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System, apparatus and method for reducing fax transmission status outcalls from a FAX-to-SMTP gateway

  • US 6,650,440 B1
  • Filed: 03/26/1999
  • Issued: 11/18/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A fax communication system for use in communicating an email message having attached thereto a facsimile (fax) message between a sending fax device used by a sending fax user and a receiving fax device used by a receiving fax user, the fax message being prepared by the sending fax device for transmission thereof as an attachment to the email message to the receiving fax device through at least one mailer device, the mailer device for coupling the email message, through a receiving gateway device, to the receiving fax device comprising:

  • a sending gateway device responsive to a particular fax message and operative to prepare an email message having attached thereto the particular fax message for transmission of the prepared email message, through the at least one mailer device, to the receiving gateway device, the sending gateway device further operative to prepare a first and a second confirmation requests, the first confirmation request corresponding to a first response and the second confirmation request corresponding to a second response, the sending gateway device further operative to transmit the prepared email message including the first and second confirmation requests to the receiving gateway device, upon receipt of the first response to the first confirmation request, the sending gateway device operative to wait a predetermined length of time for a response to the second confirmation request and upon receipt of the response to the second confirmation request within the predetermined length of time, the sending gateway device operative to place only a single outcall to the sending fax device, wherein multiple outcalls for confirming the status of the fax message transmission is avoided thereby reducing costs to the sending fax user and further reducing the likelihood of confusion and logistic problems to the sending fax user.

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