Patent ID: 6310942
Filing Date: 2001-10-30
Classification: H04L,H04N

Abstract:
A remote processing system configured to be in communication with a plurality of remotely-located fax machines, the Internet and the public telephone system for directing a plurality of faxes from the plurality of fax machines to desired recipients over the Internet or the public telephone system comprising:a) a storage system configured to store recipient-identifying information identifying a plurality of potential recipients of faxes and at least one address on the Internet at which each potential recipient can receive a fax, andb) a processor configured to be in communication with said storage system, the remotely-located fax machines, the Internet and the public telephone and configured to:i) receive a fax and recipient-identifying information identifying a desired recipient of that fax from one of the remotely-located fax machines;ii) determine whether said storage system contains an address on the Internet corresponding to the received recipient-identifying information;iii) if said storage system contains an address on the Internet corresponding to the received recipient-identifying information, direct the fax to the recipient over the Internet to the corresponding address; andiv) if said storage system does not contain an address on the Internet corresponding to the received recipient-identifying information, direct the fax to the recipient over the public telephone system.