On net faxing
First Claim
1. A method for distributing documents over a network, comprising:
- receiving, via a fax service network from a fax service executing on a computer having at least one processor and at least one non-transitory memory, a fax from one of a plurality of fax service subscribers, the fax associated with a destination identifier;
determining, by the computer executing the fax service, whether the fax is destined for another one of the plurality of fax service subscribers based on the destination identifier; and
routing the fax, the routing performed by a gateway having an inbound interface, an outbound interface, a port embodying a fax service crossover connection between the inbound interface and the outbound interface, at least one processor, and at least one memory and coupled to the computer executing the fax service, the fax service crossover connection bypassing the fax service network while permitting appearance of transmission using the fax service network if the fax is destined for another one of the plurality of fax service subscribers or, otherwise, to route the fax over at least one outside network.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Distribution of electronic documents is described, including receiving an electronic document to be distributed, identifying whether a destination identifier is associated with a destination account among a known group of customer accounts, routing the electronic document, and calculating a fee associated with delivery of the electronic document based on whether the destination account is among the known group of customers and a set of billing rules. The set of billing rules may specify a discounted fee for routing an electronic document to each of a known group of customer accounts. In other aspects, the set of billing rules may specify a discounted fee for routing an electronic document to a first group of the known group of customer accounts and specify a standard fee for a second group of the known group of customer accounts.
68 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for distributing documents over a network, comprising:
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receiving, via a fax service network from a fax service executing on a computer having at least one processor and at least one non-transitory memory, a fax from one of a plurality of fax service subscribers, the fax associated with a destination identifier; determining, by the computer executing the fax service, whether the fax is destined for another one of the plurality of fax service subscribers based on the destination identifier; and routing the fax, the routing performed by a gateway having an inbound interface, an outbound interface, a port embodying a fax service crossover connection between the inbound interface and the outbound interface, at least one processor, and at least one memory and coupled to the computer executing the fax service, the fax service crossover connection bypassing the fax service network while permitting appearance of transmission using the fax service network if the fax is destined for another one of the plurality of fax service subscribers or, otherwise, to route the fax over at least one outside network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for distributing documents over a network, comprising:
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a computer executing a fax service, the computer having at least one processor and at least one non-transitory memory, the computer further comprising; a fax monitor for receiving, via a fax service network, a fax from one of a plurality of fax service subscribers, the fax associated with a destination identifier, the fax monitor determining whether the fax is destined for another one of the plurality of fax service subscribers based on the destination identifier; and a fax controller coupled to the fax monitor and configured to send the fax; and a gateway having an inbound interface, an outbound interface, a port embodying a fax service crossover connection between the inbound interface and the outbound interface, at least one processor, and at least one memory, the gateway coupled to the computer executing the fax controller and configured to route the fax via the fax service crossover connection, the fax service crossover connection bypassing the fax service network while permitting appearance of transmission using the fax service network if the fax is destined for another one of the plurality of fax service subscribers or, otherwise, to route the fax over at least one outside network. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for distributing documents over a network, comprising:
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receiving, via a fax service network from a fax server having a plurality of fax server subscribers, a fax associated with one of the fax server subscribers and a destination identifier, the fax server having at least one processor and at least one non-transitory memory, the fax server further comprising; an on-net outbound controller; and an off-net outbound controller; determining, by the fax server, whether the fax is destined for another one of the plurality of fax server subscribers based on the destination identifier; and if the destination identifier is associated with another one of the fax server subscribers, routing the fax using the on-net outbound controller of the fax server such that the fax is routed via an on-net connection of a gateway, the gateway having an inbound interface, an outbound interface, a port embodying the on-net connection between the inbound interface and the outbound interface, at least one processor, and at least one memory, the on-net connection bypassing the fax service network while permitting appearance of transmission using the fax service network, or otherwise, routing the fax using the off-net outbound controller of the fax server such that the fax is routed via an off-net outbound interface of the gateway to at least one outbound network. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for distributing documents over a network, comprising:
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a fax server for use by a plurality of fax server subscribers, the fax server having at least one processor and at least one memory, the fax server further comprising; an on-net outbound controller; and an off-net outbound controller; and a gateway having; at least one processor; at least one memory; an inbound interface; an on-net outbound interface coupled to the on-net outbound controller of the fax server; an off-net outbound interface coupled to the off-net outbound controller of the fax server and to at least one outbound network; and a port embodying an on-net connection between the inbound interface and the on-net outbound interface, the fax server configured to receive, via a fax service network, a fax associated with one of the fax server subscribers and a destination identifier, and route the fax, if the destination identifier is associated with another one of the fax server subscribers, using the on-net outbound controller such that the fax is routed via the on-net connection of the gateway, the on-net connection bypassing the fax service network while permitting appearance of transmission using the fax service network, or otherwise, route the fax using the off-net outbound controller such that the fax is routed via the off-net outbound interface of the gateway to the at least one outbound network. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification