Scalable and flexible internet fax architecture for processing outbound fax messages

Abstract

Methods and systems for processing outbound fax messages in an efficient and scalable manner are provided. According to one embodiment, a request to deliver a fax message is received by an Internet fax system. Source files associated with the request and representing at least a portion of content to be included as part of the fax message are stored to a shared storage area accessible by multiple imaging systems and multiple fax processing resources. A load score is calculated for each imaging system based on one or more of a processor load and a memory load. An imaging system is selected, based on the load scores, to convert the source files into a digital representation suitable for faxing. The source files are converted by associating the digital representation with an outbound fax job. The fax message is delivered by submitting the outbound fax job to one of the fax modems.