The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 15, 2005
Filed:
Feb. 13, 2001
Naoki Ohta, Kanagawa-ken, JP;
Naoki Ohta, Kanagawa-ken, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A gateway apparatus includes facsimile and Internet communications mechanisms, a memory, and a communications controller. The facsimile communications mechanism receives facsimile communications protocols and facsimile information from a calling facsimile apparatus through the telephone network. The Internet communications mechanism transmits the facsimile information in a packet format to a called facsimile apparatus via a different gateway apparatus through the Internet and the telephone network. The memory stores data representing a calling facsimile number of the calling facsimile apparatus in association with a called facsimile number of the called facsimile apparatus. The communications controller determines before establishing a line connection whether the facsimile number of the calling facsimile apparatus is registered. The communications controller causes the different gateway apparatus to initiate a call to the called facsimile apparatus using the called facsimile number when the facsimile number of the calling facsimile apparatus is determined as registered. The communications controller establishes a line connection upon a receipt of an acknowledgement indicating the line is connectable.