Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
  • H04N1/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
  • H04N1/32037—Automation of particular transmitter jobs, e.g. multi-address calling, auto-dialing
  • H04N1/32074—Redialing, e.g. after failure to make a connection
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
  • H04N1/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
  • H04N1/32037—Automation of particular transmitter jobs, e.g. multi-address calling, auto-dialing
  • H04N1/3208—Transmitting a plurality of separate messages to a common destination in a single transmission
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
  • H04N1/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
  • H04N1/32358—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device using picture signal storage, e.g. at transmitter
  • H04N1/324—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device using picture signal storage, e.g. at transmitter intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
  • H04N1/32—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device
  • H04N1/32358—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device using picture signal storage, e.g. at transmitter
  • H04N1/324—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device using picture signal storage, e.g. at transmitter intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange
  • H04N1/32406—Circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device, e.g. between a still-image camera and its memory or between a still-image camera and a printer device using picture signal storage, e.g. at transmitter intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange in connection with routing or relaying, e.g. using a fax-server or a store-and-forward facility

Definitions

• the field of this invention is telecommunications sys ⁇ tems used in connection with facsimile transmissions. More specifically, this invention relates to a system and method for enhancing ease of facsimile transmissions and providing features relative to facsimile transmissions not heretofore available.
• Some, rather expensive, fax machines have digital memo ⁇ ries which will allow them to memorize the document to be transmitted and to be programmed to make multiple redials in an effort to establish contact in an automatic way. How ⁇ ever, this is limited to only one or two documents and, more importantly, it ties up the transmitting machine until the effort is successful or abandoned. This is hardly an acceptable solution if that machine has other documents to send or receive.
• Busy machines which are destined to receive messages are affected by the converse problem. Since they and the prospective transmitting machines must engage in (perhaps, automated) "telephone tag", they are used very ineffi ⁇ ciently. When a transmitting machine gets a busy signal, even if it automatically redials, it can only guess at when -3-
• the receiving machine will be available. Thus, the receiv ⁇ ing machine will likely remain idle for some fraction of the time until such an attempt is made.
• paperless fax terminals Another concern is related to so-called paperless fax terminals.
• paperless fax techniques allow a computer or a micro-processor equipped with specific soft ⁇ ware and modem to directly transmit and receive facsimile messages.
• specific soft ⁇ ware and modem to directly transmit and receive facsimile messages.
• the recipient is not in his or her office (the paperless fax terminal may also be located at home) at the time when fax message is coming. For example, the recipient is out to lunch or otherwise absent from his or her office or home. This requires the sender to retry the communication message delivery again and again if there is no other fax machine available in the office.
• the objects of this invention are to address these many shortcomings of present fax systems and to provide an inte ⁇ grated system for their solution. Furthermore, the inten ⁇ tion is to achieve this in a way which is fundamentally com ⁇ patible with existing fax terminal machines.
• the basic approach is to provide special computer-based fax Store And Forward Facilities (SAFF's) as an integral part of a switched telephone network system. All fax transmissions entered into the network are routed to such a facility, typ ⁇ ically geographically near the originating machine, where they are temporarily stored or "spooled" by the computer in a mass storage buffer, such as a magnetic disk.
• SAFF's computer-based fax Store And Forward Facilities
• the fax message from the originating machine is intended for a destination machine, which may or may not be in a position to immediately answer the call. If the desti ⁇ nation machine is within the service region of that SAFF, the system then proceeds to attempt to call the destination
• the system forwards the fax document data to that facility by long-distance lines, in which case this second facility attempts to call the desti ⁇ nation machine. In either case, if contact is established and the message is delivered immediately, the system directs a printed report back to the originating fax machine con ⁇ firming delivery to the destination machine, and other per ⁇ tinent data.
• the delivery cannot be completed immediately due to a busy signal, a machine fault (eg, receiving machine out of paper) or any other reason, the spooled document is saved and the system makes periodic attempts to contact the destination machine and complete the transmission.
• a machine fault eg, receiving machine out of paper
• the system sends a printed report back to the originating machine acknowledging that the .message has been entered into the system, indicating the reason the delivery is being delayed, stating the protocol the system will take to deliver the message, and providing a reference number or "Message Code" which identifies the message and may be used at a later time to trace the status of the docu ⁇ ment.
• Placing the delivering spooling system geographically near the destination machine has the advantage of more eco ⁇ nomical use of any long-distance lines that may be involved. These lines are used only to move the message from the orig ⁇ inator to the spooling system in the vicinity of the desti ⁇ nation, which is virtually certain to be successful on the first try. Subsequent attempts to contact the destination machine can be handled more or less locally and need not tie up the bulk of the long-distance facilities.
• the system will send a printed delivery report to the
• a report will be sent to the originator indicating that the delivery procedure has failed and requesting instructions as to how to proceed (eg. try again, redirect the message to an alternate number, or delete the message).
• An important feature of the system is that it recog ⁇ nizes all of the documents that are spooled in the system at a given time for a given destination machine. These are identified and linked together to form a message queue for that machine. In this way, once contact is established, all of the waiting messages can be "dumped" to that machine in a continuous batch. Furthermore, if new messages arrive while that dump is occurring, they are simply appended to the end of the active queue and are transmitted when their turn comes. This has the advantage of greatly enhancing the uti ⁇ lization efficiency of a busy destination machine.
