Method and system for facsimile delivery using dial-up modem pools

Abstract

A method and system for communicating a facsimile (fax) message over a computer network. A user initiates the sending of the fax to a recipient fax transceiver located outside the user's local-toll area of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). A first fax transceiver transmits the fax to a first server, wherein the first fax transceiver and the first server both are located in the same local-toll area. The first server then transmits the fax via the Internet to a second server, which is located in the same local-toll area as the recipient fax transceiver. The second server, having an inbound, dial-up access modem pool, is configured to process and transmit the fax via the local PSTN to the recipient fax transceiver.

1 . (canceled)  
     
     
         2 . A method processing a fax for delivery, the method comprising: 
 counting a plurality of ports connected to a first server;    identifying an active or an inactive state of each port of the plurality of ports;    receiving a fax via the Internet from a second server;    determining whether the state of at least one port of the plurality of ports is inactive;    if the state of the at least one port of the plurality of ports is inactive, reserving the inactive port and changing the state of the reserved port from inactive to active; and    if the state of each port of the plurality of ports is active, queuing the fax for transmission and applying a wait time, wherein the wait time is based at least in part on the utilization of the ports.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising storing the active or the inactive state of each port of the plurality of ports in memory.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising determining whether the state of at least one port is inactive after the wait time.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a dial-up modem is associated with each port.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein counting the ports is performed periodically at predetermined times, at start-up of the first server, after one of the ports is removed, or after another of the ports is added.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising transmitting the fax via the reserved port to a transceiver, wherein the transceiver is physically located in the same local-toll area of a public telephone network as the first server.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising determining whether the transmission is successful.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising releasing the reserved port and changing the state of the reserved port from active to inactive, if the transmission is successful.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for processing a fax for delivery, comprising: 
 means for counting a plurality of ports connected to a first server;    means for identifying an active or an inactive state of each of the plurality of ports;    means for receiving a fax via the Internet from a second server;    means for determining whether the state of at least one port of the plurality of ports is inactive;    if the state of the at least one port of the plurality of ports is inactive, means for reserving the inactive port and means for changing the state of the reserved port from inactive to active; and    if the state of each port of the plurality of ports is active, means for queuing the fax for transmission and means for applying a wait time, wherein the wait time is based at least in part on the utilization of the ports.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising means for storing the active or the inactive state of each port of the plurality of ports in memory.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising means for determining whether the state of at least one port is inactive after the wait time.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a dial-up modem is associated with each port.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the means for counting counts the ports periodically at predetermined times, at start-up of the first server, after one of the ports is removed, or after another of the ports is added.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising means for transmitting the fax via the reserved port to a transceiver, wherein the transceiver is physically located in the same local-toll area of a public telephone network as the first server.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 means for determining whether the transmission is successful; and    if the transmission is successful, means for releasing the reserved port and means for changing the state of the reserved port from active to inactive.    
     
     
         17 . A program storage device storing instructions that when executed by a computer performs a method for processing a fax for delivery, the program storage device comprising: 
 instructions configured to count a plurality of ports connected to a first server; and    instructions configured to identify an active or an inactive state of each of the plurality of ports;    instructions configured to receive a fax via the Internet from a second server;    instructions configured to determine whether the state of at least one port of the plurality of ports is inactive;    if the state of the at least one port of the plurality of ports is inactive, instructions configured to reserve the inactive port and instructions configured to change the state of the reserved port from inactive to active; and    if the state of each port of the plurality of ports is active, instructions configured to queue the fax for transmission and instructions configured to apply a wait time, wherein the wait time is based at least in part on the utilization of the ports.    
     
     
         18 . The program storage device of  claim 17 , further comprising instructions configured to store the active or the inactive state of each port of the plurality of ports in memory.  
     
     
         19 . The program storage device of  claim 17 , further comprising instructions configured to determine whether the state of at least one port is inactive after the wait time.  
     
     
         20 . The program storage device of  claim 17 , wherein counting occurs periodically at predetermined times, at start-up of the first server, after one of the ports is removed, or after another of the ports is added.  
     
     
         21 . The program storage device of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 instructions configured to transmit the fax via the reserved port to a transceiver, wherein the transceiver is physically located in the same local-toll area of a public telephone network as the first server;    instructions configured to determine whether the transmission is successful; and    if the transmission is successful, instructions configured to release the reserved port and instructions configured to change the state of the reserved port from active to inactive.