DE19801022A1 - Method of transmitting fax data with associated routing system - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves transferring the fax data between the systems alternatively via at least two different data communications networks, esp. circuit switched or packet switched systems. A routing system (6,6') selects one of the data communications networks as the transmission network (3( for the fax data to be transmitted according to definable criteria. An Independent claim is also included for a routing system.

Description

The invention relates to a method for the transmission of Fax data according to the preamble of claim 1 and a Routing system for fax data according to the generic term of Claim 25.

Telecommunications, especially telecommunications with Fax, has developed by leaps and bounds in recent years taken. The users have a wide variety of options terrestrial, mobile and orbital data transmission networks for Available, each designed for specific uses  were. The cost of using this data transfer networks are especially for business fax users considerably.

There are large ones between the individual data transmission networks Differences in costs, e.g. B. depending the time of day and the amount of data to be transferred can fluctuate greatly. Also point the data transmission network For technical reasons, different data transfer rates on, these data transfer rates depend on the load depend.

Fax machines are usually switched to a circuit de telephone line connected so that a connection to a recipient always comes about in the same way. But fax machines are also known that connect the Internet, thus use a packet-switching transmission. This got However, fax machines are only in connection with a certain data transmission network usable, so that, for. B. No cost advantages of another data transmission network can be used.

The present invention is based on the object Process and create a routing system with which the Variety of data transmission paths possible for fax data is more flexible and less expensive to use.

This object is achieved by a method with the features of claim 1 and a routing system with the Features of claim 25 solved.  

In the method according to the invention, a routing system chooses based on predefinable criteria among the various poss Chen data transmission networks a specific transmission network most advantageous for a transmission of fax data between a sender and Receiver system appears. The routing system can especially between different circuit intermediaries and choose packet-switching data transmission networks.

This gives the user of a fax machine an increased Flexibility as it is between different data transmission can choose networks and the best in each case (e.g. cost-effective most or fastest) solution that is quite of the time and depending on the type of use, chosen by the routing system becomes.

The routing system is advantageously used as a transmission network WAN (wide area network), a LAN (local area network), an In tranet, the Internet, a digital telephone network or a analog telephone network selected. These networks are already here available so that based on established transmission methods can be gripped.

Used in an advantageous embodiment of the method the routing system as predefinable criteria cost information and / or information about the utilization of the data transmission networks for the selection of a transmission network. This Criteria are of great importance to the user, since they are in the essential the efficiency of telecommunications with tele Determine fax data.  

In a further advantageous embodiment of the method the fax data coming from the sending system identification information about the receiver system provided, the routing system the identification information tion with a saved routing list and that Routing system depending on the comparison a certain transmission network. Through the identification information mation automatically by the routing system or by the user can be entered interactively, certain receiver systems can be achieved via transmission networks, which have proven to be special have highlighted efficiently.

It is particularly advantageous if as an identifier onsinformation ver a fax number and / or a dial code is applied. The dialing code is an alphanumeric String that can be entered on the fax machine. It is an advantage liable if the routing system then the identification information tion (e.g. the telephone number) of the receiving system with the enterable dialing code combined, so that only a compact String from destination and tax information for shipping the fax data is necessary.

In the method according to the invention, it is possible to use ver various possible data transmission networks temporarily a specific transmission network, especially a telephone network to be permanently set in the routing system. So z. B. at known disturbances of a data transmission network prevented be tried again and again, this disturbed Data transmission network to use as a transmission network.  

The method according to the invention advantageously allows that the transmitter system in the event of successful reception of the Fax data through the receiving system a receipt automatically or upon request. As a result, the Sender the certainty that the fax data to the correct Receiver system have been transmitted.

In one embodiment of the method according to the invention the data transmission from the transmitter system to the receiver system stem via an automatable poll with configurable Time control triggered, the fax data interposed be saved. This allows fax data to be sent independently of a user intervention, resulting in a leads to increased ease of use.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention The method is a data transmission from the transmitter system the transmission network directly through an action a user zer, in particular the delivery of an election code. So that it is a user z. B. in an urgent case possible a fax transmission bypassing a possibly preset buffering immediately to a recipient to send.

In a further embodiment, this allows the ße procedure that a data transmission from the transmitter system to Receiver system by remote inquiry of a user or a computer is triggered. So z. B. at the transmitter system cached fax data on request from one external users can be called up when they are currently being received  ready. This gives flexibility for the broadcaster and increases the recipient because the fax data is then transmitted when they are actually needed.

The method according to the invention advantageously enables this ren that starting from the transmitter system an additional Signali sation to the receiver system via a data transmission network, in particular a circuit-switching network, that is not used as a transmission network for fax data becomes. This is particularly useful if it actually does transmission network used is relatively slow. Through the Signaling over another data transmission network, the possibly faster, the receiver system can e.g. B. on be prepared to receive fax data.

Advantageously, the method according to the invention Fax data and / or outgoing fax data in the Routingsy stem cached. Will the maximum storage capacity exceeded, it is advantageous that a data transfer is triggered by the transmitter system to the receiver system. This ensures that no fax data entered remain with the transmitter system.

In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention The fax data originating from the sender system are in a first data format, which from the transmitter system transmit outgoing fax data to a first converter module become. The first converter module converts the fax data from the first data format into a second data format, in particular an e-mail compatible data format in which the data then via the transfer selected by the routing system transmission network to the receiver system.  

