Alan W Schwartz

US Patent:

50181912, May 21, 1991

Filed:

Oct 23, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/425529

Inventors:

Nancy A. Catron - Long Valley NJ
Richard J. Famulare - Belle Mead NJ
Joseph V. Fodale - Lincroft NJ
Karrie J. Hanson - Westfield NJ
Robert A. Koch - Freehold NJ
Ronald E. Large - Holmdel NJ
Paramdeep S. Sahni - Marlboro NJ
Alan I. Schwartz - Bedminster NJ
Susan M. Zoccolillo - Howell NJ

Assignee:

AT&T Bell Laboratories - Murray Hill NJ

International Classification:

H04N 132

US Classification:

379100

Abstract:

This invention relates to methods of establishing facsimile (fax) connections. When it is determined that a call is a fax call, a fax indicator is sent with Common Channel Signaling (CCS) messages for that call. If a call with a fax indicator is received in a destination switching office, then the destination office checks to see if the called number is a fax number; if not, translation is made to find the number of a fax station for serving fax calls to the called number, and the call is completed to that fax station. Fax calls may be recognized by a fax class mark in an originating message from an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) line or a dialed prefix such as #, #3, or an alternative common carrier code (10XXX) from an ordinary line. Calls may be automatically redirected to a store and forward system on busy or no answer, routed to one of a plurality of alternative destinations based on the day and time, junk fax calls may be screened, and a fax message waiting lamp on the called (voice) destination may be operated. For international calls, a translation from voice to fax may be made at an egress gateway switch; the fax calls may also be automatically routed over low distortion international transmission facilities.