Multimedia Fax-MIME Interworking

In this paper we present the architecture of an application level fax-Internet gateway, and show how such a gateway could be utilised to facilitate multimedia messaging and to extend Internet services to the home or office. We propose the application of the latest developments in the facsimile and Internet worlds, notably MIME and BFT support for G3 protocols, for the exchange of multimedia messages (documents) between both environments as well as providing Internet e-mail, file transfer and Internet news services to fax users. Such services would be of most benefit to Internet novices and those users who do not have access to Internet via dialup/SLIP or freenet facilities. Various aspects of the gateway are discussed in detail in this paper. The implementation of such a gateway would make multimedia at home a very practical reality.