US 6,643,034 B1 · Facsimile telecommunications system and method

Abstract

A system and method for facilitating facsimile transmissions has one or more store and forward facilities, each associated with a plurality of subscriber facsimile machines, typically coupled over the switched telephone network. The store and forward facilities include a computer for controlling operations and mass data storage equipment. A subscriber to the system delivers an outgoing facsimile message to the store and forward facility with which it is associated, which records the fax message together with data as to originating facsimile machine and destination facsimile machine. The store and forward facility then delivers the facsimile message to the intended receiver facsimile machine, either directly or through another store and forward facility. If unsuccessful on an initial attempt, the store and forward facility periodically retrys to send the facsimile message. The system also provides spooling of all facsimile messages for an intended receiver machine, which are all transmitted upon making connection with the receiver machine. Subscriber mailboxes are provided as part of the mass storage, which can be accessed by a subscriber to have his messages delivered to any facsimile machine he designates. Secure facsimile transmission is achieved through use of subscriber PIN numbers. Broadcasting, redirecting messages and cost accounting can also be achieved by the system and method.

Claims88

Dependent claims

A method for operating a facsimile store and forward facility to facilitate facsimile communications, said method comprising steps of:

providing a facsimile store and forward facility accessible through a switched telephone network;
assigning to each system subscriber of a plurality of system subscribers a unique destination telephone number, wherein the dialing of the unique destination telephone number of each system subscriber results in the related telephone call being switched by a switched telephone network to the store and forward facility
receiving over time at the store and forward facility a plurality of telephone calls, each call of said plurality of telephone calls being switched to the store and forward facility by the switched telephone network as result of a sender dialing one of the unique destination telephone numbers, whereby each such received call results in an originating telephone call connection being made,
receiving during the originating telephone call connections, at the facsimile store and forward facility, facsimile messages from transmitting facsimile machines;
storing the facsimile messages at the facsimile store and forward facility;
receiving at the facsimile store and forward facility a call from a paperless facsimile device;
and
transmitting facsimile messages stored in the facsimile store and forward facility from the facsimile store and forward facility to the paperless facsimile device.

5 more elements

A method for facilitating facsimile communications between a transmitting facsimile machine and at least one paperless receiving facsimile machine, comprising steps of:

providing at least one store and forward facility having computer means for controlling operation of the store and forward facility and having mass storage means for storing facsimile messages;
assigning to each system subscriber of a plurality of system subscribers a unique destination telephone number, wherein the dialing of the unique destination telephone number of each system subscriber results in the related telephone call being switched by a switched telephone network to the at least one store and forward facility
coupling the at least one store and forward facility to a switched telephone network for receiving facsimile messages from transmitting facsimile machines;
receiving over time at the at least one store and forward facility a plurality of telephone calls, each call of said plurality of telephone calls being switched to the store and forward facility by the switched telephone network as result of a sender dialing one of the unique destination telephone numbers, whereby each such received call results in an originating telephone call connection being made,
receiving during the originating telephone call connections, at the facsimile store and forward facility, facsimile messages from transmitting facsimile machines;
recording received facsimile messages in the mass storage means together with information indicating the respective transmitting facsimile machine, and including steps of defining mailboxes in the mass storage means associated with particular system subscribers, and storing facsimile messages for those particular system subscribers in their respective mailboxes;
and
transmitting facsimile messages stored in the mass storage means to paperless receiving facsimile machines, including steps of, in response to initiation by a system subscriber, transmitting facsimile messages stored in that subscriber's mailbox to a paperless facsimile terminal machine associated with that subscriber for display on a screen.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facsimile telecommunications system and method

Life of this patent

Facsimile telecommunications system and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims88