Systems and methods for facsimile communication over a cellular radiotelephone communications link

摘要

Facsimile data representing facsimile images is communicated between a facsimile application resident on a remote computer and at least one facsimile station operatively connected to a server computer. Facsimile data communicated from the facsimile application and from a cellular radiotelephone communications link connecting the remote computer to the server computer is stored in the remote computer. Facsimile data is communicated between the remote computer and the server computer over the cellular radiotelephone communications link according to a cellular radiotelephone data communications protocol. Facsimile data communicated to the server computer from the remote computer and from the facsimile station is stored in the server computer. An identifier of previously communicated facsimile data may be communicated between the remote computer to the server computer, preferably a cache entry identifier corresponding to facsimile data cached in the remote computer and the server computer. Facsimile data from the facsimile application may be compressed before communication radiotelephone communications link, and facsimile data communicated over the cellular radiotelephone communications link may be decompressed before communication to the facsimile application. According to a "Register to Send" aspect, a facsimile identifier is communicated from the server computer to pre-allocate a facsimile identifier to the remote computer which the remote computer can use to monitor the status of a facsimile transmission.