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
  • H04N1/32101—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
  • H04N1/32128—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image
  • H04N1/32133—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
  • H04N2201/32—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
  • H04N2201/3201—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
  • H04N2201/3204—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title of data relating to a user, sender, addressee, machine or electronic recording medium
  • H04N2201/3209—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title of data relating to a user, sender, addressee, machine or electronic recording medium of a telephone number
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
  • H04N2201/32—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
  • H04N2201/3201—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
  • H04N2201/3212—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title of data relating to a job, e.g. communication, capture or filing of an image
  • H04N2201/3214—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title of data relating to a job, e.g. communication, capture or filing of an image of a date
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
  • H04N2201/32—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
  • H04N2201/3201—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
  • H04N2201/3212—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title of data relating to a job, e.g. communication, capture or filing of an image
  • H04N2201/3215—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title of data relating to a job, e.g. communication, capture or filing of an image of a time or duration
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
  • H04N2201/32—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
  • H04N2201/3201—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
  • H04N2201/3212—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title of data relating to a job, e.g. communication, capture or filing of an image
  • H04N2201/3218—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title of data relating to a job, e.g. communication, capture or filing of an image of a confirmation, acknowledgement or receipt
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
  • H04N2201/32—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
  • H04N2201/3201—Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
  • H04N2201/3271—Printing or stamping