A conversion of the data format is always indicated if the selected transmission network is not for transmission normal fax data is set up or a Conversion better use of the chosen transmission network enables. The beneficiaries are with advantage stem incoming data to a second converter module gene, wherein the second converter module a reverse conversion of Data from the second data format into a suitable internal Data format of the routing system. So that can e.g. B. process incoming data in an email form in such a way be processed by the routing system can. The data is advantageously stored in the second data form mat forwarded to a printer system and printed out. Of the The recipient then immediately has a hard copy of the fax gen. It is also advantageous if the second converter module the incoming data in a printer data format, in particular PCL or PostScript, because it converts to conventional printers can be used in a simple manner.

In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention The second converter module converts the incoming data in an e-mail format, with the data being sent to one of the faxes corresponding email address will be forwarded. The fax is thus an email in the recipient's mailbox gers. Through this data transmission option Flexibility of data transfer greatly increased.

The second converter module advantageously converts the incoming ones Data into a fax bitmap, followed by the data  forwarded to a fax machine for printing. In order to can use conventional fax machines to receive conver tated data can be used.

In a further embodiment of the invention Procedure information about the addresses of recipients the header information and / or additional information NEN of the transmitted data automatically taken and in the Routing list of the routing system saved. Under headerin Formations are here z. B. the target information in one Fax transmission understood. As additional information you can especially information in the subject field of an email be set. Through the targeted evaluation of this information Data transmission can be made considerably more flexible the.

In the method according to the invention, the routing system a user with visual and / or acoustic information on about the type of data transfer carried out supply so that z. B. Detect errors immediately are cash.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the method is the routing system externally configurable and / or are External routing system operating information can be queried. This allows the routing system to be used in a flexible manner be operated remotely without anyone having direct access to the Routing system. The external is advantageously carried out Query / configuration via email with control commands, that is sent to the routing system.  

The routing system according to the invention has means for selection of a certain transmission network from those for the transmission transmission of fax data to existing data transmission networks based on predefinable criteria. The Routingsy stem the various possible data transmission possibilities flexible and effective use.

The routing system advantageously has at least one connection Possibility, especially via a coupling module, for a WAN (wide area network), a LAN (local area network), an intra net, the Internet, a digital telephone network or ana the telephone network. This makes it possible to to use broad data transmission networks.

The routing system also has means for evaluating Cost information and / or information about the Ausla Establishment of data transmission networks and means of use this information as criteria for selecting a specific transmission network. It can be the cheapest Variant determined and selected by the routing system the.

In an advantageous embodiment, the Routing system means for recognizing an identification formation of the receiver system, means for storing a Routing list and means for changing the routing list in Dependency of a comparison of the identification information with the routing list. In the routing list, Informatio nen via communication partners, whereby the Rou ting system based on information from the fax data itself Extract address information from the fax data and into save the routing list for further use.  

The routingsy according to the invention has a particular advantage stem means for self-learning evaluation of header information tion and / or additional information of transmitted data and Means for storing this information in the routing list on. Through the self-learning extraction of Adressanga ben from the header and / or additional information is one Adaptation of the routing list to changes in a simple way possible.

It is also advantageous if the routing system means to use a fax number and / or a dial code as identification information. With special The means of combining a fax number have an advantage with an enterable dial code, whereby the dial code for Selection of the transmission network used for the fax data is cash. By using an alphanumeric string, the z. B. can be entered directly on the fax machine, the Users in a simple way the operating behavior of the Rou influence the systems.

It has means for directly influencing the routing system to temporarily determine a specific transmission network, especially a telephone line. So that exists the possibility of transferring the requirements of the routing system hen, so that the user has greater flexibility in use of the routing system.

The routing system according to the invention also has means for automatic sending of an acknowledgment of receipt via successful data reception. This acknowledgment of receipt supply gives the sender of the fax the certainty that his  Fax has arrived at the recipient. Furthermore it is advantageous if the routing system has means for receiving and / or transmission of a signal with which another System for sending confirmation of receipt of a success rich data reception can be requested.

The routing system advantageously has means for automatable polling with configurable time control on. This means that the routing system can be set according to the Time control Receive or send fax data, e.g. B. particularly inexpensive data transmission options use.

With the existing means for remote querying of the system status the routing system allows flexible remote maintenance of the Device. The routing system has active ones Medium (i.e. other routing systems can be controlled) and / or passive means (i.e. other routing systems can control).

Optionally, the routing system with means for sending and / or receiving an e-mail with control commands for configuration tion of another routing system or to configure the own operating behavior. Through the configu ration of operational behavior can be via e-mail z. B. Was work in a particularly efficient form become.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the routing system according to the invention means for signaling the Receiver system over a data transmission network, in particular a telephone network that is not used to transmit the fax  ten is used. So that a receiver system z. B. about another data transmission network upon receipt of a Fax transmission can be prepared over the transmission network.

Furthermore, the routing system according to the invention has means for storing incoming and / or outgoing data, with which archiving and / or temporary storage the data is possible. This archiving is used among other things increasing data security. Advantageously points the routing system according to the invention also means for determination the storage capacity of the buffer, so that in In the event of a bottleneck, a message is issued to the user or certain measures, such as B. the dispatch of saved secured fax data is made possible.

It is advantageous that individual modules of the routing system or the entire routing system on one computer of the transmitter stems and / or receiver system designed as software are. Through the design as software, the Modules or the entire system in a simple way adjust changed conditions.

It is also advantageous to have individual routing system modules or the entire routing system in one electronic scarf device to implement that with the transmitter system and / or Receiver system are connectable. This allows you to specialize components that are particularly high Allow working speed.

The invention is described below with reference to the Figures of the drawings on several embodiments explained in more detail. Show it:  

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the basic connection options of a routing system for tele fax data.

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of various data transmission networks, are transmitted via the facsimile data between a transmitter system and a receiver system;

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a transmission of facsimile data with a direct, buffer-free routing.

Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of a transmission of fax data over a telephone network with a call back exchange;

Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a transmission of fax data over a telephone network with a fax provider;

Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of a transmission of fax data over a packet-switched data line without provider;

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a transmission of fax data over a packet-switched data line provider;

Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of an externally d your th configuration of the routing system;

Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a transmission of facsimile data with a real time process.

Fig. 10 is a schematic representation of a transmission of facsimile data with a real time method and a separate signaling of the routing system;

Fig. 11 is a schematic representation of the functional groups of the routing system (hardware);

Fig. 12 is a schematic representation of the functional groups of the routing system (software).

Fig. 1 shows a basic connectivity of a routing system according to the invention 6, for the transmission of facsimile data between a transmitter system 1 (in Fig. 1 to the left) and a receiver system 2 (in Fig. 2, right) is used. The double arrows in FIG. 1 make it clear that the fax data can in principle also be transmitted from the fax machine 30 on the right to a fax machine 30 on the left.

Here and in all other figures, however, for reasons of simplicity, only the data transmission from the transmission system 1 (left in the figures) to the receiver system 2 (right in the figures) is to be shown.

The routing system 6 controls the type of transmission of the fax data, in particular which transmission network 3 is used for the fax data, which is shown in more detail in FIGS . 2 to 10.

In Fig. 1, fax machines 30 are used as the transmitter systems 1 and as the receiver system 2 . In alternative embodiments, computers with a connected or integrated telefax system can also be used on the transmitter or receiver side.

On the left side of FIG. 1, three fax machines 30 are shown on the transmitter side, which are connected to the routing system 6 in different ways. The upper fax machine 30 is connected directly to the routing system 6 via a line. The middle fax machine 30 is via a telephone system 31 , for. B. a PBX (public branch exchange, private branch exchange) to the routing system 6 is connected, the telephone system 31 , the fax machine 30 and the routing system 6 in close proximity, for. B. an office. The fax machine 30 shown at the bottom left in FIG. 1 is also connected to the routing system 6 via a telephone system 31 , here the connection of the telephone system 31 to the routing system 6 is still via a local data network 32 , e.g. B. leads a telephone network. Such a configuration is used, for example, when the routing system 6 is installed at a central location in an office building, and the fax machine 30 may be located far from this central location.

Basically, the described connection options are also available at the same time.  

The routing system 6 can thus receive fax data in a wide variety of ways. The fax data are transmitted from the routing system 6 via a transmission network 3 to the receiver system 2 , which in the present case is also designed as a fax machine 30 . The routing system 6 can be designed as a separate assembly with which existing fax machines 30 or computers can be retrofitted. Integration into new devices is also possible.

In Fig. 2, various data transmission networks 4 are shown schematically, via which fax data can be transmitted from the transmitter system 1 to the receiver system 2 .

The routing system 6 serves to send the fax data in each case via a specific transmission network 3 , which it selects according to predefinable criteria from the numerous possible data transmission networks 4 . The individual data transmission networks 4 differ in particular by the type of data transmission (z. B. data transmission protocols), which has a significant impact on the transmission costs. The routing system 6 selects a specific transmission network 3 according to the criteria specified, such as. B. transmission costs or transmission speed. This selection can be the respective conditions, such. B. data volume, urgency of data transmission or the time of day, automatically or adjusted by user intervention. This makes it possible to ensure the optimal transmission of fax data for a specific purpose; one is not bound to a fixed data transmission between the transmitter system 1 and the receiver system 2 . The predeterminable criteria are preset in the routing system 6 , but can later be changed by the user or externally by a service provider (e.g. via an email).

This also simplifies operation for a user who does not have to consider the best transmission path for a particular situation. As will be explained later, however, he himself has the possibility of influencing the routing system 6 in such a way that a specific transmission network 3 is selected.

In principle, it is possible for all transmissions of fax data that the routing system 6 waits for an automatically sent acknowledgment of receipt of the successful data transmission and independently selects another transmission network 3 after the absence of such a receipt or an error message. The routing system 6 can also request such receipts from other systems.

In the following, the network that is selected by the routing system 6 for the transmission of the fax data among the various data transmission networks 4 is generally referred to as the transmission network 3 .

On the left side of FIG. 2, a fax machine 30 is shown as the transmitter system 1 , which is connected to data transmission networks 4 via a routing system 6 . On the right side, ie the receiver system 2 , there are two Telefa xgeräte 30 , which are connected to the data transmission networks 4 in different ways. The upper fax machine 30 is connected to a routing system 6 , the lower fax machine 30 is connected directly to a recipient telephone network 20 .

The structure of FIGS. 3 to 8 basically corresponds to the structure of FIG. 2, so that the individual elements of the data transmission networks 4 are described for reasons of simplicity in the data transmissions selected by the routing system 6 , in which they are used. The transmission network 3 is highlighted by thick lines.

As a first variant, which the routing system 6 can choose, a direct data transmission between the transmitter system 1 and the receiver system 2 is shown in FIG. 3. Again, fax machines 30 are used as terminals.

The transmission network 3 , which was selected by the routing system 6 from the different data transmission networks 4 , connects the routing system 6 of the transmitter system 1 to a transmitter telephone network 10 . From this, the fax data are transmitted via a long-distance line to the recipient telephone network 20 .

