Patent ID: 8995434
Filing Date: 2015-03-31
Classification: H04L,H04M,H04N

Abstract:
1. A fax delivery apparatus comprising: an internet receipt mechanism to receive a fax-destined internet communication, the fax-destined internet communication comprising a receiving address further comprising destination identification information; a fax server determination mechanism to determine whether an outbound fax number is served by a local fax server, the destination identification information being associated with the outbound fax number; a fax format converter to convert data of the fax-destined internet communication to a fax formatted message; a dialing device to dial a destination fax device over a telephone line connection; and a normal fax standard communications device to send the fax formatted message to the destination fax device over the dialed telephone line connection, wherein: when the fax server determination mechanism determines that the outbound fax number is served by the local fax server, the local fax server is contacted and is configured to directly dial out and send the fax formatted message, and when the fax server determination mechanism fails to determine that the outbound fax number is served by a corresponding local fax server, a cheapest route is established and a fax server included in the cheapest route is contacted, the fax server being configured to directly dial out and send a fax formatted message.