Facsimile jack for selectively routing transmissions through a facsimile

Abstract

A facsimile jack selectively routes a facsimile transmission over a packet switched digital network including a source point of presence (source POP) which is local to a facsimile machine sending the facsimile transmission and a destination point of presence (destination POP) which is local to a facsimile machine receiving the facsimile transmission. The facsimile jack is connected between a facsimile machine and a telephone jack and includes a processor which determines if a destination number of the facsimile transmission is serviced by the facsimile network. If the destination number is long distance and is serviced by the facsimile network, the processor instructs a local number of the source POP to be dialed and the facsimile transmission to be sent through the source POP. If not, then other network route paths can be dialed (WATS, VPN, etc.). If a connection with other networks cannot be established either, then it dials the original number and connects the transmitting channel of the facsimile machine to the phone line. Even if the number is serviced by the network, a connection with the source POP may not be established an alternative routing paths selected if: the source POP is not operational and does not answer the incoming call; the source POP is saturated and cannot accept any additional incoming calls; the destination POP is saturated and cannot service any additional traffic; the destination POP is not operational; or the source POP or the facsimile network cannot respond with the proper initiation/training command sequence within a prescribed time-out period.