EP0746141A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
ISDN fax routing
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1996-04-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-04-30
Abstract
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).
Inventors
- 👤 Dirk Hughes-Hartogs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:29
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/32; H04N1/32358; H04N1/324; H04N1/32406; H04N1/32411; H04N1/327; H04N1/32797; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0435; H04Q11/0471; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32128; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3212; H04N2201/3214; H04N2201/3215; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/179; H04Q2213/205; H04Q2213/292
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
Apparatus for efficiently routing facsimiles to and from a plurality of facsimile devices, said apparatus comprising: at least one ISDN BRI line; for each BRI line, several ISDN terminals, each terminal having an input coupled to the BRI line and an output; at least one multiplexer coupled to the outputs of the terminals, each multiplexer having at least two inputs respectively coupled to at least two terminals and one output; a fax server coupled to the outputs of the multiplexers; and a plurality of facsimile devices coupled to the fax server, each facsimile device having a unique fax number.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein 8 terminals are coupled to each BRI line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein 64 fax numbers are programmed into each terminal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a printer coupled to the fax server.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least some facsimile devices are coupled to the fax server via a local area network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one facsimile device is a computer having facsimile software.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one facsimile device is a standalone facsimile machine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one facsimile device is remotely coupled to the fax server via a wide area network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one high-usage facsimile device has its fax number programmed into more than one terminal address, whereby said high-usage facsimile device can receive and/or send more than one facsimile simultaneously.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein several high-usage facsimile devices have their fax numbers programmed into more than one terminal address in rough proportion to the frequencies of facsimiles received and/or sent by said high-usage facsimile devices, wherein said frequencies are obtained from historical data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least some facsimiles that are routed through said apparatus to said facsimile devices originate from analog telephones.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fax server comprises an incoming generic module that interacts with all incoming facsimiles and an incoming specific module that interacts with incoming facsimiles that are addressed to selected ones of the facsimile devices.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fax server comprises an outgoing generic module that interacts with all outgoing facsimiles and an outgoing specific module that interacts with outgoing facsimiles that emanate from selected ones of the facsimile devices.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the terminals associated with each BRI line are combined onto a single card that is coupled to said line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
9 words
The apparatus of claim 1 comprising several BRI lines.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the terminals associated with all the BRI lines are combined onto a single card that is coupled to all of said BRI lines.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a fax process computer situated between each multiplexer and the fax server.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each multiplexer is coupled to all of the terminals associated with a given BRI line, and the multiplexers select the terminals based upon usage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each multiplexer is coupled to less than all of the terminals associated with a given BRI line.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for routing incoming facsimiles arriving over an ISDN line to a plurality of facsimile devices, said method comprising the steps of: invoking an incoming generic module that interacts with all incoming facsimiles; invoking an incoming specific module that interacts with incoming facsimiles that are addressed to selected ones of said facsimile devices; and routing said incoming facsimiles to intended ones of said facsimile devices.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the step of invoking the incoming generic module entails performing at least one of the following substeps: collecting accounting and usage data; formatting the incoming facsimiles into a chosen format; placing a date/time stamp on the incoming facsimiles; and placing header information onto the incoming facsimiles.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
108 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the step of invoking the incoming specific module comprises checking whether the address of the intended recipient is stored within the incoming specific module, and, if said address is so stored, performing at least one of the following substeps: collecting accounting and usage data; formatting the incoming facsimile into a chosen format; placing a date/time stamp on the incoming facsimile; placing header information on the incoming facsimile; re-routing the incoming facsimile to a different address; delaying the incoming facsimile for a given period of time; and limiting the number of incoming facsimiles for said intended recipient for a given period of time.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for routing outgoing facsimiles from a plurality of facsimile devices to intended recipients within a public switched telephone network over ISDN lines, the method comprising the steps of: invoking an outgoing generic module for each outgoing facsimile; invoking an outgoing specific module for selected ones of said outgoing facsimiles; and routing the outgoing facsimiles to the intended recipients within the public switched telephone network.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 23, wherein the step of invoking the outgoing generic module comprises performing at least one of the following substeps: formatting the outgoing facsimiles; keeping track of accounting information; and delaying the sending of at least some of the outgoing facsimiles.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 23, wherein the step of invoking the outgoing specific module comprises checking whether the sender's facsimile number is stored within said outgoing specific module, and if said facsimile number is so stored, performing at least one of the following substeps: aborting the sending of outgoing facsimiles outside a certain geographical region; and performing specific processing instructions based upon the identity of the intended recipient.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for efficiently routing facsimiles to and from a plurality of facsimile devices, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least one ISDN BRI line; coupling to each BRI line several ISDN terminals, each terminal having an input coupled to the BRI line and an output; coupling a fax server to the outputs of the ISDN terminals; and coupling a plurality of facsimile devices to the fax server, each facsimile device having a unique fax number.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of coupling at least one multiplexer to the outputs of the terminals, each multiplexer having an output and at least two inputs respectively coupled to at least two terminals; wherein the fax server is coupled to the output(s) of the multiplexer(s).
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 26, wherein said facsimile devices comprise at least one high-usage facsimile device, said method further comprising the step of programming the fax number of at least one high-usage facsimile device into more than one terminal address, whereby said high-usage facsimile device can receive and/or send more than one facsimile simultaneously.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 26, wherein said facsimile devices comprise several high-usage facsimile devices, said method further comprising the step of programming the fax numbers of several high-usage facsimile devices into more than one terminal address in rough proportion to the frequencies of facsimiles received and/or sent by said high-usage facsimile devices, wherein said frequencies are obtained from historical data.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
93 words
Apparatus for routing facsimiles to and from a plurality of facsimile devices, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of terminals each having an input for connection to at least one ISDN BRI line; at least one multiplexer coupled to outputs of said terminals, each said multiplexer having at least two inputs respectively coupled to at least two said terminals and an output; a fax server coupled to the outputs of the or each multiplexer; and a plurality of facsimile devices coupled to said fax server, each said facsimile device having a unique fax number.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus for routing facsimiles to and from a plurality of facsimile devices, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of terminals each having an input for connection to at least one ISDN BRI line; a fax server coupled to outputs of said terminals; and a plurality of facsimile devices coupled to said fax server, each said facsimile device having a unique fax number.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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