US5488651A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fax message system
Assignee: Dialogic Corp Canada
•
Filing: 1994-02-28
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Granted: 1996-01-30
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Expires: 2014-02-28
Abstract
Abstract At least a fax message is sent via a telephone system to a telephone receiving station. From that receiving station, the fax message is routed through a multinode computer network to a prespecified network location. A telephone call by which the fax message is transmitted is initiated by dialing a telephone number such as a DID number. Part of the telephone address signal is received at the receiving station and used to establish a connection to a network location such that a fax message may be sent to or from the network location. The network location may be a mailbox associated with an intended recipient. The DID receiver may initiate a call to a second receiver using a ringing signal with routing information communicated through a separate data link.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric R. Giler
- 👤 David W. Duehren
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 04:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/32; H04N1/32358; H04N1/32363; H04N1/32379; H04N1/3239; H04N1/32005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
A method for causing information including at least a fax message sent via a telephone system to be routed through a multinode computer network between a telephone receiving station and a prespecified network location, the method comprising: initiating a telephone call via the telephone system to the receiving station by dialing a telephone number enabling the telephone call to be routed through a telephone network to the receiving station which is coupled to the telephone system and the computer network, said telephone number also being sufficient to indicate a computer network location; passing said telephone number through the telephone system in the form of a telephone address signal as part of the call initiation process by which a telephone connection to the receiving station is established; directing the telephone call being initiated to the receiving station, based on the telephone address signal; answering the telephone call at the receiving station, and receiving at the receiving station at least part of the telephone address signal; storing computer network location information which associates computer network locations with telephone address signals; and when the connection has been established, sending a fax message between the receiving station and the computer network location based on the telephone address signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
204 words
A method for causing information including at least a fax message sent via a telephone system to be routed through a multinode computer network between a telephone receiving station and a prespecified network location, the method comprising: initiating a telephone call via the telephone system to the receiving station by dialing a telephone number enabling the telephone call to be routed through a telephone network to the receiving station which is coupled to the telephone system and the computer network, said telephone number also being sufficient to indicate a computer network location; passing said telephone number through the telephone system in the form of a telephone address signal as part of the call initiation process by which a telephone connection to the receiving station is established; directing the telephone call being initiated to the receiving station, based on the telephone address signal; answering the telephone call at the receiving station, and receiving at the receiving station at least part of the telephone address signal; storing computer network location information which associates computer network locations with telephone address signals; and when the connection has been established, sending a fax message between the receiving station and the computer network location based on the telephone address signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the network location is a mailbox associated with an intended recipient.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the telephone address signal is a direct inward dialing (DID) telephone address signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the receiving station comprises a DID receiver and a second receiver responsive to ringing signals and associated with a computer on the computer network, the DID receiver answering the DID call from the telephone system and initiating a telephone call with a ringing signal to the second receiver
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the DID receiver communicates the routing information to the computer through a data link.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a fax message is retrieved from the network location.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-01-29 | 1999-07-31 | 2000-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-29 | 2003-07-31 | 2004-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-29 | 2007-07-31 | 2008-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |