Method and apparatus using transition state protocol signaling for fax transport manner capability exchange

• US 6,865,187 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1999
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ghosh, Shomit M., Kattemalvadi, Shrikanth
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, PRENELL P
• Application Number:
  US09/346,111
• Time in Patent Office: 2,078 Days
• Field of Search: 370/431, 370236-244, 370/252, 370465-467, 370/235, 370389-409, 370/471, 370/314, 370/426, 379/905, 379 9308- 9315, 379/100.17, 379/93.02, 379/100.09, 379/100.12, 703/24, 703/25, 358/407, 358/234, 358/403, 358434-438, 358/256, 358440-443, 358/115.15, 709/236
• US Class Current: 370/431
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32704 Establishing a communication with one of a facsimile and another telecommunication apparatus sharing a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32708 Telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32721 facsimile protocol signals, e.g. DCS or TSI
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33323 transmission mode only, e.g. speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33392 Details of handshaking
• 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 2201/33392 Non-standard capability, e.g. relay, mail-box
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13179 Fax, still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13296 Packet switching, X.25, frame relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet

Abstract

A method that involves recognizing an incoming FAX call at a destination edge node, the destination edge node supportive of at least two FAX transport manners. A first control packet is sent from the destination edge node to an originating edge node that effectively requests transmission of the FAX call according to one of the FAX transport manners. A second control packet is sent from the originating edge node to the destination edge node that effectively confirms or refuses to confirm transmission of the FAX call according to one of the FAX transport manners.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

a) recognizing an incoming facsimile (FAX) call at a destination edge node, said destination edge node supportive of at least two facsimile transport manners;

b) sending a first control packet from said destination edge node to an originating edge node that effectively requests transmission of said facsimile call according to one of said facsimile transport manners; and

c) receiving a second control packet from said originating edge node to said destination edge node that effectively confirms or refuses to confirm facsimile transmission of said facsimile call according to one of said facsimile transport manners.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein one of said facsimile transport manners is FAX Relay.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said control packets traverse an Asynchronous Transfer Mode network.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said control packets traverse a Frame Relay network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said control packets traverse an IP based network.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said control packets traverse a FastPacket network.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein said control packets are FAX Relay TSP control packets.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said first control packet is a FAX Request TSP.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said second control packet is a FAX Request TSP acknowledgement.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said second control packet is an ACK TSP.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said second control packet is a NAK TSP.

12. The method of claim 2 further comprising switching said destination node to a FAX mode supportive of FAX Relay transmission if said second control packet effectively confirms FAX Relay transmission.

13. The method of claim 2 further comprising switching said destination node to a FAX mode supportive of 64 kbps per channel if said second control packet refuses to effectively confirm FAX Relay transmission.

14. A method, comprising:

a) recognizing an incoming facsimile (FAX) call;

b) sending a first control packet that effectively requests facsimile Relay transmission of said facsimile call; and

c) receiving a second control packet that effectively confirms or refuses to confirm facsimile Relay transmission of said facsimile call.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising switching to a FAX mode supportive of FAX Relay transmission if said second control packet effectively confirms FAX Relay transmission.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising switching to a FAX mode supportive of 64 kbps per channel if said second control packet refuses to effectively confirm FAX Relay transmission.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said control packets are FAX Relay TSP control packets.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said first control packet is a FAX Request TSP.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said second control packet is a FAX Request TSP acknowledgement.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein said recognizing an incoming FAX call is performed in a voice mode.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said recognizing an incoming FAX call causes a transition to a handshake mode.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said sending a first control packet and said sending a second control packet are performed in said handshake mode.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said confirmation or said refusal to confirm FAX Relay transmission causes a transition to a FAX mode.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the sending of Functional TSPs between said destination and said edge nodes if said FAX mode is in FAX Relay mode.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the sending of a Normal TSP from said originating node to said destination node to terminate said FAX call.

26. The method of claim 14 further comprising the initiation of a timer when said first control packet is sent.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising dropping said FAX call when said timer expires.

28. An edge node having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the acts of:

a) recognizing an incoming facsimile call;

b) sending a first control packet that effectively requests facsimile Relay transmission of said facsimile call; and

c) receiving a second control packet that effectively confirms or refuses to confirm facsimile Relay transmission of said facsimile call.

29. A machine readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions, which when executed by an edge node, cause the edge node to perform the acts of:

a) recognizing an incoming facsimile call;

b) sending a first control packet that effectively requests facsimile Relay transmission of said facsimile call; and

c) receiving a second control packet that effectively confirms or refuses to confirm facsimile Relay transmission of said facsimile call.

30. An apparatus, comprising:

means for recognizing an incoming facsimile (FAX) call;

means for sending a first control packet that effectively requests facsimile Relay transmission of said facsimile call; and

means for receiving a second control packet that effectively confirms or refuses to confirm facsimile Relay transmission of said facsimile call.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising means for switching to a FAX mode supportive of FAX Relay transmission if said second control packet effectively confirms FAX Relay transmission.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising means for dropping said FAX call.