System and method of remote fax interconnect technology

• US 8,897,432 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2011
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: etherFAX, LLC
• Original Assignee: etherFAX, LLC
• Inventors: Cichielo, Robert N., Banco, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Joseph J
• Application Number:
  US13/175,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20130287189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 379/100.17, 379/88.13, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 379/100.17
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0001 Transmission systems or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00042 Monitoring, i.e. observation H04N1/00029 - H04N1/00039 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00079 remotely
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00095 Systems or arrangements for the transmission of the picture signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/001 specially adapted for transmission via digital wireline networks H04N1/00098 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00217 only involving computer data transmission protocols, e.g. SMTP, WAP or HTTP communication protocol aspects and techniques in packet data networks H04L69/00; network-specific arrangements or communication protocols supporting networked applications H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0022 involving facsimile protocols or a combination of facsimile protocols and computer data transmission protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00302 with a telephonic apparatus, e.g. telephone answering machine or videotex terminal H04N1/00307 takes precedence; telephonic communication H04M
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32085 Automation of other tasks, e.g. repetitive execution or sequencing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/44 Secrecy systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4486 using digital data encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for the virtualization, aggregation, and distributed processing of facsimile communications. The Remote FAX Interconnect known as etherFAX® is a system and method that allows for the reception and delivery of information based on cloud computing infrastructure to or from one or more facsimile systems using Internet/web based communication protocols such as HTTP(S) as the transport between a facsimile capable application or hardware and the remotely accessible etherFAX® services.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating the transfer of information between a first facsimile system and a second facsimile system by virtualizing at least one telephony facsimile communication interface over at least one data communications network, comprising:

a cloud-computing environment operatively coupled to the at least one data communications network, the cloud-computing environment comprising aggregated facsimile communications hardware, the cloud-computing environment enabling at least one of telephony and facsimile information to traverse the at least one data communications network by providing an interconnect with at least one of a plurality of virtualized facsimile communications interfaces, the cloud-computing environment being configured to enable the at least one of telephony and facsimile information to traverse at least one telephony network interconnect between the cloud-computing environment and the first facsimile system;

the at least one virtualized facsimile communications interface being coupled to the second facsimile system and the data communications network and configured to communicate the at least one of telephony and facsimile information with the cloud-computing environment over the data communications network;

the cloud-computing environment having interconnects to the data communications network as well as to the at least one telephony network;

the cloud-computing environment configured to provide for interconnections with a plurality of virtualized facsimile communications interfaces;

the cloud-computing environment being configured to provide a remote procedure call mechanism to enable the at least one virtual facsimile communications interface to remotely access the aggregated facsimile communications hardware;

the cloud-computing environment remote procedure call mechanism being configured to be accessible through secure communications over the data communications network;

the cloud-computing environment being configured to convey the communications of at least one of telephony and facsimile information between the at least one virtualized facsimile communications interface and the first facsimile system;

the cloud-computing environment and the virtualized facsimile communications interface using internet protocols to communicate at least one of telephony and facsimile information therebetween;

the cloud computing environment configured to enable the at least one virtualized facsimile interface to remotely use the facilities of at least one of an array of at least one of ports and channels coupled to the at least one telephony service provider network lines;

the virtualized facsimile communications interface being configured to communicate facsimile information with the remote aggregated facsimile communications hardware in the cloud-computing environment;

the aggregated facsimile communications hardware being configured to enable the virtualized facsimile communications interface to remotely retrieve at least_status of at least one of telephony and facsimile operations using the remote procedure call mechanism;

the cloud computing environment enabling at least one of transmission and reception of communicated at least one of telephony and facsimile information between the first and second facsimile systems.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the cloud-computing environment is configured to allow for more than at least one facsimile communication to simultaneously traverse the data communications network interconnect.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the telephony information comprises, at least one of the following:

Caller Subscriber ID (CSID);

Unique fax ID;

originating time zone;

originating dialing number that is associated with an organization; and

an organization'"'"'s telephony information including the status and disposition of a facsimile communication.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is further configured to preserve and communicate facsimile communications call record details with the at least one virtualized facsimile communications interface over the data communications network interconnect, wherein the call detail record includes at least one of the following:

duration of the telephone network communications,

facsimile pages delivered,

Caller Subscriber ID (CSID),

Connect Speed,

identification of the at least one aggregated facsimile interface, and

identity of the originating facsimile system.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is further configured to process facsimile communications inbound from the at least one telephony network by the at least one aggregated facsimile communications hardware using telephony identification information associated with an organization.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one cloud-computing environment is further configured to provide routing services based on country or region.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one virtualized facsimile communications interface is configured to allow for communications with standard facsimile software and hardware located at an organization'"'"'s premises.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the cloud-computing environment is configured to process inbound facsimile communications even though the at least one virtualized facsimile communications interface is busy or inaccessible.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the system provides more than one instance of an organization'"'"'s virtualized facsimile communications interface for redundancy purposes.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the cloud-computing environment is further configured to enable priority among the more than one instance of the organization'"'"'s virtualized facsimile communications interface.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the status includes at least one of:

