Apparatus and method for reception and transmission of information using different protocols

• US 6,278,532 B1
• Filed: 12/20/1996
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Foundry Networks LLC (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LINK2IT
• Inventors: McConnell, Richard J., Heimendinger, Larry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, II, Jerome
• Application Number:
  US08/770,775
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 379/89, 379/90.01, 379/90.02, 379/93.23, 379/93.24, 379/93.25, 379/100.01, 379/100.06, 379/100.08, 358/400, 358/402, 358/442
• US Class Current: 358/442
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32112 in a separate computer file, document page or paper sheet, e.g. a fax cover sheet H04N1/32122 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32411 Handling instructions for routing or relaying
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32432 in a particular memory file for retrieval by the user, e.g. in a facsimile mailbox
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33323 transmission mode only, e.g. speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33346 adapting to a particular standardised protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33376 according to characteristics or state of one of the communicating parties, e.g. available memory capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/002 Selecting or switching between an image communication channel and a non-image communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0041 Point to point H04N2201/0039 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3202 of communication or activity log or report
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33364 Type of modulation; Type of channel, e.g. digital or analog; Type of communication, e.g. half-duplex or full-duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33378 Type or format of data, e.g. colour or B/W, halftone or binary, computer image file or facsimile data

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.

Claims

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first protocol includes a fax protocol and the second protocol includes an E-mail protocol.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first protocol includes a network protocol and the second protocol includes a telephone protocol.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising network hub means for connecting to a network device and one of said plurality of interfaces.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the session object means includes means for creating a destination object.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the session object means includes means for creating multiple destination objects.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the session object means includes means for logging session information.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for managing a session includes means for managing transmission of information to the outgoing destination.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for managing a session includes means for managing transmission of information to multiple outgoing destinations.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the processing incoming information includes:

processing the incoming information from the first protocol to the second protocol.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first protocol includes a fax protocol and the second protocol includes an E-mail protocol.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the first protocol includes a network protocol and the second protocol includes a telephone protocol.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising network hub means for connecting to a network device and one of said plurality of interfaces.

25. 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.

26. The method of claim 25, further including the step of:

creating a destination object.

27. The method of claim 25, further including the step of:

creating multiple destination objects, each having unique.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of managing a session includes the substep of:

logging session information.