• the system can permit messages which have already been sent to be copied to other destinations after -7-
• the system also provides the recipient with the option of forwarding or redirecting documents to still other destinations, as if the recipient were the originator.
• the system can also accept and store messages destined for a fictitious destination or "Mail Box".
• individuals who are traveling can, at their convenience, dial into the system and pick up any waiting documents.
• the system recog ⁇ nizes a small, highly portable Mail Box Reader that consists of an adapter that can be connected between the user's tele ⁇ phone and a normal television set (for example, in a hotel room), allowing the user to display fax messages received from the Mail Box on the TV screen.
• the system is also programmed to provide a fax-to-voice message conversion service which can convert an inbound fax message into a voice mail message and send the message to the intended recipient's voice mail box, such as an answer machine.
• Another useful feature is the ability of a fax recipi ⁇ ent to send automated-voice replies to fax messages back to
• the originators typically directed to a voice mail box. This permits the recipient to select a, generally terse, response from a menu of possible replies. These replies may be selected from a menu of standardized responses provided by the system or from a menu of customized responses, in the user's own voice, that is maintained by the system.
• the ability to have the originator of a transmission include the requirement that the recipient provide a security code, such as a PIN number, in order to release the document from the spool to the destination machine.
• the SAFF sends a written report to the destination machine advising that a secure message is waiting for a particular recipient and the fax identification of the originating machine.
• the recipi ⁇ ent must then call in to the SAFF and key in the security code to initiate the delivery of the document. Since the document is spooled, the delivery easily may be delayed until the recipient is available to supply the code.
• the telephone call accounting system can provide both time and charges for the telephone services rendered and fax information, such as pages transmitted, sorted according to the originator's clients. This can greatly facilitate the fax user who wishes to do cost accounting or to bill clients for costs incurred.
• Fig. 1 illustrates the inter-relationships of the prin ⁇ cipal elements of a connection between two SAFFs.
• Fig. 2 shows a more detailed view of the various sys ⁇ tems within a single SAFF, such as those shown in Figure 1.
• Fig. 3 illustrates the major components of the Origi ⁇ nate Function in the SAFFs shown in Figures 1 and 2.
• Fig. 4 illustrates the major components of the Answer Function in the SAFFs shown in Figures 1 and 2.
• Figs. 5a and b show a flow chart describing the general processing steps required to handle a fax or voice message incoming to the Originate Function of a SAFF, as described particularly in Figures 2 and 3.
• Figs. 6a and b show a flow chart describing the general processing steps required to handle the delivery of a fax message incoming to the Answer Function of a SAFF, as described particularly in Figures 2 and 4.
• Fig. 7 shows a flow chart of the general processing steps required to handle a service request in the General Service unit of a SAFF, as described particularly in Figure 2.
• Fig. 8 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the paperless facsimile terminal.
• Fig. 9 shows a block diagram of another embodiment of the paperless facsimile terminal which can utilize an ordi ⁇ nary television set for display of facsimile messages.
• the preferred embodiment of this invention is a multi-function, interactive facsimile transmission system which is integrated into a switched telephone distribution network, where "network" is taken broadly to mean the entire system required to complete a communication from an origina ⁇ tor to an answerer.
• This embodiment provides a comprehen ⁇ sive computerized fax message management system based on automated fax Store And Forward Facilities (SAFF) embedded in the network.
• SAFF automated fax Store And Forward Facilities
• the system contains several components which actually transmit the fax messages and related information, provide written fax reports to users about the status of messages within the system, allow user intervention in the sequence of automatic actions of the system, provide an accounting of services rendered for both the customer and the telephone company, and control and supervise all of these activities.
• the SAFF's are placed at the interface between the local tele ⁇ phone delivery system and the long-distance delivery system, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2.
• the SAFF system can be controlled and its services offered by either one.
• useful systems can be con ⁇ structed where the SAFF exists as close to the user as a component of his or her own in-house telephone system (such as a PBX or Centrex) or as remotely as a single, indepen ⁇ dent, stand-alone SAFF serving a wide geographical area.
• commercially viable systems can be con ⁇ structed which provide subsets of the features of the pre ⁇ ferred embodiment.
• the choice of site/control setting and service features might be driven by any number of economic, market, or legal considerations, which would militate toward offering the system at an alternate location in the network, or in a "stripped down" form.
• a fax transmission occurs in the traditional setting.
• the communication between two machines is initiated when the destination machine answers a telephone call directly from the originat ⁇ ing machine.
• a telephone call directly from the originat ⁇ ing machine.
• SAFF "originator" SAFF
• Figure 1 shows two exemplary SAFFs 8 and 18, with interconnections between the SAFFs and with subscriber fax machines being diagrammatically indicated.
• the SAFF 8 includes an originate function 9 coupled over telephone lines 4 to originating fax machines 1.
• the SAFF 18 includes an originate function 22 coupled over tele ⁇ phone lines 26 to originating fax machines 30.
• Each of the SAFFs 8 and 18 also includes respective answer function blocks 12 and 19 respectively connected over telephone lines 6, 24 to fax machines 3, 28.
• Each of the SAFFs 8, 18 also includes service interfaces 10, 21 coupled via tele ⁇ phone lines 5, 25 to telephones 2, 29. The function and purpose of the service interfaces is more fully explained hereafter, and they are under control of status and control blocks 11 and 21.
