Facsimile printer broadcast exchange (PBX)

摘要

This is a facsimile printer broadcast exchange (PBX) system for receiving a facsimile transmission over a telephone line from a facsimile device at a remote loction directed to a telephone number with an extension number and for transmitting the facsimile transmission over a network to one of a plurality of printer units associated with the extension number for printing thereby. There is a data buffer for receiving and holding digital data. An interface is connected to the telephone line for removing and saving the extension number, for establishing and maintaining a bi-directional facsimile communications link with the facsimile device over the telephone line, for using the link to receive the transmission from the facsimile device, and for storing data of the transmission in the data buffer. Data transmission logic removes data from the data buffer means and transmits it to a network in packets addressed to the extension number. The remote printer units each contain a dot-oriented printer, a printer identification code for associating an extension number identifier with the printer, an interface, and printing logic for receiving packets containing data from the interface and for printing pixel data contained therein with the printer. The network interconnects the interface of respective ones of the printer units and the data transmission logic.