On the receiver side, there are two options for further data transmission, which are shown in FIG. 3 by dashed lines.

A basic distinction can be made as to whether the receiver system 2 itself has a routing system 6 '(upper part of the receiver system 2 in FIG. 3) or not. The methods according to the invention function regardless of whether the receiver system 2 is equipped with a routing system 6 'or not.

If the receiver system 2 has a routing system 6 ', the data can be transmitted to it. Then the routing system 6 'decides at what time and in what form the fax data is made available to the recipient. For example, the fax data can be sent directly to an end user's computer (not shown here) and can be displayed there as a bitmap. It is also possible for the routing system 6 'to convert the data in such a way that they are printed out on a PCL or PostScript printer as a hard copy. The routing system 6 'has the information as to which type of representation makes the most sense at a certain time. Is z. B. an employee on the receiving end on vacation, a fax can be transmitted to a representative or to several representatives.

The fax can also be in an e-mail format, if necessary additionally with an OCR software, so that it can be converted without a printout can be sent directly to a computer can. To convert fax documents into emails, the widespread MIME standard (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension) is used. The MIME standard defines certain Formats to send multimedia documents by electronic mail exchange.

If the receiver system does not have a routing system 6 ', the fax data are printed out directly on a fax machine 30 .

The data transmission over the transmission network 3 takes place in the variant shown in Fig. 3 directly and without intermediate storage. The end users' fax machines 30 can be used in the usual way, since the routing is carried out completely transparently by the routing systems.

In FIG. 4, a transmission of facsimile data via a different transmission network 3 is shown. As with the data transmission described in FIG. 3, the routing system 6 first sends the fax data to the transmitter telephone network 10 . The further data transmission then takes place via a call back provider 21 . A callback provider is also to be understood here as an LCR provider (LCR: least-cost routing).

The basic idea of the callback process is based on the fact that all data transmissions (e.g. telephone, fax, etc.) take place outside of a local area network through intelligent switching via foreign telephone companies or other private providers, which generally offer cheaper tariffs than domestic telecommunications providers . The data transmission is a kind of R conversation z. B. mediated through a US telecommunications company. It should be noted that the costs of a callback routing are subject to fluctuations that can influence the routing through the routing system 6 . The callback providers' tariffs change frequently due to exchange rate fluctuations. The data throughput rate also depends on the utilization of the respective line. The data transmission time and the origin and / or destination of the data play a major role. The routing system 6 according to the Invention is able to take these factors into account and z. B. automatically determine the cheapest or fastest way. If a suitable target function is specified by the user, it is also possible for the routing system 6 to optimize various parameters (for example weighing the costs and speed of data transmission).

With the LCR, a switchover unit at the user routes the non-local connections over the telephone or data networks of private providers. The hardware used for this is of a more complex structure than that of a callback provider 21 , and there are no differences in the basic mode of operation.

From the callback provider 21 , the fax data are then transmitted via the receiver telephone network 20 to the receiver system 2 . Analogously to the illustration in FIG. 3, the data can be transmitted to a fax machine 30 with routing system 6 'or directly to a fax machine 30 .

Fig. 5 shows a transmission of fax data via a fax providers 22, wherein as a transmission system 3, a standard telephone network (public switched telephone network) is used. The fax provider 22 provides facilities with which fax data can be transmitted more cheaply compared to the standard telecommunications network. This happens e.g. B. by temporarily storing the fax data and taking advantage of particularly favorable tariff times or rented lines for the transmission of large amounts of data (e.g. in the case of mass faxes). Since faxes are often not about direct delivery to the recipient, considerable costs can be saved here. The routing system 6 can choose between the offers of different fax providers or combine them depending on requirements.

As with the routes described in FIGS. 3 and 4, the sender telephone network 10 is selected first and the fax data is transmitted to the fax provider 22 . From this, the fax data are then in turn transmitted to the receiver telephone network 20 . The further data transmission to the receiver system 3 is carried out analogously to the procedure described in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In FIGS. 3 to 5, the routing system 6 each had a line-switching data network such. B. the telephone network, selected as the transmission network 3 . In circuit-switching data networks, there is a dedicated connection between the terminals for the duration of the data transmission. There is no intermediate storage during data transfer. In the cases described in FIGS. 4 and 5, intermediate storage was only carried out by service providers, who were however selected in each case via circuit-switching data transmission.

Fax data can now also be transmitted with a packet-switching data transmission between a transmitter system 1 and a receiver system 2 . In this case, only data packets of a defined size are transmitted between the terminals, the packets being temporarily stored in switching centers so that they can be transmitted in sections from there via free switching centers. The packages of a shipment can go different ways.

Such a transmission of fax data via a packet-switching transmission network 3 is shown in FIG. 6. For this purpose, the routing system 6 selects a coupling module 23 which establishes a connection to the Internet 25 . A modem or an ISDN system can be used as the coupling module 23 .

Other subscribers are also connected to the Internet, which is symbolized by the mailboxes 24 . In alternative embodiments, a WAN, an intranet or another packet-switching house network can be used instead of the Internet 25 . Since these networks were not originally intended for the transmission of fax data, a format and / or protocol conversion of the original fax data is required. On the Internet, the fax data is then treated like an email. The conversion of the data is shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

After data transmission to the Internet 25 , the transmitter system 1 can in principle be switched off, since the packet-transmitting data transmission does not make it necessary for a permanent connection between the transmitter system 1 and receiver system 2 to exist. This results in a considerable flexibility of the data transmission, since the receiver system 2 does not have to be in constant operation, which is a great advantage especially for smaller companies.

From the Internet 25 , the fax data are then in turn transmitted to a coupling module 23 ', which establishes the connection to the routing system 6 of the receiver system 3 . In the illustrated embodiment, a fax machine 30 is connected to the routing system 6 . Basically, it is also possible that the fax data from the coupling module 23 is advised to be transmitted to a Telefaxge 30 .

FIG. 7 shows a transmission of fax data analogous to the method shown in FIG. 6. Here, too, is a packet-switching transmission network 3 , such as. B. the Internet 25 , data transmission. However, an Internet fax provider 26 or a service provider for a similar packet-switching data transmission is used here.

The existing Internet providers offer a wide variety of fax services, in which an email is sent to the Internet fax provider 26 , which then converts it into a fax. This can then be sent to recipients who have no email connections. There is no standard with regard to the used, so that the routing system 6 is set up to use a wide variety of email standards in order to use the cheapest service of an Internet fax provider 26 . The selection of the most favorable Internet fax provider 26 is done automatically by the routing system 6 and is completely transparent for the user.

In the illustration selected here, a fax machine 30 is arranged on the receiver side 2 , so that the data read in must first be converted into an e-mail by the connected routing system 6 '. Basically, it is possible to send an email e.g. B. with text, graphics and attachments on a computer, not shown here, with an email program and then send it to the routing system 6 '. In this case, the conversion to email data would take place in the computer and not in the routing system 6 '.

The fax data are then transmitted from the Internet fax provider 26 to the recipient telephone network 20 , from where the fax data are transmitted to the terminals of the recipient system 2 in the manner described in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 8 is a Fernkonfiguierung of the routing system 6 according to the invention by an e-mail is displayed.

On the left side of FIG. 8, a routing system 6 is shown, to which a fax machine 30 , a computer with a monitor 43 and a keyboard 44 are connected. This computer is used e.g. B. used for a first installation or for basic work on the routing system 6 .

The routing system 6 can, however, be controlled remotely in a simple manner via an email. This remote control can relate to maintenance, reprogramming and / or the expansion of the function (e.g. new collective addresses of service providers or new services). An e-mail is sent to the routing system 6 , with which a control, configuration, journal management, data query or the like is possible. The email used as a remote control has a specific header by which the routing system 6 recognizes that there is no normal email, but a configuration email. An update of the system software of the routing system 6 is also possible with the configuration mail. With the remote control via email, it is also possible that the routing system 6 issues a status report at regular intervals, so that the function of the routing system 6 can be monitored continuously.

When a configuration email is received, the routing system 6 generally checks whether the sender of the configuration email is authorized to carry out a configuration or other measures on the routing system 6 . The admissibility of the individual configuration instructions is also checked.

The routing system 6 executes the specifications of the configuration mail and creates a protocol with status information and sends this confirmation mail back to the computer from which the configuration mail was based. In alternative embodiments, the confirmation email is sent to another computer, e.g. B. the system administrator.

The route of the configuration mail from the computer 40 to the routing system 6 is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 8. This configuration email is sent from the computer 40 via a coupling module 23 to the Internet 25 , possibly via mailboxes 24 . From there it reaches routing system 6 . The answer of the routing system 6 , e.g. B. with a status message, then takes essentially the opposite way, which is dash-dot Darge is.

For many applications, it is not absolutely necessary to receive a fax within a very short time, so that often a bulk mailing of fax data, e.g. B. at Office hours or at certain intervals (polling), is sufficient.

In urgent cases, however, there must be the possibility to bypass this procedure, which is sensible per se, in order to Achieve transmission of fax data in real time.  

In Fig. 9, therefore, a fax transmission is shown, in which a packet-switching transmission network 3 , such as the Internet 25 , is used for the immediate transmission of the fax data. With regard to the description of the components used, reference is made to the description of FIG. 6.

Other data transmission networks 4 that are basically available for selection (see FIG. 2) are not shown in FIG. 9, since the user has used the possibility of temporarily setting a specific transmission network 3 for the routing system 6 himself (override mode). Such a selection is achieved in a simple manner by placing a dial code (e.g. * 9 #) in front of the destination fax number (result: * 9 # destination number). From this, the routing system 6 recognizes that a very specific network is to be used immediately for the transmission of the fax data. The choice codes allow the user to directly control certain functions of the routing system 6 . Other examples of this direct control of the type of data processing in the routing system 6 itself are the determination of certain routing routes, the duration of an intermediate storage in the routing system 6 and the initiation of certain data conversions and data forwardings. The choice codes can be freely programmed by the user, so that he receives considerable flexibility in the use of the routing system 6 .

In a modification of the real-time transmission method described in FIG. 9, the receiver system 2 is signaled in FIG. 10 via a different data transmission network 4 than the transmission network 3 on which fax data is transmitted.

Here the signaling of the receiver system 2 takes place via a circuit-switching line, e.g. B. the telephone network, since this is usually faster than data transmission over a packet-switching network. This signaling can thus activate a routing system 6 'of the receiver system 2 from a standby mode before the actual fax data arrives at the routing system 6 '. The cost of transferring the election code is minimal. It is also conceivable for the telephone to be “ringed three times” on the receiver side, and this is understood by the routing system 6 ′ as activation. In this case there are no costs for the transmission of the election code at all.

The receiver side 2 can also be signaled via a dialing code via the D channel of an ISDN line.

Generally there is WAN and other packet-switching Types of transmission the problem that can never be said exactly can know when a fax will be received by the recipient.

The signaling of the receiver system 2 leads to a minimum waiting time adapted to the time transmission properties of the packet-switching network (e.g. WAN throughput time), possibly with a configured polling sequence switched off.

The routing system 6 can "learn" the WAN throughput time over time by starting from set values, experience-based or measured values determined an independent and optimized adaptation to the specific time conditions and changes. The time parameters for sending fax data are decremented when data is successfully retrieved or, in the event of an error, incremented to a suitable level. This includes the determination and consideration of time tolerances in the context of transmission statistics.

In Fig. 11 is a schematic representation of the erfindungsge MAESSEN routing system 6 is shown, where the individual components are constructed as hardware here.

Outwardly, the routing system 6 has an interface for a locally connected fax machine 30 , a connection to a communication network, such as. B. the transmitter telephone network 10 , a connection for the coupling module 113 for a WAN, various outputs of an I / O module 109 and a power connection via a power supply 108 .

ISDN connections, WAN connections, Internet or intranet connections can also be provided via the coupling module 113 . In a transportable configuration of the routing system 6 , the power supply 108 can be supplemented by a battery or it can be replaced.

The routing system 6 takes over the recognition and decoding of the selection and control information (DTMF signals; dial tone multiple frequency) from the connected fax machine 30 . The signals are processed by a signal source switch 101 .

If the routing system 6 is not ready for operation, then fax data are exchanged directly between the fax machine 30 and the transmitter telephone network 10 (send and receive conditions). The routing system 6 is then skipped.

If the routing system 6 is active, the signal source switch 101 can perform two functions. In this way, he can establish a connection between the local fax machine 30 and the downstream components of the routing system 6 . However, he can also establish a connection from external fax machines (not shown here) that send fax data to the local fax machine 30 to the components of the routing system 6 . The signal source switch 101 thus controls the incoming and / or outgoing fax data traffic of the fax machine 30 .

The functioning of the routing system 6 is to be described using the example of a fax transmission from the local fax machine 30 to a receiver system (not shown here). The signal source switch 101 recognizes in the incoming data that it is fax data (DTMF data), which are then subsequently examined in a dialing code recognition module 103 to determine whether a dialing code, e.g. B. for the immediate dispatch of the fax (see FIGS . 9 and 10) is present.

The dialing code recognition module 103 may signal this dialing code via a serial interface to a central controller 104 of the routing system 6 . The further processing of the choice code and other functions of the routing system 6 is explained in more detail in FIG. 12.

The central controller 104 controls the overall data flow and processes the dialing codes within the routing system 6 and determines the form in which data routing system 6 leaving sen. Windows 95 / NT or LINUX are particularly suitable as the operating system for the central control 104 .

The central controller 104 is connected to a data bus 106 via which data can be transmitted to the I / O module 109 , the RAM / ROM memory 110 or a hard disk memory 107 . The RAM / ROM memory 110 and the hard disk memory 107 are used inter alia for the intermediate storage of tele fax data, which, for. B. should be sent with a delay.

Central controller 104 is connected via data bus 106 to I / O module 109 , with which an external printer 111 and / or a computer system 112 can be connected to routing system 6 . In addition, a signaling module 114 is connected to the I / O module 109 , with the z. B. acoustic and / or optical signals can be delivered via received fax signals.

The fax data is sent after processing by the central controller 104 via a transmitting / receiving module 105 , which is designed as a modem. In alternative embodiments, it is designed as an ISDN system or as a network card. The fax data are either forwarded directly from the central controller 104 or via the data bus 106 to the transmitting / receiving module 105 . The latter is primarily the case for data that is retrieved from a buffer.

Based on the control commands from the central controller 104 , the transmitter / receiver module 105 establishes a connection to the outside world. Here, a connection to the transmitter telephone network 10 or a connection to the WAN can be established via the coupling module 113 .

When sending fax data, a efficient coding and a minimal transmission time uses the Fax Group 4 format, which has a higher compression the fax data compared to the fax used by default -Group-3 format allows. In addition, z. B. the Transfer to a WAN with a higher data transfer rate of 28.8 to 64 kbits / s compared to standard fax data transmission rate of 9.6 kbit / s or 14.4 kbit / s.

The conversions and redirections of the fax data are generally transparent to the user, ie the faxes are sent to the fax machine 30 normally. The routing system 6 does everything else automatically. If desired, certain functions, such as immediate or delayed transmission / reception, forced data path selection with the routing switched off, collective faxing or acknowledgment of a transmission can be controlled by user intervention (e.g. dialing codes).

In Fig. 12, various software modules are schematically shown, with which the central controller 104 controls the operation of the routing system 6 via a central control module 126. All data (e-mail, fax) are fed to the central control module via the I / O hardware 124 , which can consist of various elements (see FIG. 11), or are sent from there to the outside world.

In this case, data can be exchanged directly via transmit / receive modules 123 if the data are available in such a way that the central control module 126 can process them directly. The routing system 6 works internally with an internal data format 121 (e.g. for storage in the hard disk memory 107 ), so that in some cases a conversion is necessary before or after processing of the data in the central control module 126 . The conversion (e.g. conversion of fax and e-mail formats) is carried out by conversion modules 122 .

The central control module 126 itself works with a number of further software modules, which are described below.

A dialing code evaluation module 125 checks whether a determined dialing code of a fax data transmission is dialing information (ie a fax number) or dialing information with a combined dialing code (e.g. * 9 #). The selection information is forwarded to the central control 104 of the routing system 6 , a possibly existing selection code being decoded so that the central control 104 can trigger the desired system control commands.

A configuration management module 115 checks whether incoming e-mails have a special remote control code with which functions of the routing system 6 'are to be controlled (see FIG. 8).

A signaling module 116 ensures that the signaling assembly 114 is controlled in accordance with the current status of the routing system 6 '.

A document processing module 117 can fax data with certain pre-stored data, such as. B. tern title sheets, stamps, signatures or watermarks provided or combined. The documents modified in this way are then sent to the recipient system.

An archiving module 118 serves to compress and archive all incoming or incoming faxes. The storage takes place in the local RAM / ROM memory 110 and the hard disk memory 107 . A copy of a fax can also be stored in the local RAM / ROM memory 110 and in the hard disk memory 107 , the transmission of which to various recipients is controlled by the central controller 104 (mass mailing via address lists).

A route control module 119 uses the predefinable criteria to determine which of the fundamentally possible data transmission networks 4 is actually used as the transmission network 3 . For this purpose, the network load, the data transmission costs depending on the time of day and the amount of data or special security requirements are used as parameters.

Different data lists for the transmission of fax data are managed with a list module 120 . These are, among other things, lists for the freely programmable election codes that are used by the election code evaluation module 125 . The list module 120 also contains z. B. cost information with which the route control module 119 decides which transmission network 3 is selected.

Finally, the list module 120 contains a routing list in which certain e-mail addresses and fax numbers are linked to one another. An entered fax number of the receiver system 2 is compared with the information in the routing list. If this fax number is assigned an e-mail address, the fax data can be converted into e-mail data, so that the fax can then be sent as an e-mail via the coupling module 113, for example. B. can be sent to the Internet.

The routing system 6 extracts self-learning information from the transmitted data, in particular from the fax data converted to e-mails, in order to supplement the routing list with a new e-mail entry.

The central controller 104 also has means for converting the fax data to be sent or for converting back the fax data coded as e-mail. To increase data security, it is possible to optionally or automatically encrypt the incoming or outgoing fax data.

The central controller 104 also ensures that any emails received for remote control of the routing system 6 are decoded in such a way that the desired system changes or status messages are sent (see FIG. 8).

The modules described here can be used as software or as Hardware in the form of a processor.  

The invention is not limited in its execution the preferred embodiments given above. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable, which of the inventive method and the routing system also make use of fundamentally different types.  

Reference list

1

Transmitter system

2nd

Receiver system

3rd

Transmission network

4th

Data transmission network

6

,

6

'' Routing system

10th

Sender telephone network

20th

Receiver telephone network

21

Callback provider

22

Fax provider

23

,

23

Coupling module

24th

Mailbox

25th

Internet

26

Internet fax provider

30th

Fax machine

31

Telephone system

32

local data network

33

Telephone network

40

computer

41

specification

42

confirmation

43

monitor

44

keyboard

101

Signal source switch

103

Dialing code detection module

104

Central control

105

Send / receive module

106

Data bus

107

hard disk

108

power adapter

109

I / O module

110

RAM / ROM memory

111

printer

112

Computer system

113

Coupling module

114

Signaling module

115

Configuration management module

116

Signaling module

117

Document editing module

118

Archiving module

119

Path control module

120

List module

121

Internal data format

122

Converter modules

123

Transmit / receive modules

124

I / O hardware

125

Dial code evaluation module

126

Central control module
* 9 # dial code

Claims (42)

1. A method for the transmission of fax data between a transmitter system and a receiver system, the tele fax data between the transmitter system and the receiver system being alternatively transferable via at least two different data transmission networks, in particular circuit-switching or packet-switching telecommunications, characterized in that a routing system ( 6 , 6 ') selects one of the data transmission networks ( 4 ) as transmission network ( 3 ) for the fax data to be transmitted on the basis of predefinable criteria. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a WAN (wide area network), a LAN (local area network), an intranet, the Internet, a digital telephone network or an analog telephone network is selected as the transmission network ( 3 ). 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the routing system ( 6 , 6 ') as criteria for the selection of a transmission network ( 3 ) uses cost information and / or information about the utilization of the data transmission networks ( 4 ). 4. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

• a) the fax data originating from the transmitter system ( 1 ) are provided automatically or controlled by the user with identification information about the receiver system ( 2 ),
• b) the routing system ( 6 , 6 ') compares the identification information with a stored routing list, and
• c) the routing system ( 6 , 6 ') depending on the comparison selects a transmission network ( 3 ).

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that as identification information a fax number and / or an election code is used. 6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the routing system ( 6 , 6 ') combines identification information of the receiver system ( 2 ) with the dialing code, the routing system ( 6 , 6 ') controlling the dialing of the transmission network ( 3 ) via the dialing code . 7. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, under various possible data transmission networks ( 4 ), a certain transmission network ( 3 ), in particular a telephone network, is temporarily fixed for data transmission in the routing system ( 6 , 6 ') becomes. 8. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmitter system ( 1 ) automatically receives a receipt or upon request in the event of successful receipt of the fax data by the receiver system ( 2 ). 9. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that data transmission from the transmitter system ( 1 ) to the receiver system ( 2 ) is triggered via an automatable polling with configurable time control. 10. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that data transmission from the transmitter system ( 1 ) via the transmission network ( 3 ) is immediately triggered by an action by a user, in particular the delivery of an election code. 11. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a data transmission from the transmitter system ( 1 ) to the receiver system ( 2 ) is triggered by a remote query of a user or a computer. 12. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that starting from the transmitter system ( 1 ), additional signaling to the receiver system ( 2 ) via a data transmission network ( 4 ), in particular a circuit-switching network, is carried out, which is not as a transmission network ( 3 ) the fax data is used. 13. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the routing system ( 6 , 6 ') stores incoming fax data and / or outgoing tele fax data in a memory ( 107 , 110 ). 14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that when a maximum storage capacity of the memory ( 107 , 110 ) in the routing system ( 6 , 6 ') a data transmission from the transmitter system ( 1 ) to the receiver system ( 2 ) is triggered. 15. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