• subscribers such as 1 in Figure 1 can dial a unique access code at the time a call is initiated, or a telephone line dedicated to a fax terminal may be per ⁇ manently routed to the SAFF system, in this case the SAFF 8 of Figure 1. Either way, one accesses SAFF Directed Lines 4 and the SAFF 8 itself in the process of dialing the destina ⁇ tion fax machine.
• the SAFF 8 then answers the phone in place of the des ⁇ tination machine, such as one of 28 shown in Figure 1 as serviced by SAFF 18. For the moment, this SAFF 8 near the originator becomes the proxy for the destination machine 28. While noting the actual destination telephone number, the SAFF 8 engages the originating machine in the same digital dialogue that would have occurred if a direct connection to the destination machine had actually been made. Thus, it echoes back the destination telephone number, to identify the intended destination machine, and agrees to accept the fax format requested by the originating machine.
• the originating machine's identification, the destination machine's tele ⁇ phone number, the fax format, and the document image data are all stored on a mass storage device 67 (in Figure 3), such as a computer magnetic disk unit.
• a unique alphameric Message Code is assigned to the block of data to identify it while it is resident in the SAFF system. This Message Code is related to the file name for the stored data.
• the SAFF 8 initiates two actions. The first is to generate an "Acceptance Record" of the transac ⁇ tion to this point. This record, in one form or another, will be returned to the originator as will be described
• the second step is to begin to deliver the fax mes ⁇ sage to the destination machine 28.
• a single SAFF can, in principle, service a broad geographical area.
• communications beyond a certain limiting distance involve at least two SAFFs, one 8 near the originator 1 and the other, a "destination SAFF", 18 near the recipient 28 of the document.
• the choice of one, two, or more SAFFs is determined by network economics, or other considerations, and is not essential to the invention.
• Each SAFF 8, 18 has two clearly defined roles: the "Originate Function” 9, 22 for handling data with an origi ⁇ nating machine, and the "Answer Function” 19, 12 for han ⁇ dling data with a destination machine.
• the details of these two subsystems are illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 respec ⁇ tively.
• the connection between the Originate Function, such as 9, and the Answer Function, such as 12 is linked within the single SAFF 8 by way of a Local Call Loop-back connection 13, between the two Func ⁇ tions.
• the Originate Function 9 of SAFF 8 near the originator, is linked to the Answer
• processing a long-distance message involves the same basic steps as a local message, except that the activity is shared interactively between at least two different SAFFs.
• SAFF 8 As an example, it is assumed that one of the subscrib ⁇ ers 1 attached to SAFF 8 wishes to send a fax message to one of the subscribers 28 attached to SAFF 18.
• the subscriber 1 places the ca ⁇ l to the destination machine 28 which is routed over SAFF Directed Lines 4 to the Originate Function 9 of SAFF 8.
• SAFF Directed Lines 4 to the Originate Function 9 of SAFF 8.
• These signals originate within the SAFF system and they are picked up by the On-net Interface 64 which is part of the Originate Function, as shown in Figure 3.
• This Interface signals the Originate Host Computer 70 of the incoming call and the Host responds by directing the incoming data to a Mass Storage Unit 67 where it is stored in a file 68.
• the Host directs two other activities. It creates a call status record file 69 ( Figure 3) in mass storage, recording the time and date of the origination, the telephone number of the calling machine, the telephone number of the destination machine, any security or other special services requested, various housekeeping information, and it assigns the Message Code -15-
• the Outbound Con ⁇ trol unit 74 which proceeds to connect the originating SAFF 8 with the nearest available SAFF 18 to the destination through a long-distance interface 75 over long-distance circuits 79 (14 in Figure 1).
• the Outbound Control unit employs an algorithm which examines the number and kind of available trunk resources and chooses the most efficient combination of these lines for the task required.
• the originating SAFF 8 then proceeds to transmit the originator and destination telephone numbers, the stored fax image, the Message Code, and other housekeeping data to the destination SAFF 18. These data are sent by the most expe ⁇ client mechanism offered by the long-distance service. For example, if this service employs digital communications, the fax data may well be transmitted at a significantly higher rate than it was originally received into the system.
• the fax data is received by the Long-distance Interface 95 ( Figure 4) in the Answer Function 19 of the destination SAFF.
• This unit signals the Answer Host Computer 85 of the incoming data.
• the Host then routes these data to its Mass Storage facility 87. (It should be noted for later refer ⁇ ence that the originator SAFF and the destination SAFF now both have a copy of these data.)
• the Host notes whether other messages are pending for the destination machine and either opens a Delivery Queue file 88, or appends the new message to the existing Queue File.
• the Host also records the arrival time and other perti ⁇ nent information about the fax message in a Call Status file 90 in Mass Storage unit 87, and sends a status update
• the Local Interface 83 It then signals the Local Interface 83 to dial the des ⁇ tination machine's (81 in Figure 4) telephone number on ordinary outgoing local lines 24, 82. If the destination fax's line is available, the destination SAFF now becomes the proxy for the originating fax machine and engages the destination machine in the necessary preliminary digital dialogue.
• the document image including the source and destination identification information, the Message Code, and the entry and delivery times, is played back from storage and delivered to the destination.
• a "Delivery Record” is then created by the Answer Host 85 which indicates the date and time of delivery, and any other pertinent data.
• the Delivery Record is sent back to the originating SAFF 8, again by way of the Status and Control Interface 84, and the System Status and Control Unit 11, via Long-distance Trunks 15.
• the originator SAFF 8 then appends this information to the Acceptance Record to form a complete "Transaction File".
• the originating SAFF 8 then sends this file, as a delivery receipt or report, back to the originat ⁇ ing machine 1, 60, as a fax document.
• the destination SAFF's Host Computer 85 will enter a sequence whereby it will attempt to contact the destination machine and transmit the document on a predetermined schedule for a specific period of time or number of tries. As this sequence is entered, a "Retry Record” is generated documenting the situation and the system's response to it. -This record contains the rea ⁇ son that the delivery was delayed and it indicates which protocol the system will use to attempt to deliver the ⁇ 17-
• the assigned Message Code is a part of every transaction report and may be used at any time to trace the status of undeliv ⁇ ered documents, as will be described shortly.
• a Deliv ⁇ ery Record is appended to the Transaction File which is sent back to the originating machine. If the effort fails after reaching the predetermined limit, this is also recorded, appended, and sent back to the originator. In this case, the originator is given the option of dialing back into the system within a certain length of time (typically several hours) and instructing the destination SAFF as to how to dispose of the document (eg. repeat retry sequence, forward to a different telephone number, or delete the message).
• This process is handled by using an ordinary touchtone phone to dial a multipurpose (perhaps, toll free) fax system "Service Number"; which will be referred to here and in later sections.
• This Service Number is answered by the General Service Control units (10 in Figure 1, 50 in Figure 2) of the SAFF to which the call is directed.
• This unit contains an automated voice response system that presents a menu of the available services and prompts the user to select the desired choices by pressing particular numbers on the touchtone keypad.
• a computer-based voice recognition system replaces the keypad and accepts verbal commands in a conver ⁇ sational way. -18-
• the General Service Control unit 50 can communicate with its own System Status and Control unit 11, and through that unit, any other such unit 11, 20 via Long-distance Trunks 15. Through these connections, both inquiries relat ⁇ ing to messages in the system and instructions as to their disposition may be addressed to the entire SAFF system.
• the user is prompted to key in the Message Code.
• the system verbally repeats the code and the delivery discrepancy for verification, and then presents a menu of disposition options for the user to select with the keypad.
• the message is retransmitted back to the originator with a report. It is then erased from both the originator and destination SAFF files after a suitable delay (typically six hours). If the originator wishes to resend the message during this "grace" period, it may be recovered and resent to the original des ⁇ tination or forwarded to another destination(s) , as will be described later.
• the system can be programmed to accumulate records from all calls over a period of time (eg. an hour) at the originator SAFF and deliver them as a single fax document at the end of the period or upon request by the originator.
• a period of time eg. an hour
• the orig ⁇ inator SAFF will enter a retry sequence if it finds the originator's line busy or the machine unavailable when it attempts to deliver reports. This is a persistent sequence which it will continue trying for direct contact at inter ⁇ vals of an hour or so for a considerable length of time (eg. -19-
• the originator has the option of dialing the Service Number at any time and inquir ⁇ ing about the status of a given message.
• the voice response system prompts, presents menus, and uses the Message Code to locate and report on the current location and condition of the message.
• a written record can be directed to the originating or destination fax machine, if desired.
• Another feature of the General Service function (and the Mail Box function described later) is the ability to send an immediate reply to a received fax message.
• a collection of such responses is available and may be selected from a menu using the General Service or Mail Box systems. Examples might be: "I received your fax number (Message Code) at (date, time)”; “I am unable to respond at this time”; “I will respond in the next 24 (48, 72) hours”; “I completely agree, proceed as described", “Take no action until you hear from me", and so forth.
• the system asks the user for the SAFF-assigned Message Code and then presents a menu of these "canned" responses. It will also permit the concate ⁇ nation of several such responses to form a more complex mes ⁇ sage. Once the user has made the appropriate selections, the system will replay an automated voice version of the message and permit editing as required. When the user is satisfied, the reply is then transmitted either as a fax message or as an automated voice message to a designated telephone number. That number may represent an active fax
• the user can select the sex of the automated voice, or the user can actually employ a personalized menu of custom responses tailored by the user to his or her own requirements and prepared in the user's own voice.
• Still another feature of the General Service function is the ability to provide a fax-to-voice message conversion service.
• This service allows the SAFF system to receive an inbound fax message and then electronicaly create a voice mail message directed to the intended recipient voice mail box as instructed by the message sender or the intended recipient.
• the fax message may be stored in a subscriber's mail box in the system which will be fully discussed later.
• the SAFF is equipped with suitable software and voice print database that wi.ll permit the system to electronically interpret the facsimile message from printed documents to verbal text.
• the voice mail mes ⁇ sage transferred to the instructed voice mailbox may be the whole text of the facsimile message or only a voice message which will verbally identify the originator of the facsimile message, the reading time and the number of papers.
• the intended recipient can then commence the electronic transla ⁇ tion by touch-tone signal and can control the operation in fast forward or reverse through the document by touch-tone command.
• Another feature of the system is that the act of accepting and storing an incoming message at the originator SAFF, and the act of dialing and forwarding that message to the destination by the destination SAFF, can overlap in time. That is, if the originator SAFF has lines available, once the initial connection dialogue between the originator and the SAFF is complete, the SAFF may immediately make its -21 -
• the mes ⁇ sage is passed from the originator SAFF 8 to the destination SAFF 18 to the destination machine 28 directly from the Originate Host Computer's memory 70 while the two SAFFs are still in the process of spooling the document to disk.
• This is facilitated by a "write-through pipeline" whereby the Originate Host 70 passes the incoming fax data through directly to the Outbound Control unit 74 at the same time it is being written to mass storage. It is held in a temporary memory buffer in the Outbound unit until it is clear whether or not an immediate connection to the destination machine is possible. At that point the temporary buffer fax data is either sent and then deleted, or merely deleted.
• the net effect is that the spooling process only adds a few seconds delay in the message delivery over the traditional direct machine-to-machine contact when the destination machine is readily available.
• the originat ⁇ ing SAFF can choose to delay until suitable lines are avail ⁇ able. This has the advantage of improving communications resource management and enhancing the efficiency of the tel ⁇ ephone system's line usage over the direct contact scheme.
• This scheme eliminates the "trial and error" dial and redial attempts that result from a number of independent incoming calls competing in an uncoordinated way for the single destination line. It can significantly enhance the efficiency of the destination fax machine and the long-distance and local telephone circuits connected to a busy machine.
• the destination SAFF When the queue exceeds a certain limiting size, the destination SAFF will periodically insert and send a "Queue Report" (as a fax document) to the destination machine show ⁇ ing a list of the waiting messages. This list shows the originating machine identification, the time entered into the originator SAFF, the number of pages in the document, and the approximate time that the message will be delivered based on its position in the queue.
• the user can advance a particular message to the head of the queue by calling the fax Service Number and supplying the desired message number, by using the voice response menus.
• the General Service unit 50 directs these instruc ⁇ tion to the System Status and Control Unit 11, which in turn directs them to the Answer Function Host 85 through its Sta ⁇ tus and Control Interface 84.
• the originator can designate a priority level to a given fax message at the time it is dialed in (eg. by using a different access code).
• the destination SAFF will insert higher priority messages ahead
• Another originator option is the time of delivery. If desired, the originator can specify the time of day which the message should be delivered. In this case the message is forwarded to the destination SAFF directly, but is not entered into the queue until the specified time. This can be used in combination with an assigned high priority to insert the message at the head of the queue at the appointed time.
• 3,594,495 and 3,641,432 discloses a "radio facsimile postal system" which features the direct delivery of documents to specific addressees by facsimile via communications satel ⁇ lites.
• fax mes ⁇ sages were directed from special public fax terminals oper ⁇ ated by the post office to a central satellite earth-station.
• the messages were sorted according to their geographical destination for concentration and uplinking to a satellite servicing that area. The satellite then broadcasts all of the uplinked messages back to Earth.
• Bond's system is merely a restricted version of the services presently provided to fax users by the telephone networks. His privacy code function is the same as a telephone number: it selects which of a plurality of fax machines will actually receive the message. Unfortunately, his approach leads to exactly the security dilemma facing telephone fax users.
• the security problem is addressed by a control variation of the destination SAFF queuing system.
• Messages which the originator wishes to designate as secure are temporarily directed to a auxiliary storage file 54, 89 in the Answer Function of the destina ⁇ tion SAFF called a "Mail Box".
• a report is sent to that machine indicating that a secure message is waiting for a particular addressee.
• a voice message may be directed to a designated telephone number, such as a voice mail box, by the General Service Control 50.
• Each individ ⁇ ual SAFF is assigned its own unique telephone exchange code or codes (typically indicated by the first three digits of a seven digit local number). Thus, the SAFF appears to the world as if it were a distinct telephone exchange(s), sepa ⁇ rate from all other exchanges in that area code region. All subscriber's to a given SAFF are assigned their fax tele ⁇ phone numbers with that exchange prefix. Subscribing indi ⁇ viduals wishing Mail Boxes (typically associated with a "default" fax machine) are issued "fictitious" telephone numbers which actually terminate in fax Mail Boxes, rather than in an actual telephone line.
• Mail Box numbers are published so that correspondents may use them.
• each individual is also given a secret security code or PIN number which will access his or her box.
• the host computer managing the SAFF maintains a list that relates each fictitious number with the individual's name, the security code, and the real telephone number of the default destination machine.
• This default machine is the one to which messages and reports will nor ⁇ mally be sent, when appropriate.
• the user may also define a default voice tele ⁇ phone number which may be either a telephone answered by a human or a computer-managed voice mail box, as is known in the art. When such a voice telephone is also defined, a voice version of the various system messages and reports will also be sent to this number.
• An originator wishing to send a secure message merely dials the (fictitious) Mail Box telephone number at the time the document is sent.
• the system directs the message to the Mail Box file 89 in the destination SAFF associated with that number, and the Answer Host 85 sends a "Message Wait ⁇ ing" report to the default destination fax machine through the Local Interface 83. If a default voice telephone number has also been defined in this report, this report is also sent to that number.
• the user has the option of programming or instructing the system, through the General Service Con ⁇ trol 50, to have either or both the default fax and the default voice reports forwarded to another number. For example, the person who is traveling could program or require fax or voice Message Waiting announcements to be directed to a hotel fax or telephone number.
• the system will give the (human) recipient of the call the option of pressing a touchtone key to repeat the announcement as often as necessary to tran ⁇ scribe the message. If more than one message is in the Mail Box queue, then this report lists them all.
• the security code In order to get the fax document actually sent to the destination, the security code must be sent back to the des ⁇ tination SAFF. Typically, this would be done by the addressee dialing his or her own Mail Box number. Since this call originates from a "normal" telephone 34 over Ordi ⁇ nary Local Lines 40, rather than the fax's SAFF Directed Lines 38, the call is directed to the Off-net Incoming Screener 48 in the (destination) SAFF which functions in conjunction with a mailbox service control 49. This unit
• the system finally permits the addressee to make a selection of messages for immediate release, and provides an opportunity to "redirect” them to a fax machine 3 other than the default machine over ordinary local lines 39.
• the SAFF then releases the selected documents and moves them to the head of the appropriate destination Delivery Queue 88 for immediate delivery.
• the recipient of the various messages may then choose to provide automated fax or voice replies to selected messages.
• the Answer Function of the destination SAFF issues a "Posting Report" which is directed back to the Originator in the manner described for other reports.
• the report is similar to a Delivery Report, except that it indi ⁇ cates that the message has been received by the mail box.
• the Destination SAFF sends an actual Delivery Report to the originator indicating the date and time of delivery and so forth.
• Another advantage of the Mail Box system is that it can provide a convenient way for individuals who are away from their "home” machine to still have access to their docu ⁇ ments. Such individuals may call in to their Mail Box num ⁇ ber to hear from the voice response unit whether they have ⁇ 29-
• a person on a business trip can have all his or her fax documents directed to their Mail Box.
• the traveler Upon arriving at a hotel that has a fax machine, the traveler places a call to the Mail Box number and supplies the infor ⁇ mation outlined above, including the telephone number of the hotel fax machine.
• the SAFF then calls the hotel machine and dumps the queue of waiting documents.
• FIG. 8 Another aspect of the Mail Box function is support for paperless fax terminals 33, such as those which provide a volatile display of the fax image on a computer display.
• this terminal is shown in Figure 8 which includes a small, modem-equipped personal computer 191 and a computer display 194.
• the terminal can also include a keyboard 193 for entering necessary access code or other information.
• the paperless terminal initiates the Mail Box transaction operating as a computer terminal (rather than a fax terminal), using a computer terminal emu ⁇ lator program such as those well known in the art.
• the incoming call from an ordinary line 40 is recognized by the Off-net Incoming Screener 48 as not being a fax transmission and is passed to the Mail Box Service Control 49.
• This unit recognizes the call as a computer, rather than voice call and enables a computer, rather than voice, response system.
• the user and the Mail Box Service Control 49 then communi ⁇ cate by way of some computer communications code such as ASCII.
• the system presents the same security code requests as the voice system and provides the same basic user options including message queue listings, queue reordering and so forth. Unlike the voice system, however, it is not
• the paperless terminal software recognizes simple code sequences sent by the Mail Box Service Control 49 and can be switched under Mail Box Service control from the ASCII com ⁇ puter terminal mode to the fax terminal mode. Thus, the user may select messages from the queue in the computer mode and then the Mail Box Service system will automatically switch the terminal to fax mode, send the fax messages, and then return the terminal to computer mode.
• the paperless terminal user can engage in an ongoing dialogue with the Mail Box Service Control, doing queue manipulations, reading faxes, sending automated fax or voice responses and so forth.
• a fax message is read by a paperless terminal on a screen
• the user may elect to have the message left in the queue for later disposal and to have a cover page added to indicate the date, time and terminal telephone number from which the fax was originally read.
• the user may also redirect the message to be printed on an ordinary "hardcopy" device, such as a fax device or a printer.
• this mode will also permit the trans ⁇ mission of outgoing fax messages from the paperless terminal and access to the functions of the General Service Control 50, all without the need to exit the system and dial in again. This permits a single incoming call over a line 40 to permit the user to access essentially all of the services available from the SAFF.
• the paperless fax terminal can act as an originating machine and a designation machine, in place of ordinary facsimile machine.
• the paperless fax terminal may be used in cooperation with a telephone or provided with a sound or flash light generator 192 or 197 as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 for prompting the addressee to communicate with the SAFF system for receiving a facsimile message while the SAFF attempts to transmit a facsimile message.
• the SAFF also provides the other - 31-
• the SAFF will temporarily store the fax message and periodically retry to communicate with the destination paperless fax terminal if the terminal is busy or otherwise unavailable to receive at this time.
• a companion aspect of this system is a Mail Box Reader device 33 as shown in Fig. 9 which is an alternative of the paperless fax terminal described above.
• This device is a relatively low-cost adapter which connects the user's tele ⁇ phone to an available ordinary television set to form a sim ⁇ ple paperless fax terminal.
• the Reader device 33 contains a modem capable of both computer and fax operations, programs for these operations, memory 198 to store an incoming docu ⁇ ment or documents, a processor 195 for controlling the device, a keypad 196 for the input of user commands, a video display generator 199 and a RF modulator 200 suitable for supplying a display signal to the ordinary television set 201.
• the Mail Box Service Control 49 recognizes the Mail Box Reader as a distinct terminal type and supports abbreviated command sequences from its more limited keypad. In addi ⁇ tion, it supports paging through sections of a document so that a user can view documents which may be too large to fit into the Reader's memory in one place.
