Facsimile call success rates in long delay environments

Abstract

A facsimile transmission relay apparatus, referred to as an Intelligent Facsimile Relay (IFR) for improving call success rates in long delay environment such as terrestrial cellular, fixed wireless, and geostationary mobile satellite systems and the like. A first bi-directional telecommunications interface is provided for receiving facsimile signals from a transmitting facsimile device via a first network such as a Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN). A buffer memory is used by the IFR for storing the facsimile signal, and a second bi-directional telecommunications interface retransmits the facsimile signal via the second network, e.g., a wireless network, to a receiving facsimile device to avoid signal collisions between the devices. An information processor is coupled to the second interface for monitoring messages from the receiving facsimile device and for generating messages to the receiving facsimile device to maintain communications integrity with the transmitting facsimile device via the first and second networks.