to a difference in a fax data rate and an LDRN data rate;
• image compressing said processed bit mapped image;
• transmitting said image compressed bit mapped image from said first side to said second side of said LDRN;
• second uncompressing said transmitted bit mapped image;
• reverse processing said second uncompressed bit mapped image, whereby said processing step is reversed to substantially recreate said data stream;
• re-encoding said substantially recreated data stream to said image data format;
• and
• second sending said re-encoded data stream from said second side of said LDRN to a second FAX machine.