Patent ID: 6552826
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A facsimile transmission system, comprising:a first network; a fax source for generating a fax transmission and transmitting the generated fax transmission over said first network in a first facsimile transaction; a buffer node interfaced with said first network for receiving said fax transmission therefrom during said first facsimile transaction, said buffer node including: a buffer storage area for storing at least a portion of said received fax transmission during said first facsimile transaction, a fax transmission device for initiating a fax connection to a destination fax system in a second facsimile transaction separate from said first facsimile transaction, a fax delivery system for delivering during said second facsimile transaction said received fax transmission to said destination fax system independent of the operation of said fax source and capable of operating after completion of said first facsimile transaction, and a status device for determining the status of the fax delivery by said fax delivery system to said destination fax system and forwarding said status information to said fax source of said first facsimile transaction during the delivery operation of said fax transmission to said destination fax by said fax delivery device at said buffer node and during said second facsimile transaction, such that status information of the delivery of less than all of said fax transmission can be sent to said fax source prior to the delivery of all of said fax transmission; and said fax source having a storage area associated therewith for storing said received status information.