speed; and

error/success results that occurred during a communications process.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is configured to facilitate virtualization of the at least one facsimile interface that remotely interconnects with the cloud-computing environment where actual aggregated facsimile communications hardware resides, the system enabling and remotely coordinating facsimile telephony operations including dial, connect, negotiate, send, receive, disconnect, and other facsimile modem operations for sending and receiving facsimile documents as if connected to the telephony network.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the system enables a remotely connected party, over the data communications network, to remotely bind to an array of facsimile hardware ports/channels as if locally connected to the telephony network.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the cloud-computing environment is configured to provide feedback for remote requests and commands.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the cloud-computing environment is configured to authenticate by the presentment of sign-on credentials.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one virtualized facsimile communications interface is configured to emulate at least one of a fax modem hardware and software drivers allowing third party products to send and receive facsimile documents by interconnecting with the cloud-computing environment.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein the system eliminates the need for a remotely connected party to make use of the telephony network and instead relies on the data communications network connection via the Internet to the cloud-computing environment.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein the cloud-computing environment is configured to enable a remotely connected party to present telephony information so that to the observer or recipient, the facsimile appears to have originated from the remotely connected party.

2. A system for facilitating the transfer of at least one of facsimile and telephony information between a first facsimile system and a second facsimile system by virtualizing facsimile communication interfaces over at least one data communications network, comprising:

a computing environment operatively coupled to the at least one data communications network, the computing environment comprising aggregated facsimile communications hardware, the computing environment enabling the information to traverse the at least one data communications network by providing an interconnect between at least the first and second virtualized facsimile communications interfaces;

the computing environment being configured to enable the information to traverse the at least one data network interconnect between the computing environment and each of the first and second virtualized facsimile communications interfaces;

the first virtualized facsimile communications interface being coupled to the at least one data communications network and configured to communicate the information with the computing environment over the at least one data communications network;

the second virtualized facsimile communications interface being coupled to the at least one data communications network and configured to communicate the information with the computing environment over the at least one data communications network;

the computing environment configured to provide for interconnections with the first and second virtualized facsimile communications interfaces;

the computing environment being configured to use remote procedure calls to enable at least the first and second virtual facsimile communications interfaces to remotely access the computing environment;

the computing environment being configured so that remote procedure calls are communicated through secure communications over the data communications network;

the computing environment being configured to enable communications of information between the first virtualized facsimile communications interface coupled to the at least one data communications network and the second virtualized facsimile communications interface coupled to the at least one data communications network;

the computing environment, the first virtualized facsimile communications interface and the second virtualized facsimile communications interface using internet protocols to communicate;

the computing environment configured to enable at least one of the first and second virtualized facsimile interfaces to remotely use the facilities of at least one of an array of at least one of virtual ports and channels;

the communications environment being configured to enable at least one of the first and second virtualized facsimile communications interface to retrieve at least status of facsimile operations through the computing environment;

the computing environment enabling transmission and reception of communicated information between the first and second facsimile systems.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the computing environment further communicates telephony information between the first virtualized facsimile interface and the second virtualized facsimile interface.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein at least one of the first and second facsimile systems is connected to a telephony interface, and the computing environment converts telephony information for conveyance over the data communications network.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the Internet protocols include HTTPS.

16. The system of claim 2 wherein the facsimile information communicated from at least one virtualized facsimile communications interface is communicated to at least one other virtualized facsimile communications interface through the at least one computing environment.

24. The system of claim 2 wherein the system is enabled to allow for more than at least one facsimile communication to occur simultaneously over the at least one data network interconnect.

25. The system of claim 2 wherein the telephony information comprises at least one of the following:

Caller Subscriber ID (CSID);

Unique fax ID;

originating time zone;

originating dialing number that is associated with an organization; and

an organization'"'"'s telephony information including the status and disposition of the facsimile communication.

26. The system of claim 2 wherein the system is further configured to preserve and communicate facsimile communications call record details with the at least one virtualized facsimile communications interface over the at least one data network interconnect, where the call detail record includes at least one of the following:

duration of the telephone network communications,

facsimile pages delivered,

Caller Subscriber ID (CSID),

Connect Speed,

identification of the at least one aggregated facsimile interface, and

identity of the originating facsimile system.

27. The system of claim 2 wherein the computing environment is further configured to provide routing services based on country or region.

28. The system of claim 2 wherein the at least one virtualized facsimile communications interface is configured to allow for communications with standard facsimile software and hardware located at an organization'"'"'s premises.

29. The system of claim 2 wherein the computing environment is configured to process inbound facsimile communications even though the aggregated facsimile communications hardware is busy or inaccessible.

30. The system of claim 2 wherein the system provides more than one instance of an organization'"'"'s virtualized facsimile communications interface for redundancy purposes.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the computing environment is further configured to enable priority among the more than one instance of an organization'"'"'s virtualized facsimile communications interface.

32. The system of claim 2 wherein the status includes at least one of:

speed; and

error/success results that occurred during the communications process.

33. The system of claim 2 wherein the computing environment is configured to authenticate by the presentment of sign-on credentials.

34. The system of claim 2 wherein the virtual facsimile communications interface is configured to emulate at least one of a fax modem hardware and software drivers allowing third party products to send and receive facsimile documents by interconnecting with the computing environment.

35. The system of claim 2 wherein the system eliminates the need for a remotely connected party to make use of the telephony network and instead relies on the data communications network connection via the Internet to the computing environment.

36. The system of claim 2 wherein the computing environment is configured to enable a remotely connected party to present telephony information so that to the observer or recipient, the facsimile appears to have originated from the remotely connected party.