Method and apparatus for transmission and retrieval of facsimile and audio messages over a circuit or packet switched network

• US 6,208,638 B1
• Filed: 04/01/1997
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: j2 Cloud Services, LLC (Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: J2 Global, Inc.
• Inventors: Rieley, Jack, Muller, Jaye
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US08/829,857
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/354, 370/428, 370/396, 370/401, 379/88.17, 379/100.01, 379/100.08, 379/100.17, 379/100.12, 379/265, 379/221, 379/89, 709/217, 709/218, 709/227, 709/219, 341/20
• US Class Current: 370/354
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• 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 1/00312 with a digital transmission apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, SMS or ISDN device transmitting or receiving via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network or the internet H04N1/00214; transmission of digital information H04L
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0024 Converting image communication control signals, e.g. group 3 facsimile protocol signals, to non-image communication control signals or vice versa

Abstract

A method and apparatus for accepting an incoming message over a circuit switched network and transmitting it over a packet switched network. The apparatus including means for implementing the steps of receiving an incoming call signal along with a inbound address; determining a user account and a final address on said packet switched network associated with said inbound address; allocating a message processing resource; processing said incoming call into a processed message; and, sending said processed message to said final address.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a set of switches coupled to a circuit switched network for receiving a set of incoming call signals, wherein the incoming call signal includes an inbound address, and wherein a switch in the set of switches redirects an incoming can signal from a first communications server to a second communications server if a first condition occurs; and

,

a set of communications servers coupled to the set of switches for receiving the set of incoming call signals, each communications server being coupled to a network and containing a message processing resource configured to process a received audio message into a digital representation, wherein each communications server further comprises a trunk line interface to extract the inbound address and stores the inbound address, a set of final destination addresses and account status, and the message processing resource is further configured to determine, based on the inbound address, a user account and a destination on a packet switched network and send the digital representation to the destination,

wherein the inbound address is assigned to the user account and the outbound address comprises at least one email address.

2. The system of claim 1, where the first condition occurs if the first communications server sends a rejection signal to the switch.

3. The system of claim 1, where the first condition occurs if the first communications server is unable to process the incoming call signal.

4. The system of claim 1, where the incoming call signal signals an incoming call and the first condition occurs if the first communications server is unable to process the incoming call.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a system management unit for setting the first condition.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a system management unit, and the first condition occurs if the system management unit determines that the second communications server should receive the incoming call signal.

7. The system of claim 1, where the set of switches includes a second switch, and the first communications server is coupled to the switch and the second communications server is coupled to the second switch.

8. The system of claim 7, where the switch redirects the incoming call signal to the second switch.

9. The system of claim 1, where the inbound address is a circuit destination address.

10. The system of claim 1, where the message processing resource is further configured to validate the inbound address.

11. The system of claim 1, where the audio message is a facsimile message and the digital representation of the audio message is a graphics file.

12. The system of claim 1, where the message processing resource further comprises a processor to:

determine if the audio message contains a facsimile message or a voice message; and

,

digitize the audio message if the audio message contains the voice message and receive the facsimile message if the audio message contains the facsimile message.

13. A method comprising:

receiving a first incoming call signal destined for a first communications server for processing of an audio message into a digital representation;

determining if a first condition has occurred;

redirecting the first incoming call signal from the first communications server to a second communications server based on the determining of the first condition, wherein the incoming call signal includes an inbound address;

extracting the inbound address;

determining, based on the inbound address, a user account status and a destination on a packet switched network; and

,

sending the digital representation to the destination, wherein the inbound address is assigned to the user account and the destination comprises at least one email address.

14. The method of claim 13, where determining the first condition includes determining that the first communications server sends a rejection signal.

15. The method of claim 13, where determining the first condition includes determining that the first communications server is unable to process the incoming call signal.

16. The method of claim 13, where the incoming call signal signals an incoming call and determining the first condition includes determining that the first communications server is unable to process the incoming call.

17. The method of claim 13, where determining the first condition includes determining that a system management unit selects the second communications server for receiving the incoming call signal.

18. The method of claim 13, where redirecting the first incoming call signal includes using a switch to redirect the first incoming signal from the first communication server to the second communication server.

19. The method of claim 13, where the inbound address is a circuit destination address.

20. The method of claim 13, further including validating the inbound address.

21. The method of claim 13, where the audio message is a facsimile message and the digital representation of the audio message is a graphics file.

22. The method of claim 13, further including:

determining if the audio message contains a facsimile message or a voice message; and

,

digitizing the audio message if the audio message contains the voice message and receiving the facsimile message if the audio message contains the facsimile message.