Importance

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Abstract

A facsimile store and forward network (42) includes a network access device (36) and an address processing unit (38) that cooperate to interface an originating facsimile machine (10) with a store and forward inbound node (40). The store and forward network provides communication between the originating facsimile machine and a receiving facsimile machine (12), both of which are capable of communicating in a point-to-point manner via a public switched telephone network (14). In operation, the network access device receives from the originating facsimile machine a first address signal that accesses the receiving facsimile machine, generates and stores address information corresponding the first address signal, and delivers to a message entry telephone network (16) a second address signal that accesses the address processing unit of the inbound node. The address processing unit delivers to the network access device a nodal identification signal, in response to which the network access device connects the originating facsimile machine to the message entry telephone network for the transmission of message data to the inbound node. The network access device and the address processing unit form a network interface system (34) that allows the originating facsimile machine to employ the store and forward network while being operated as if the message data were transmitted to the receiving facsimile machine in a point-to-point manner.

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First Claim