US 5,517,556 AGranted

Call processing system with facsimile processing

AssigneeVMX, Inc.

InventorsGregory E. Pounds, David J. Ladd, Tim J. Kusumi, Robert H. Sinn, Eric K. Wood

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Abstract

An improved telephone call processing apparatus for processing facsimile messages. The facsimile processing apparatus comprises a message control system including a voice control unit (VCU), a control processor unit (CPU), and a telephone line card. Multiple buses including a high speed voice/data bus, a control bus, and a time division multiplexed (TDM) bus are used to couple the VCU, the CPU and the line card. The high speed data bus is dedicated for voice and data transmission only. The control bus is dedicated to command controls and system background tasks. The TDM bus is used to make full duplex voice connections between individual line card ports and facsimile message controller modem channels. The CPU manages the connections between line card ports and fax channels. The VCU comprises a high speed processor and a control processor. The VCU controls the transmission of voice and facsimile data over the high speed data bus to and from a non-volatile message storage unit, the line card, and a facsimile message controller (FMC). The cooperative processing of these components provides a highly integrated and versatile apparatus for processing both voice and facsimile messages in an integrated environment. Facsimile messages may be received, stored, forwarded, and sent from mailboxes. Status information pertaining to the facsimile messages is maintained and accessible to users via telephone line links.

A system for processing facsimile messages, said system comprising:

a telephone line interface coupled to a plurality of telephone lines, said telephone line interface is configured by said system for receiving either one of a voice message and a facsimile message or both said voice message and said facsimile message via one of said plurality of telephone lines;
a message storage device having a plurality of mailboxes residing therein, each mailbox of said plurality of mailboxes having a unique mailbox identifier;
and
a control circuit for storing an appropriate one of said voice message and said facsimile message or both said voice message and said facsimile message in one of said plurality of mailboxes, said one of said plurality of mailboxes being identified by said unique mailbox identifier, each of said voice message and said facsimile message being identified by a unique message identifier, said control circuit further including logic for generating a message header which is stored in said message storage device and associated with said one of said plurality of mailboxes, said message header including information related to a facsimile device originating said facsimile message, said control circuit speaking at least a portion of said message header upon a user request, via one of said plurality of telephone lines, said control circuit still further including:
control logic for identifying a selected facsimile message in a selected mailbox of said plurality of mailboxes as identified by said mailbox identifier and said message identifier, said control logic further for receiving a user specified telephone number such that said facsimile message controller can transmit said selected facsimile message on one of said plurality of telephone lines corresponding to said user specified telephone number, said control logic still further for storing said user defined telephone number such that said telephone number may be retrieved when a subsequent request for facsimile transmission is received;
a control processor for enabling a connection between said selected mailbox and said one of said plurality of telephone lines;
and
a facsimile message controller for transmitting said selected facsimile message on said one of said plurality of telephone lines.

5 more elements

Facts

Application

07/948,141Filed 18 Sep 1992

Granted

14 May 1996

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

H04N 1/32432
Intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange: in a particular memory file for retrieval by the user, e.g. in a…
H04N 1/324
Using picture signal storage, e.g. at transmitter: intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange
H04N 1/32797
Initiating, continuing or ending a single-mode communication; Handshaking therefor: systems adapted to communicate over more than one channel,…
H04N 2201/3218
Of data relating to a job, e.g. communication, capture or filing of an image: of a confirmation, acknowledgement or receipt

Abstract

Claims14