Definitions

• the field of the invention relates to facsimile machines and in particular to a means of certifying a facsimile transmission.
• fax machines and the fax transmissions originating from such machines are known.
• Such machines are typically used to transfer printed and graphical information over great distances via a public switch telephone network (PSTN) .
• PSTN public switch telephone network
• the printed or graphical information is typically converted into an electrical signal using an optical scanner.
• a sheet of paper containing the printed or graphical information is fed into a set of transport devices (e.g. rollers) within the fax machines which transports the sheet of paper past the optical scanner.
• the scanner rapidly scans the width of the sheet transverse to a direction of movement as the sheet is transported past the scanner.
• a modem within the fax machines converts the electrical signal from the optical scanner into a variable frequency, electrical signal typically in the audio range, for transmission through the PSTN.
• variable frequency signal is converted into a variable direct current (DC) voltage which is then used to electostatically dispose a darkening agent (toner) on a received fax sheet in such a manner as to recreate the image detected by the scanner at the transmitting fax machines.
• the toner is then fixed to the sheet by the application of heat, or otherwise, to complete the process.
• To initiate a fax transmission an operator enters a destination telephone number of the fax transmission and loads the material to be faxed into a paper tray on the transmitting fax machine. The transmitting fax then scans the faxed material into a memory in anticipation of transmission.
• the transmitting fax machine seizes an interconnected telephone line and transmits the destination telephone number to a controller within the PSTN.
• the PSTN controller through a number of local and remote telephone switches, interconnects the calling fax to a target fax.
• a local PSTN controller notifies the target fax of the incoming call by causing a telephone associated with the target fax machine to ring.
• the target fax detects the electrical pulses of the ringing, seizes the telephone line and establishes a connection with the transmitting fax machine.
• the faxed information is then transferred from the transmitting to target fax machine.
• a fax report is printed by the transmitting fax machine listing, inter alia, a target telephone number and number of pages transmitted. While existing fax machines work well, the prior art has taught that a fax machine can not be relied upon where proof of delivery is required such as for notification of consumer product safety hazards or certain types of court documents. Where proof of delivery is required the prior art has taught that the only alternative is certified U.S. Mail or hand delivery. Because of the importance of certifying delivery of such documents a need exists for a method of certifying fax transmissions.
• a primary object of the present invention is to provide a method for using existing telephone apparatus and equipment, but in an arrangement to enable the exchange of electronic certified or registered telephonic transmissions instead of the use of mailing systems for such purposes.
• a further and more particular object of this present invention is to provide the steps of a telephone "certified” or "registered” transmission system which enables the telephone number of the recipient of the fax to be recorded along with the time and date of the call and the contents of the fax transmission itself.
• a further and more specific object of the present invention is to enable the transmission of a record of the fax transmission to the initiator of the call.
• the method includes the steps of detecting a facsimile transmission from an originating fax machine to a destination facsimile machine, receiving acknowledgement from the destination facsimile machine that a page of the facsimile transmission was received, and certifying delivery of the page by outputting a copy of the page of the facsimile transmission with indicia of delivery printed thereon.
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing transmitting and receiving facsimile machines interconnected through a telephone network having facsimile certification apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of this invention
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a local telephone switch and interconnected facsimile certification apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of this invention
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an alternate embodiment under the invention
• FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the local switch and certified hard copy printer of FIG. 3
• FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the controller and controller and certified hard copy printer of FIG. 4.
• the solution to the problem of certifying fax deliveries lies conceptually in interconnecting a fax printer for certification of fax transmissions-(certification fax receiver) with a local telephone switch of the PSTN and printing a copy of each page of the fax transmission along with an indicia of delivery.
• the indicia of delivery may include a telephone number of a destination fax machine, an indication that the faxed sheet was properly delivered, and a time of document delivery.
• An originating fax machine may request fax delivery certification by a particular sequence of dialed digits.
• a controller of a local switch of the PSTN could be programmed to recognize that where a character on a touch tone phone such as a "#" were pressed twice followed by a telephone number of a destination fax machine, that such sequence is to be interpreted as a request for fax delivery certification.
• the controller of the local switch upon receiving the request for fax delivery certification would strip off the first two characters (##) and thereafter handle call routing between the originating and destination fax machine as under the prior art.
• the certification fax receiver would be added to the call connection under a technique similar to three-party calling.
• the indicia of delivery of a fax transmission is information readily available to the controller of the local switch.
• the telephone number of the destination fax machine is received by the local switch controller during call set-up and is retained in memory of the local switch controller. Time and date are also available within the local switch controller as part of call billing facilities.
• the acknowledgement of receipt of a page of a fax transmission is something that the local switch controller obtains by monitoring the fax transmission.
