ISDN fax routing

Abstract

Apparatus for efficiently routing facsimiles to and from a plurality of facsimile devices (62, 64, 66). At least one BRI line (16) is coupled to several ISDN terminals (21-28). At least one multiplexer (31, 32) is coupled to the outputs of the terminals (21-28). A fax server (50) is coupled to the outputs of the multiplexers (31, 32), typically via fax process computers (41, 42). Coupled to the fax server (50) are a plurality of facsimile devices (62, 64, 66), each having a unique fax number. A given facsimile device (62, 64, 66) may send or receive more than one facsimile simultaneously by means of programming its fax number into more than one terminal (21-28) address. A terminal (21-28) may be coupled to more than one multiplexer (31, 32). Multiple BRI lines (16) may be used. The fax server (50) preferably contains an incoming generic module (51) that interacts with all incoming facsimiles, an incoming specific module (53) that interacts with facsimiles destined for selected ones of the facsimile devices (62, 64, 66), an outgoing generic module (52) that interacts with all outgoing facsimiles, and an outgoing specific module (54) that interacts with outgoing facsimiles that emanate from selected ones of the facsimile devices (62, 64, 66).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.