• the Mail Box Reader itself has a "zoom" mode that mag ⁇ nifies the image on the screen by mapping a smaller segment of the Reader's memory to the screen. This permits one to overcome the fact that the resolution of the television set may be too limited for a readable display of some of the finer-detailed features of some fax images.
• the Reader's keypad 196 permits scrolling through messages, both verti ⁇ cally and horizontally in both the normal and zoom mode. Vertical scrolling is transparently coordinated with the
• Mail Box Service Control 's paging functions so that if one scrolls off the end of the segment of a long document stored in memory, the Mail Box Service Control will automatically supply the next segment.
• the queuing, Mail Boxes, and security codes are all derivative benefits of the spooling of messages at the des ⁇ tination SAFF. There is a counterpart advantage to the originator SAFF's spooling as well. Since the originator SAFF maintains a copy of each message, that copy can be used to broadcast messages to multiple destinations.
• the user can dial in a code prefix indicating that a list of destination numbers is to follow. The numbers are then entered and finally another code is entered to signal "end of list".
• the Originate Host 70 recognizes these inputs and attaches them to the message which follows.
• the user can store different numbered broad ⁇ cast telephone lists in the Originate SAFF mass storage files 69 (entered much as described above) and invoke them simply by dialing a two or three digit "short-cut" code. In either case, from there the fax transmission to the origina ⁇ tor SAFF proceeds normally.
• the origi ⁇ nator SAFF Upon reception of the list and the document, the origi ⁇ nator SAFF proceeds to open as many local loop-back or long-distance lines as it can to deliver the broadcast mes ⁇ sage to the various destinations, essentially simulta ⁇ neously.
• the originator is billed for making a number of different calls, in fact the originating machine is only tied up for the time required to make one call. Furthermore, the full power of the delivery system is asserted for each destination machine, including reporting, redials, queuing, and so forth.
• a feature related to broadcasting is the redirection of messages by the originator. Since fax messages are spooled at the originator SAFF and held for a period of time even after delivery (typically six hours), the originator can dial the Service Number any time during this period and direct a copy of the spooled message to be sent to other destination machines.
• each SAFF appears to the world as a distinct tele ⁇ phone exchange and all subscriber's to a given SAFF are assigned their fax telephone numbers with that exchange pre ⁇ fix. Consequently, all calls directed to a SAFF subscriber eventually end up at the subscriber's SAFF, whether they originated from within the SAFF system network or not.
• Mes ⁇ sages originating "off-network" can arrive by any route. For example, they may be truly local calls, or they may be long-distance calls which arrive over any available long-distance network.
• messages originating from a non- subscriber 33 are delivered to the answering fax machine's SAFF by the local lines 39 provided by the local telephone company. They are answered by the SAFF's Off-net Incoming Screener 48, which, upon noting that they are fax transmis ⁇ sions, directs the calls to the Originate Function 9 of that SAFF. From that point, the call is treated as if it were a local fax call and it is passed over to the Answer Function 12 via the Local Call Loop-back 13 for delivery to the subscriber.
• the Originate Function of the originator SAFF has ultimate responsibility for the management of outgoing messages. It initiates all connections to the Answer Func ⁇ tions of the various SAFFs with which it must communicate. It is the node to which all reports concerning message sta ⁇ tus and disposition must flow. It interrogates Answer SAFFs when extraordinary updates are required. Consequently, the Originate Function is also the focus of charging data. -35-
• the telephone company presumably charges for all of the various services provided by this system.
• the method, algo ⁇ rithm, and rates are determined by actual costs and applica ⁇ ble regulations.
• the user would be billed for telephone connect time, toll charges, extraordinary serv ⁇ ices, such as those provided by calling the Service Number, the amount of mass storage space consumed as a function of time, and so forth.
• One of the user services for which a special charge might be made is a subscriber's customer specific billing system.
• the user can "flag" each fax trans ⁇ mission with a keyed-in prefix which contains a user cus ⁇ tomer, client, or project number. This number is stored as a key field in the Transaction File for that call.
• the billing computer can sort the subscriber's bill on this field and present the user with a list of all fax messages, total usage time, num ⁇ ber of pages, and related charges, all grouped by the subscriber's own customers, clients, or projects.
• each of the principal units of the SAFF such as described in Figures 2,3, and 4 is controlled by its own computer processing unit or units.
• These units are interrupt-driven computers which are con ⁇ nected together by the System Status and Control unit 11.
• This unit is an electronic switch yard for control communi ⁇ cations between the Originate, Answer, and other units
• fax messages addressed to the Origi ⁇ nate Function of a SAFF arise either through the special SAFF Directed Local Lines 4 ( Figures 2 and 3) as a result of direct connection or dialing a special access code, or they arise from Ordinary Local Lines (off-net lines) 39, 40, 63.
• Off-net lines Ordinary Local Lines
• Those which arrive via off-net lines are processed first by the Off-net Screener 48, which may direct them to either the Originate Function 9 or to Mail Box Service 49.
• Figure 5 therefore combines all three of these related functions.
