Patent US6278532B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6278532B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for reception and transmission of information using different protocols
Assignee: Foundry Networks LLC
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Filing: 1996-12-20
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Granted: 2001-08-21
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Expires: 2016-12-20
Abstract
Abstract A Protocol Fax Box (PFB) receives information, determines destinations for the information, and converts the information protocol and data, if necessary, for transmission to the destinations. The PFB has plural interfaces from which it receives and sends data. Upon receiving information on one of its interfaces, the PFB creates a set of objects for handling the transfer of the information from the incoming interface to an outgoing, or destination, interface. A source object handles the incoming communication, a session object handles destination determination, and a destination object handles protocol conversion from the source interface to the destination interface. The session object also logs information regarding each session. The PFB may use a client server model to download information as needed from a network, or have processing be performed on the network.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry M. Heimendinger
- 👤 Richard J. McConnell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:45
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/32; H04N1/32358; H04N1/324; H04N1/32406; H04N1/32411; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/06; H04L51/066; H04N1/00127; H04N1/00204; H04N1/00209; H04N1/32432; H04N1/333; H04N1/33307; H04N1/33323; H04N1/33346; H04N1/33376; H04N1/32101; H04N1/32106; H04N1/32112; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/0008; H04N2201/0015; H04N2201/002; H04N2201/0034; H04N2201/0037; H04N2201/0039; H04N2201/0041; H04N2201/0077; H04N2201/0093; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3202; H04N2201/3204; H04N2201/3205; H04N2201/333; H04N2201/33307; H04N2201/33342; H04N2201/33364; H04N2201/33378
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for processing information, comprising: a plurality of interfaces; means for receiving an incoming information object having a first protocol and first data over one of the interfaces; means for analyzing the incoming information object based on at least one criteria to determine an outgoing destination different from a destination defined in the incoming information object; means for processing the incoming information object to create outgoing information having a protocol and data specifically for the outgoing destination; and means for transmitting the outgoing information over at least one of the interfaces to the outgoing destination.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for processing information, comprising: a plurality of interfaces; means for receiving an incoming information object having a first protocol and first data over one of the interfaces; means for analyzing the incoming information object based on at least one criteria to determine an outgoing destination different from a destination defined in the incoming information object; means for processing the incoming information object to create outgoing information having a protocol and data specifically for the outgoing destination; and means for transmitting the outgoing information over at least one of the interfaces to the outgoing destination.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the means for receiving incoming information comprises: hardware means for providing an indication of an event in response to receiving the incoming information; and source object means, created in response to the indication, for handling transfer of the incoming information from the hardware means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the source object means includes means for creating a session object for managing a session of receiving the incoming information and transferring the outgoing information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the means for processing the incoming information includes: destination object means for processing the incoming information from the first protocol to the second protocol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first protocol includes a fax protocol and the second protocol includes an E-mail protocol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first protocol includes a network protocol and the second protocol includes a telephone protocol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising network hub means for connecting to a network device and one of said plurality of interfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the means for analyzing the incoming information object includes means for determining a need for a point-to-point protocol (PPP) connection; and the means for processing the incoming information object includes means for establishing a PPP connection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the means for determining a need for a point-to-point protocol connection includes means for analyzing caller ID information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the means for analyzing the incoming information object comprises means for managing a session of receiving the incoming information and transferring the outgoing information to at least one destination.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the session object means includes means for creating a destination object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the session object means includes means for creating multiple destination objects.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the session object means includes means for logging session information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the means for managing a session includes means for managing transmission of information to the outgoing destination.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the means for managing a session includes means for managing transmission of information to multiple outgoing destinations.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of processing information in a system having a plurality of interfaces, comprising the steps of: receiving an incoming information object having a first protocol over at least one of the interfaces; analyzing the incoming information object based on at least one criteria to determine an outgoing destination different from a destination defined in the incoming information object; processing the incoming information object to create outgoing information having protocol and data specifically for the outgoing destination; and transmitting the outgoing information over at least one of the interfaces to the determined outgoing destination.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of processing information in a system having a plurality of interfaces, comprising the steps of: receiving an incoming information object having a first protocol over at least one of the interfaces; analyzing the incoming information object based on at least one criteria to determine an outgoing destination different from a destination defined in the incoming information object; processing the incoming information object to create outgoing information having protocol and data specifically for the outgoing destination; and transmitting the outgoing information over at least one of the interfaces to the determined outgoing destination.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of receiving incoming information includes the substeps of: providing an indication of an event in response to receiving the incoming information; and creating a source object means in response to the indication, for handling transfer of the incoming information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 16 , further including a step of creating a session object for managing a session of receiving the incoming information and transferring the outgoing information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the processing incoming information includes: processing the incoming information from the first protocol to the second protocol.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the first protocol includes a fax protocol and the second protocol includes an E-mail protocol.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the first protocol includes a network protocol and the second protocol includes a telephone protocol.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of analyzing the incoming information object includes determining a need for a point-to-point protocol connection; and the step of processing the incoming information object includes establishing a point-to-point protocol connection.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the means for determining a need for a point-to-point protocol connection includes means for analyzing caller ID information.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising network hub means for connecting to a network device and one of said plurality of interfaces.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of analyzing the incoming information object includes the substep of: managing a session of receiving the incoming information object and transferring the outgoing information to at least one destination.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 25 , further including the step of: creating a destination object.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 25 , further including the step of: creating multiple destination objects, each having unique.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 25 , wherein the step of managing a session includes the substep of: logging session information.
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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) | 2004-08-20 | 2005-02-19 | 2005-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-08-20 | 2009-02-19 | 2009-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-08-20 | 2013-02-19 | 2013-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |