US6208638B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for transmission and retrieval of facsimile and audio messages over a circuit or packet switched network
Assignee: j 2 Global Communications Inc
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Filing: 1997-04-01
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Granted: 2001-03-27
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Expires: 2017-04-01
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for accepting an incoming message over a circuit switched network and transmitting it over a packet switched network. The apparatus including means for implementing the steps of receiving an incoming call signal along with a inbound address; determining a user account and a final address on said packet switched network associated with said inbound address; allocating a message processing resource; processing said incoming call into a processed message; and, sending said processed message to said final address.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack Rieley
- 👤 Jaye Muller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:26
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00127; H04N1/00281; H04N1/00312; H04M; H04M7/00; H04M7/12; H04M7/1205; H04M7/128; H04N1/00204; H04N1/00209; H04M2207/00; H04M2207/20; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/5307; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/0008; H04N2201/0015; H04N2201/0024
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A system comprising: a set of switches coupled to a circuit switched network for receiving a set of incoming call signals, wherein the incoming call signal includes an inbound address, and wherein a switch in the set of switches redirects an incoming can signal from a first communications server to a second communications server if a first condition occurs; and, a set of communications servers coupled to the set of switches for receiving the set of incoming call signals, each communications server being coupled to a network and containing a message processing resource configured to process a received audio message into a digital representation, wherein each communications server further comprises a trunk line interface to extract the inbound address and stores the inbound address, a set of final destination addresses and account status, and the message processing resource is further configured to determine, based on the inbound address, a user account and a destination on a packet switched network and send the digital representation to the destination, wherein the inbound address is assigned to the user account and the outbound address comprises at least one email address.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
187 words
A system comprising: a set of switches coupled to a circuit switched network for receiving a set of incoming call signals, wherein the incoming call signal includes an inbound address, and wherein a switch in the set of switches redirects an incoming can signal from a first communications server to a second communications server if a first condition occurs; and, a set of communications servers coupled to the set of switches for receiving the set of incoming call signals, each communications server being coupled to a network and containing a message processing resource configured to process a received audio message into a digital representation, wherein each communications server further comprises a trunk line interface to extract the inbound address and stores the inbound address, a set of final destination addresses and account status, and the message processing resource is further configured to determine, based on the inbound address, a user account and a destination on a packet switched network and send the digital representation to the destination, wherein the inbound address is assigned to the user account and the outbound address comprises at least one email address.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 , where the first condition occurs if the first communications server sends a rejection signal to the switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 , where the first condition occurs if the first communications server is unable to process the incoming call signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1 , where the incoming call signal signals an incoming call and the first condition occurs if the first communications server is unable to process the incoming call.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising a system management unit for setting the first condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising a system management unit, and the first condition occurs if the system management unit determines that the second communications server should receive the incoming call signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1 , where the set of switches includes a second switch, and the first communications server is coupled to the switch and the second communications server is coupled to the second switch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 7 , where the switch redirects the incoming call signal to the second switch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 , where the inbound address is a circuit destination address.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 , where the message processing resource is further configured to validate the inbound address.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 , where the audio message is a facsimile message and the digital representation of the audio message is a graphics file.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 1 , where the message processing resource further comprises a processor to: determine if the audio message contains a facsimile message or a voice message; and, digitize the audio message if the audio message contains the voice message and receive the facsimile message if the audio message contains the facsimile message.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
114 words
A method comprising: receiving a first incoming call signal destined for a first communications server for processing of an audio message into a digital representation; determining if a first condition has occurred; redirecting the first incoming call signal from the first communications server to a second communications server based on the determining of the first condition, wherein the incoming call signal includes an inbound address; extracting the inbound address; determining, based on the inbound address, a user account status and a destination on a packet switched network; and, sending the digital representation to the destination, wherein the inbound address is assigned to the user account and the destination comprises at least one email address.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
114 words
A method comprising: receiving a first incoming call signal destined for a first communications server for processing of an audio message into a digital representation; determining if a first condition has occurred; redirecting the first incoming call signal from the first communications server to a second communications server based on the determining of the first condition, wherein the incoming call signal includes an inbound address; extracting the inbound address; determining, based on the inbound address, a user account status and a destination on a packet switched network; and, sending the digital representation to the destination, wherein the inbound address is assigned to the user account and the destination comprises at least one email address.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 13 , where determining the first condition includes determining that the first communications server sends a rejection signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 , where determining the first condition includes determining that the first communications server is unable to process the incoming call signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 13 , where the incoming call signal signals an incoming call and determining the first condition includes determining that the first communications server is unable to process the incoming call.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 13 , where determining the first condition includes determining that a system management unit selects the second communications server for receiving the incoming call signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 13 , where redirecting the first incoming call signal includes using a switch to redirect the first incoming signal from the first communication server to the second communication server.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13 , where the inbound address is a circuit destination address.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 13 , further including validating the inbound address.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 , where the audio message is a facsimile message and the digital representation of the audio message is a graphics file.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 13 , further including: determining if the audio message contains a facsimile message or a voice message; and, digitizing the audio message if the audio message contains the voice message and receiving the facsimile message if the audio message contains the facsimile message.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-03-26 | 2004-09-25 | 2005-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-26 | 2008-09-25 | 2009-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-26 | 2012-09-25 | 2013-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |