Patent ID: 6956844

Claim:
A facsimile machine comprising: an input port for coupling to a telephone line; a controller coupled to said input port; a memory device coupled to said controller; a plurality of module ports, each of said plurality of module ports for coupling to one of a plurality of equipment modules such that more than one equipment module can be simultaneously coupled to said facsimile machine; and an input/output controller coupled between said controller and said plurality of module ports, wherein said facsimile machine receives a data transfer, via said telephone line, from a service center, said data transfer intended for one of said plurality of equipment modules coupled to said facsimile machine, said controller determines said one of said plurality of equipment modules said data transfer is intended for based on information included in said data transfer and determines if said one of said plurality of equipment modules is available to receive said data transfer, and if said one of said plurality of equipment modules is available to receive said data transfer, said controller causes said input/output controller to route said data transfer to said one of said plurality of equipment modules.