• a) the fax data originating from the transmitter system ( 1 ) are in a first data format, wherein
• b) the fax data originating from the transmitter system ( 1 ) are transmitted to a first converter module,
• c) the first converter module converts the fax data from the first data format into a second data format, in particular an e-mail compatible data format, and
• d) the data are then transmitted in the second data format via the transmission network ( 3 ) selected by the routing system ( 6 , 6 ') to the receiver system ( 2 ).

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the incoming data at the receiver system ( 2 ) are transmitted to a second converter module and the second converter module converts the data from the second data format into a suitable internal data format of the routing system ( 6 , 6 ') . 17. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the incoming data at the receiver system ( 2 ) in two data format are forwarded to a printer system and printed out. 18. The method according to at least one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the second converter module the incoming data in a printer data format, esp special PCL or PostScript. 19. The method according to at least one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that the second converter module converts the incoming data into an email format and the data to a fax address E-mail address forwarded. 20. The method according to at least one of claims 15 to 19, characterized in that the second converter module converts the incoming data into a fax bitmap and forwards the data for printing to a fax machine ( 30 ). 21. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that information about the addresses of receiver systems ( 2 ), the header information and / or additional information of the transmitted data are automatically taken and in the routing list of the routing system ( 6 , 6 ') get saved. 22. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the routing system ( 6 , 6 ') provides a user with optical and / or acoustic information about the type of data transmission carried out. 23. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the routing system ( 6 , 6 ') is externally configurable and / or operational information of the routing system ( 6 , 6 ') can be queried from the outside. 24. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that the external query / configuration of the routing system ( 6 , 6 ') via an e-mail with control commands, which is sent to the routing system ( 6 , 6 '). 25. routing system for the transmission of fax data from a transmitter system to a receiver system, the fax data between the transmitter system and the receiver system alternatively being transferable via at least two different data transmission networks, in particular data transmission networks with circuit-switching or packet-switching transmission types, characterized by means ( 126 , 119 ) to select a specific transmission network ( 3 ) from the existing data transmission networks ( 4 ) based on predefinable criteria. 26. Routing system according to claim 25, characterized by at least one connection option, in particular via a coupling module ( 23 , 113 ), for a WAN (wide area network work), a LAN (local area network), an intranet, the Internet, a digital telephone network or has an analog telephone network. 27. Routing system according to claim 25 or 26, characterized by means for evaluating cost information and / or information about the utilization of data transmission networks ( 4 ) and means for using this information as criteria for selecting a specific transmission network ( 3 ). 28. Routing system according to at least one of claims 25 to 27, characterized by means for identifying identification information of the receiver system ( 2 ), means ( 120 ) for storing a routing list and means for changing the routing list depending on the comparison of the identification information with the routing list. 29. Routing system according to at least one of claims 25 to 28, characterized by means for automatic, esp special self-learning, evaluation of header information NEN and / or additional information of transmitted data and means for storing this information in the Routing list.   30. Routing system according to at least one of claims 25 to 29, characterized by means for using a Te fax number and / or an election code as identification information. 31. Routing system according to at least one of claims 25 to 30, characterized by means for combining a telefax number with the dialable dial code, the dial code for selecting the transmission network ( 3 ) can be used for the fax data. 32. Routing system according to at least one of claims 25 to 31, characterized by means for temporarily specifying a specific transmission network ( 3 ), in particular a telephone line, transmission network ( 3 ) of the tele fax data. 33. Routing system according to at least one of claims 25 to 32, characterized by means of automatic transmission sending a confirmation of receipt of a success rich data reception. 34. Routing system according to at least one of claims 25 to 33, characterized by means for receiving and / or Sending a signal with which another system for Sending an acknowledgment of receipt of a successful Chen can be requested to receive data.   35. Routing system according to at least one of claims 25 to 34, characterized by means for an automatisba res polling with configurable time control. 36. Routing system according to at least one of claims 25 to 35, characterized by means for active and / or passive remote query of the system status. 37. Routing system according to at least one of claims 25 to 36, characterized by means for sending and / or receiving an e-mail with control commands for configuring another routing system ( 6 ') or for configuring its own operating behavior. 38. Routing system according to at least one of claims 25 to 37, characterized by means for signaling the Receiver system over a data transmission network, esp in particular a telephone network that is not used to transmit the Fax data is used. 39. Routing system according to at least one of claims 25 to 38, characterized by means ( 107 , 110 ) for the intermediate storage of incoming and / or outgoing data. 40. Routing system according to claim 38, characterized by means for determining the storage capacity of the buffer ( 107 , 110 ). 41. Routing system according to at least one of claims to 25 to 40, characterized in that individual modules or the entire system on a computer of the transmitter system ( 1 ) and / or receiver system ( 2 ) is formed as software. 42. Routing system according to at least one of claims 25 to 41, characterized in that individual modules or the entire system is realized in an electronic circuit which can be connected to the transmitter system ( 1 ) and / or the receiver system ( 2 ).