Systems and methods for enabling and implementing real-time facsimile over internet protocol

摘要

Systems and methods are provided for real-time communication (e.g., fax, voice, video) via an IP Network even if a firewall or other restriction element is present or encountered. The real-time nature of the communication is ensured by preestablishing a communication session between a transfer client and a transfer server, between which the firewall or other restriction element is located. Following the preestablishment of the communication session, transmission control messages are exchanged between the transfer server and the transfer client via the preestablished communication session. The preestablished communication session prevents the firewall or other restriction element from blocking or delaying traffic (e.g., fax, voice, video traffic). The preestablished communication session establishes a full duplex communication link without restriction of or by the firewall or other communication restriction element. Accordingly, the firewall or restriction element considers traffic originating from outside of the portion of the IP network where the firewall is located to be in response to a request from the inside the IP Network. Thus, the firewall or restriction element will not act to block or delay the traffic from entry.

主权项

1. A system for use in real-time facsimile transmissions between a transmission device and a reception device over a packet switched communication network, the system implementing a client-server model and including a restriction element, the system comprising:
a transfer client communicably connectable to the transmission device on a client side of the client-server model; and a transfer server communicably connectable to the reception device on a server side of the client-server model; wherein the restriction element is communicably connectable between the transfer client and the transfer server, thereby separating the transfer client and the transmission device on the client side of the client-server model from the transfer server and the reception device on the server side of the client-server model, and wherein the transfer client operative:
to receive a transmission from the transmission device;to pre-establish a communication session between the transfer client and the transfer server over non-pre-selected ports; andfollowing pre-establishment of the communication session between the transfer client and the transfer server:
to exchange transmission control messages with the transfer server via the pre-established communication session; andto send, via the pre-established communication session through the restriction element over the non-pre-selected ports, the transmission to the transfer server as a real-time transmission for receipt at the reception device.