• the originating fax transmits information one line at a time until an end of page is encountered at which time the receiving fax machine acknowledges receipt of the page, or the originating fax re-transmits the page.
• the local switch controller monitors the fax transmission for page receipt acknowledgements.
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a PSTN system showing the fax certification feature in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
• an originating fax 10 is provided with a telephone interconnect 20 between the originating fax 10 and a local switch 12 of the PSTN.
• a destination fax 16 may be interconnected directly to the same local switch 12 as the originating fax 10 or be interconnected through a second local switch 14 as shown in FIG. 1.
• local switches 12, 14 of a PSTN each have a number of telephone interconnects 20, 24 depending on the size of the local switch 12, 14 and the number of local subscribers 10, 16 in the geographic area of each local switch 12, 14. It is also to be understood that local switches 12, 14 of a PSTN are interconnected through a number of trunk groups were the trunk groups provide a means of exchanging communicated information between a first local switch and other local switches in other geographic areas.
• FIG. 1 in specific, shows a first local switch 12 in a first geographic area interconnected with a second local switch 14 in a second geographic area through a particular trunk group 22.
• Each trunk group 22 is made up of a number of communication channels that, within an integrated services digital network (ISDN) , may range from a basic rate interface (BRI) (with very few channels and fairly low capacity) to the larger Tl lines with capacities in excess of one Megabits per second. If local switches 12, 14 were of a fairly low capacity, then the interconnecting trunk group 22 may be made up of one or more BRIs where each BRI consists of 2-B channels (typically used for the exchange of subscriber traffic information at a rate of 64 kilo bits per second per channel) and 1-D channel (used for the exchange of control information between switches at a rate of 15 kilo bits) .
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the local switch 12 and fax certification printer 18 of FIG. 1.
• the local switch 12 has a matrix switch 26 and local switch controller 28.
• the local switch controller 28 periodically monitors local telephone interconnect 20 for call requests.
• the controller 28 by reference to a called number received from the originating fax machine 10 on a telephone interconnect 20 determines by reference to a memory 30 that the target of the call request (destination fax 16) may be accessed through a particular trunk group 22 and local switch 14.
• the local switch 12 of the originating fax machine 10 (requesting switch 12) seizes a D channel of the trunk group 22 and transmits an access request to the local switch 14 of the destination fax machine 16 (destination switch 14) .
• the destination switch 14 responds by transmitting an access grant back to the requesting switch 12 identifying an allocated traffic channel to be used during the fax transmission.
• the destination switch 14 also signals the destination fax 16 of the incoming call.
• switch 14 connects telephone interconnect 24 with the identified traffic channel of the trunk group 22.
• the controller 28 of the requesting switch 12 in response to the access grant and to the destination fax answering the call, directs the matrix switch 26 to provide an connection between the allocated traffic channel of the trunk group 22 and the telephone interconnect 20 of the originating fax 10.
• the destination fax 16 begins transmitting a connect tone.
• the originating fax 10 answers the connect tone and a negotiation of fax transmission protocol and transmission baud rate follows.
• the transmission of the fax message may begin.
• the controller 28 of the requesting switch 12 also instructs the matrix switch 26 to provide a three-party connection among the telephone interconnect 20 of the originating fax 10, the allocated traffic channel of the trunk group 22 and the interconnect 30 of the certification fax 18.
• Interconnect 30 is in the nature of a simplex connection allowing one-way transmission of fax data to the certification fax.
• the certification fax is not allowed to request a re-transmission of lost data from the originating fax 10. Since the certification fax does not participate in the negotiation of fax protocol or speed and since the certification fax must accommodate the capabilities of originating and destination fax machines, the certification fax may be of a somewhat greater level of sophistication than the originating or destination fax machines. In all other regards, the certification fax may be selected from any of a range of commercially available fax machines.
• an oversize paper tray (e.g., for 17 inch by 23 inch paper) is used to supply the certification fax.
• the oversize supply sheet is queued in a normal manner with the information of each page of the fax transmission printed at the top of the oversized sheet within the certification fax machine.
• an appropriate printer e.g. a laser printer
• the certification fax machine and certification printer comprise a certification fax printer 18 providing a degree of reliability of delivery of fax transmissions not available from other sources.
• the certification printer is programmed in a known manner to print the indicia of delivery in a non-interfering location of the printed document certifying fax delivery.
• the indicia of delivery are transferred to the certification printer from the local switch controller 28 via an appropriate data interface (e.g., RS232 or a LAN) .
• the controller 28 may provide the indicia of delivery such as the telephone number of the destination fax 16 based upon the destination telephone number included in the original access request, or may query the destination switch 14 over an appropriate D channel of the trunk group 22 after each page of the fax transmission to determine where that page of the fax transmission was sent for purposes of providing additional certainty in the verification process.
• copies of the document may be sent via regular mail to the originating fax operator, with the original documents held in secure storage. Holding the original documents in an area of secure storage allows for a greater reliability against alteration.
• Such a method also allows for a fax certification system operator to later offer testimony in a court of law, or otherwise, as to the methods used in certification and to the reliability of such services.
• the certification fax machine and certification printer are combined into one device. Under such an embodiment a page of fax material is compressed in size to occupy 3/4 of a standard size fax page with indicia of delivery occupying the remaining 1/4 of the fax.
