Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for delivering messages that utilizes a message queue and a router/filter within a private data network. The private network is connected to an external data network such as the Internet, and has separate outbound resource servers to provide a high degree of scalability for handling a variety of message types.

Abstract: A system controlling use of a communication channel in a communication network. The system comprising a network including service nodes. The service nodes comprising one or more sets having one or more nodes adapted to provide service functions in response to messages in the network. At least one of the sets comprising a member node having an interface for communication with a remote terminal, and a user interface process coupled with the interface to include a user of the remote terminal in the network. At least one of the sets comprising a member node having an interface to the communication network, and a process coupled to the interface to control establishment of the communication channel for the user.

Abstract: A Message Storage and Deliver System (MSDS) is connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and receives incoming calls with these calls being facsimile, voice, or data transmissions. The MSDS detects the type of call and stores the message signal in a database. The MSDS is also connected to the Internet and has a hyper-text transfer protocol deamon (HTTPD) for receiving requests from users. The HTTPD forwards requests for certain files or messages to a network server which transmits at least part of the message to the HTTPD and then to the user. In addition to requests for certain documents, the HTTPD may also receive a request in the form of a search query. The search query is forwarded from the HTTPD to an application program for conducting the search of the database. The results of the search are forwarded through the HTTPD to the user. The user may then select one or more files or messages from the search results and may save the search for later reference.

Abstract: A system controlling use of a communication channel in a communication network. The system comprising a network including service nodes. The service nodes comprising one or more sets having one or more nodes adapted to provide service functions in response to messages in the network. At least one of the sets comprising a member node having an interface for communication with a remote terminal, and a user interface process coupled with the interface to include a user of the remote terminal in the network. At least one of the sets comprising a member node having an interface to the communication network, and a process coupled to the interface to control establishment of the communication channel for the user.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system for combining an electronic mail (email) address or addresses and/or facsimile telephone numbers into a fax message, so that when received by a server the fax document is processed and transmitted as an email attachment to the email addresses or a fax message to the telephone numbers of the intended fax recipients. This allows the user to be able to send faxes and emails from a conventional fax machine or personal computer without having an Internet connection.

Abstract: A system for supporting a message delivery service, a method for supporting such a service and a machine accessible medium containing program data for implementing such a system. A number of processing servers are coupled to communicate with a number of outbound resources and a database server over an internal packet-switched data network. The database server contains account information on customers of the service. Request messages received from a customer over an external packet-switched data network are stored in a queue of a processing server. A router filter obtains a request message from the queue and validates a customer associated with the request message, after accessing the database server. A determination is made as to which of the multiple outbound resources to assign the request message. Each of these resources is capable of converting an input request message into a format capable of being received by a fax machine over a telephone network.