VOCAL’s T.38 Fax over IP (FoIP) software supports transmission for proprietary and industry standard real time Group 3 fax/facsimile over IP networks. The T.38 fax over IP / fax relay software is optimized for execution on ANSI C and leading DSP architectures. Our software modules may be licensed by developers as source code or binary. Customized solutions are available using the T.38 protocol for applications to meet specific developer requirements.
The purpose of FoIP and T.38 enabled devices is to allow the use of ordinary group 3 facsimile as well as high speed V.34 machines on modern internet protocol (IP) networks, permitting ATAs or other FoIP products to relay calls through a VoIP service. Without T.38, successful calls can be placed, but these can be less reliable than facsimile transmissions through an ordinary telephone line. With the T.38 protocol, the user should not even know that a VoIP service is being used instead of a land line connection.
T.38 fax relay usage and capabilities can vary greatly between VoIP providers. Some provide minimum support, if at all, while others fully support the protocol up to and including high speed V.34 FAX. Despite the decline in conventional FAX due to internet and e-mail services, the clear industry trend is to provide for transparent support using the T.38 FoIP protocol.
In a typical network environment where the SIP protocol is used to establish sessions between two (or more) entities, the T.38 fax call flow is normally indicated by SDP entries in the initial SIP INVITE message. This may be through a particular codec type in the audio stream or through an independent media stream different from the voice audio media stream.
After the initial INVITE, the session is typically established as an ordinary audio voice call, with the ability to switch to fax relay mode. With dedicated facsimile machines the initial INVITE may actually set up a T.38 connection first, which can be easily handled by modifying the startup sequence to skip the autodetection phases. At this point, either the detection of a tone in the local audio codec stream or the receipt of a network event such as a SIP RE-INVITE or the receipt of a RTP packet will force a transition to the fax relay mode.
T.38 Fax over IP modules can be combined with VOCAL’s SIP and network stacks to obtain seamless voice and/or relay operation from call startup to disconnect. Complete facsimile server call control is also available and can be combined with our real-time Group 3 fax store and forward module.
Alternatively, when integrated with VOCAL’s SIP/T.30 modules and TCP/IP network stack, a standalone internet-ready T.38 facsimile end terminal can be realized. In this configuration the modulation layer is unnecessary and so interoperability with high speed V.34 fax based terminals can be achieved without the need of digital signal processing.
VOCAL’s T.38 Fax over IP software modules are available for use with either the VOCAL or other vendor-provided FAX pumps. The interface points are at the sample layer for the VOCAL pump or the Class 1 command set for other vendor-provided pump layers. The network interface is either RTP or UDPTL. The protocol negotiation and setup is initiated by other modules, either from VOCAL or vendor provided. A block diagram illustrating the relationship between these T.38 software modules is available.
Modulations
- V.34 fax data channel – full and half duplex modulation for data rates in the range of 2400 bps to 33600 bps.
- V.34 fax control channel – 1200/2400 bps modulation for use with half duplex procedures
- V.17 - 7200, 9600, 12,000 and 14,400 bps trellis coded modulation
- V.29 - 7200 and 9600 bps modulation
- V.27ter - 2400 and 4800 bps modulation
- V.21 Channel 2 - 300 bps modulation
Features
- Fully integrated Group 3 Facsimile processing system
- Configurable to support both TCP/IP and/or UDP/IP modes of data transmission
- Configurable type/amount of redundant information for UDP/IP service
- Configurable to support UDPTL forward error correction messages
- Configurable high speed training mechanism – Local TCF generation or TCF transmitted between end-terminals
- Optimized for high performance on leading edge DSP architectures
- Multichannel implementation
- Multi-tasking environment compatible
Configurations
- SIP-based system available for industry standard and proprietary Facsimile-over-IP networks
- Facsimile/Voice Distinction available for seamless facsimile/voice system operation
- Direct interface to 8.0 kHz PCM data stream (A-law or μ-law), run-time time-slot selection
- Analog DAA interface using linear codec at 8.0 kHz sample rate
- North American/International Telephony supports DTMF generation, dialing procedures, call progress, Caller ID, etc.
- Group 3 Facsimile store-and-forward features available
- Group 3 Facsimile End Terminal operation with direct T.38 protocol interface available
- Complete VoIP systems available (speech codecs, DTMF tokens, silence tokens, etc.)
- Speech codecs include V.34 fax, G.723, G.729, G.729A, GSM, G.728, G.726/G.721
- Complete data modem systems available (through V.90/V.42bis and V.34fax/T.30)
- Multiple ports can be executed on a single DSP
Platforms
VOCAL’s T.38 FoIP and Real Time Group 3 Facsimile software is available for the following Platforms:
- Texas Instruments – TMS320 C5000 and C6000 families, DaVinci, OMAP
- Analog Devices – Blackfin, ADSP-21xx, TigerSHARC, SHARC
- AMCC – PowerPC
- MIPS – MIPS32, MIPS64, MIPS4Kc
- ARM – ARM7, ARM9, ARM9E, ARM10E, ARM11, StrongARM
- iPhone / iPad
- Android
- Atmel
- CEVA – Teak, TeakLite, Palm, Oak
- Microchip dsPIC
- AMD x86 (MMX) – AMD Geode SC1200
- Intel
- PowerQUICC – PowerQUICC Pro (83xx), PowerQUICC III (85xx) families
- Ikanos – Fusiv processors
- ARC Processor IP
- NXP Philips Trimedia – TM1000, TM1100, TM1300
- VeriSilicon (LSI Logic) ZSP
Please contact us for other supported platforms.
Operating Systems
VOCAL’s T.38 FoIP and Real Time Group 3 Facsimile software is available for the following Operating Systems:
- Android
- iOS
- Unix, Linux, uClinux
- Microsoft Windows ACM / RTC / CE / Mobile
- Symbian,
- Mac OS
- BSD
- VxWorks
- Integrity
Please contact us for other supported Operating Systems.