• Data delivery to the certification fax under the embodiment is accomplished through use of a data buffer in series with the interconnect 30 and with a data switch interposed between the buffer and certification fax under the control of the controller 28.
• the controller 28 instructs the data switch to pass fax information from the buffer to the certification fax.
• the controller 28 detects an end-of-page message from the originating fax 10 and a page acknowledge message from the destination fax 16
• the controller 28 instructs the data switch to interrupt the transfer of --data from the buffer to the certification fax and, instead, pass indicia of delivery from an output of the controller 26 while the buffer accumulates any new data from succeeding fax pages.
• the controller 28 again instructs the data switch to pass data from the buffer.
• the fax transmission is not printed immediately with indicia of delivery associated with each page but, rather, the entire fax transmission is stored as a common file with indicia associated with the entire file stored in conjunction with the file as a composite file.
• the composite file is stored in a secure facility with a single summary page printed after creation of the composite file and sent to the operator of the originating fax machine for record keeping purposes.
• the entire composite file is printed upon demand.
• the invention is extended to electronic mail (E-mail) systems operating upon PSTN.
• the controller 28 of the switch 12 detects the request for such transmission through identifying digits using in conjunction with a target address.
• An E-mail printer associated with the switch 12 monitors the transmission through a three- party connection.
• indicia of delivery are printed on a copy of the E-mail message (preferably in a different color) .
• a composite file is generated and stored within the originating fax machine as a read-only file using well-known programming techniques.
• the read-only file is generated using a randomly generated access code known only to the originating fax machine and which machine allows for printing of the composite file with indicia on each page or in summary form or, alternatively, allows for deletion of the entire file under operator control.
• certification of delivery is extended to information exchanged between two parties communicating between an originating telephone and a destination telephone (calling and called party) under a multitude of formats (e.g., spoken words, dual tone multi- frequency (DTMF) , amplitude modulation (AM) , frequency modulation (FM) , etc.) .
• DTMF dual tone multi- frequency
• AM amplitude modulation
• FM frequency modulation
• an audio recorder may be used to record exchanged information along with indicia of delivery.
• the recorded information may later be converted and transcribed to a visually readable form along with the indicia of delivery.
• the exchange information may be decoded on-line using decoding devices that are well known in the art.
• a voice recognition unit may be used to drive a printer to provide a certified hard copy along with time and date of the information exchange.
• a modem may be used.
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the certified information exchange system 50 in accordance with the invention.
• an originating telephone 52 requests information exchange certification by use of a particular sequence of dialed digits.
• a controller 64 (FIG. 4) by reference to memory 68 recognizes the sequence as a request for certification, strips off the certification request digits, and forwards the re-formatted call request to a local switch 56 of the destination phone 58 for call set-up.
• the controller 64 also instructs the matrix switch 62 to establish a connection 30a, 30b between the certified hard copy delivery system 60 and the duplex voice channel 20,22.
• the duplex voice connection on voice paths 20 and 22 is divided into a first unidirectional (simplex) voice path 30a (i.e., from originating phone (calling party)) 52 to destination phone (called party) 58 and a second unidirectional (simplex) voice path 30b (i.e., from destination phone 58 to originating phone 52) .
• Dividing the duplex voice connection 20,22 as to source allows the source of the information presented on the certified hard copy printout to be precisely identified.
• the information on the first and second unidirectional voice paths are stored on a first and second recording channels with indicia of delivery (e.g., time, originating and destination telephone numbers) stored on a third recording channel.
• the indicia of delivery can be stored on the third recording channel under a voice format with the voice signal originating from a voice synthesizer (not shown) , within the controller 64.
• the certification hard copy printing system 60 certifying an information content of a telephonic exchange could be a secretary listening to the channels and reducing the recorded information to a certified hard copy.
• the delivery of the certified hard copy may be provided through automated processes.
• decoding units such as a voice recognition unit (VRU) 74 and modem 72 continuously sample the first and second voice paths 30a, 30b of the duplex voice path 20,22 for communicated information.
• the controller 64 analyzes output buffers (not shown) of the VRU 74 and modem 72 for intelligible information (i.e., information that the VRU 74 or modem 72 are able to decode) .
• a certified printout of a communicated exchange begins with a page header listing originating and destination telephone numbers and date and time of day. Transmissions (whether covering a portion of a page or many pages) are always prefaced with a source identifier (i.e., originating or destination telephone) and the time the transmission began. Pages are numbered with a non-repeatable sequence number.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Facsimiles In General (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (2)

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ID=26977553

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (2)

Citations (7)

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• 1995
  • 1995-08-21 AU AU33318/95A patent/AU3331895A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1995-08-21 MX MX9702104A patent/MX9702104A/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1995-08-21 WO PCT/US1995/010569 patent/WO1996010314A2/en active Application Filing
  • 1995-08-21 JP JP8511744A patent/JPH10509846A/ja active Pending
  • 1995-08-21 CA CA 2199986 patent/CA2199986A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (7)

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