Dynamic realtime protocol for facsimile and the like
AssigneeDialogic Corporation
InventorNick Burkitt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved technique for transmitting facsimile images over a data network is described wherein a remote server is sent information indicative of the average effective information transmission rate. The average information transmission rate is maintained the same at the sending and receiving sides of the network in order to eliminate problems caused by the bursty nature of packetized communications through the data network.
Claims19
A method of transmitting information over a packet data network comprising the steps of:
- receiving information as a first substantially continuous stream of bits from a sending device;
- reformatting said received information into packets;
- adding to each packet a tag indicative of a first amount of time taken to receive a portion of the continuous stream of bits contained within said packet from the sending device;
- and
- transmitting each of said packets over said packet data network.
Apparatus for transmitting a facsimile image over a packet data network comprising:
- means for receiving a first substantially continuous bit stream from a sending device, the first substantially continuous bit stream including information bits indicative of said facsimile image and fill bits not indicative of said facsimile image;
- means for stripping said fill bits, arranging into packets said information bits indicative of said facsimile image, and for including within each packet a tag indicative of an amount of time taken by said means for receiving to receive a portion of the first continuous bit stream included in said packet from the sending device.
Apparatus for transmitting a facsimile image, received from a data network, to a receiving facsimile machine over a circuit switched telephone connection, said apparatus comprising:
- means for receiving packets of information from said data network, each of said packets representing a portion of said facsimile image and a first amount of time required for communication of said portion of facsimile image as a first substantially continuous bit stream from a sending facsimile machine to a means for transmitting said packets of information to said data network;
- means for reformatting said packets into a second substantially continuous bit stream, said means for reformatting including means for adding fill bits sufficient to cause said second substantially continuous bit stream to occupy a second amount of time that is substantially equal to said first amount of time.
A method of transmitting a facsimile image over a packet switched data network, comprising:
- at a first server,
- receiving over a first circuit switched telephone connection a first substantially continuous bit stream including information bits indicative of said facsimile image;
- reformatting said first bit stream into packets and adding a tag to each packet, said tag being indicative of a first amount of time taken to receive a portion of said first bit stream contained in said each packet from a sending facsimile machine;
- and
- transmitting said packets from said first server to a second server over said packet switched data network;
- at said second server:
- receiving said packets transmitted from said first server;
- reformatting said packets into a second substantially continuous bit stream;
- and
- transmitting each portion of said second bit stream to a receiving facsimile machine over a second circuit switched telephone connection in a second amount of time that is substantially equal to said first amount of time for a corresponding portion of said first bit stream.
A method of transmitting a facsimile image, comprising:
- transmitting, from a sending facsimile machine to a first server over a first circuit switched telephone connection, a first substantially continuous bit stream including information bits indicative of said facsimile image;
- receiving, at said first server, said first bit stream;
- formatting said first bit stream into packets and adding to each packet a tag indicative of a first amount of time taken to receive a portion of said first bit stream contained in said each packet from said sending facsimile machine;
- transmitting said packets from said first server to a second server, over a packet switched data network;
- receiving, at said second server, said packets;
- reformatting, at said second server, said packets into a second substantially continuous bit stream;
- transmitting, from said second server to a receiving facsimile machine over a second circuit switched telephone connection, each portion of said second bit stream in a second amount of time that is substantially equal to said first amount of time taken to receive at said first server a corresponding portion of said first bit stream;
- and
- receiving, at said receiving facsimile machine, said second bit stream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.