Patent ID: 6075849
Filing Date: 2000-06-13
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A method of monitoring a data transmission transmitted from a facsimile machine connected to a facsimile jack, the facsimile jack being connected to a telephone line for outputting the data transmission over the telephone line, the method comprising the steps of:(a) determining if said data transmission is incoming or outgoing with respect to said facsimile machine;(b) establishing a first connection between said telephone line and said facsimile machine by allowing said data transmission to pass through said facsimile jack unaltered, if step (a) determines said data transmission is incoming; and(c) establishing a second connection between said telephone line and said facsimile machine, wherein said facsimile jack intercepts and reads a portion of said data transmission if step (a) determines that said data transmission is outgoing,wherein the second connection is established in step c) by one of: i) providing DTMF digits indicative of a destination device that are received from said facsimile machine through said telephone line to set up said second connection to be sent entirely over a public switched telephone network, and ii) providing alternative DTMF digits instead of said DTMF digits indicative of the destination device to said telephone line to set up said second connection over a packet switched digital network via a first point of presence that provides an interface between the packet switched digital network and the public switched telephone network, the alternative DTMF digits corresponding to a phone number of the first point of presence, andwherein said alternative DTMF digits are provided to said telephone line instead of said DTMF digits received from said facsimile machine when said facsimile jack determines that said data transmission is capable of being sent over said packet switched digital network.