• one of the two incoming call interfaces 64 and 65 signals the Host Computer 70 that it is beginning to process a call at 100 in Figure 5a. These units have their own buffer capability and can tolerate some delay before the Host responds. Ultimately the Host must decide whether it is responding to an on-net or off-net call 101. If it is an off-net call there are two possibilities (excluding wrong numbers) 102: it may either be a fax call, in which case it is from a non-subscriber to a subscriber, or it is a mail box service call. If it is a fax call then -37-
• the billing for services must be directed to the subscribing destination addressee 112. From that point it is handled like an on-net call as will be described shortly.
• a mail box service call 103 determines whether it is a computer or voice-based request.
• the caller is presented with a voice response menu or computer menu 104 for such service, as appropriate.
• the user responds to these prompts with a touchtone keypad, verbally, or with computer keystrokes 105 and a decision ladder, shown suc ⁇ cinctly as 107 selects the desired implementation routine 108, 109, 110 (for brevity only three typical choices are shown, and this element is actually a loop which will permit multiple commands).
• the chosen routine passes parameters to a command parser 121 ( Figure 5b) which prepares a command statement which is then sent 122 to the System Status and Control unit 11, through the interface 72. This command will be passed to the Answer Host 85 through its interface 84 for actual action on the Mail Box Queue 89. If the serv ⁇ ice requires a response to the caller the transmission path is reversed. When the operation is completed 123 the call is terminated.
• the original call is found at 101 to be an on-net call
• billing is generally directed at the originator 113 and the Host 70 begins the opening digital dialogue 114 with the calling machine, acting in place of the destination machine.
• This dialogue includes gathering and storing the fax identifications, originating and desti ⁇ nation telephone numbers and so forth 116.
• the Host opens a Transaction File and links it to a data file 117 for the expected data, and then stores all of the call and file information 118 keyed to the Message Code.
• the destination telephone number and other information are passed almost immediately 119 to the Outbound Controller 74, which then opens a temporary buffer to hold the fax message in case
• immediate contact can be established, and it attempts to establish that contact through the destination SAFF.
• the Outbound Controller 74 examines the status of available trunks. If trunks are available, it will immediately attempt to connect with the destination SAFF, otherwise it will defer the call until a trunk is available. In the event of a broadcast message, the Outbound Controller will select the number of trunks to use simultaneously based on the percentage of the trunks already in use, in order to avoid tying up all of the SAFF's outgoing capacity with a single message task. Other consid ⁇ erations can affect these usage choices depending on the details of the setting of the system.
• the Host then enters a loop which gets the incoming fax data 125 (Figure 5b) from the On-net 64 or Off-net 65 Interface's buffer and stores each byte in the fax data file 126 while sending another copy 127 to the Outbound control ⁇ ler 74 until the incoming data is complete 128.
• the Host then checks 129 with the Outbound controller to see if it was successful in making immediate connection with the des ⁇ tination machine. If it was successful and a satisfactory transfer occurred, then a Delivery Report is sent back 132 to the originating machine before it leaves the line. Oth ⁇ erwise, an Acceptance Report is sent 131, and in either case the outcome is reported 133 to the Transaction File and the call is terminated 134.
• a complementary set of activities occurs in the Answer Function of the destination SAFF as described in Figure 6a and b.
• an incoming call is detected 136 by the Inbound Control 92 ( Figure 4).
• the Answer Host Computer 85 then opens a new fax data and Transaction file for the message if there is no current queue for that destination machine, or it prepares to append the data to an existing queue 137.
• the various call and file parameters are linked and stored
• the Local Interface 83 decides 141 whether the call is addressed to a "real" fax number, or a fictitious number terminating in a mail box. If the number is real the Local Interface attempts to contact the destination machine for immediate delivery.
• the Host then enters a loop where it gets the incoming data 147, stores it 148 in the fax Delivery Queue, and passes it through 149 to the Local Interface buffer.
• the Host determines that the fax transfer is complete 150, it then checks 152 ( Figure 6b) to see if the Local Interface has been able to make immediate delivery. If it has, the Host initiates the transmission of the Delivery Report 167 back through its Status and Control Interface 84 to the Sys ⁇ tem Control and Status unit 11, which in turn updates the Transaction File and sends it back to the originator SAFF over Trunk 15. It is this communication which ultimately results in the immediate Delivery Report described previ ⁇ ously. The transaction in then terminated 169.
• a Retry Report is sent 153 back through the System Status and Control unit and the Retry sequence begins.
• the Retry criteria can be varied 154, both in place and with the SAFF setting. For example, if the SAFF is integrated into a local exchange, the SAFF can actually monitor the desired line and simply wait for it to become available. In other settings it will be necessary for the SAFF to actually redial at prescribed intervals. In any case attempts to connect are made 155 and if they are not successful 156 a counter or timer is checked
• General Service calls always arrive on Ordinary Local Lines 5.
• the voice response menu is presented 173 to the user.
• the user keys in responses or gives them orally 174 and a decision ladder 175 identifies the desired service routine such as 177, 178, or 179.
• the selected service routine generates command parameters which are parsed 181 as system commands and sent 182 to the System Status and Control unit 11 for execution. Upon completion of all requests the call is terminated 183.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Facsimiles In General (AREA)
• Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)

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• 1992
  • 1992-02-11 EP EP92907076A patent/EP0572525A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1992-02-11 WO PCT/US1992/001172 patent/WO1992014334A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1992-02-11 AU AU14447/92A patent/AU1444792A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1992-02-11 CA CA002101327A patent/CA2101327C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime

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