Real-time facsimile transmission over digital networks

• US 20010024289A1
• Filed: 02/23/2001
• Published: 09/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey A. Scott
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey A. Scott
• Inventors: Scott, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US09/790,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20010024289A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32795 Arrangements for keeping the communication line open
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0034 Details of the connection, e.g. connector, interface

Abstract

Providing facsimile communications in a system wherein an originating facsimile terminal equipment (FTE) connects to an intermediate digital network of unknown and unpredictable delay via an originating facsimile interface unit (FIU) and wherein a destination FTE connects to the network via a destination FIU. The originating FTE sends data to the destination FTE via the originating FIU. The originating FIU sends the data to the destination FIU. While the destination FIU is waiting for data from the originating FTE, the destination FIU sends made-up data to the destination FTE to prevent protocol timeouts of the destination FTE. The FTEs operate under the G3 protocol. The made up data is either fill data or stall data, depending on the amount of data accumulated at the destination FIU and on the types of network delays.

Claims

1. In a system wherein an originating facsimile terminal equipment (FTE) which operates according to the G3 protocol connects to an intermediate digital network of unknown and unpredictable delay via an originating facsimile interface unit (FIU) and wherein a destination FTE which operates according to the G3 protocol and connects to the network via a destination FIU, a method of providing facsimile communications comprising:

(a) the originating FTE sending data to the destination FTE via the originating FIU and the destination FIU;

(b) the originating FIU sending the data to the destination FIU;

(c) while the destination FIU is waiting for data from the originating FTE, the destination FIU sending a made-up data to the destination FTE to prevent protocol timeouts of the destination FTE, wherein the destination FIU sends made-up data to the destination FTE until the destination FIU has accumulated some data from the originating FTE;

(d) the originating FTE, at the end of sending a page of data, sending an end-of-page signal to the destination FTE via the originating FIU;

(e) the originating FIU delaying acknowledgment to the originating FTE of the end-of-page signal; and

(f) in response to the delayed acknowledgment, the originating FTE sending an another end-of-page signal to the destination FTE via the originating FIU, thereby allowing the destination FIU and the destination FTE to complete their end-of-page protocol, wherein;

(i) the data being sent by the originating FTE is scan-line data of a document being sent, and wherein the made-up data comprises data which has a valid format and which was not part of the original document,

(ii) the destination FIU sends the made-up data to the destination FTE when the destination FIU has not received a scan line from the originating FIU, and wherein the made-up data comprises a valid scan line,

(iii) the destination FIU sends the made-up data to the destination FTE when the destination FIU has received at least some of a scan line from the originating FIU,

(iv) the made-up data comprises some of the received scan line and additional data,

(v) the kind of made-up data sent to the destination FTE depends on the number of complete, unprinted scan lines that have been received by the destination FIU over the network; and

(vi) the sending made-up data comprises;

(1) when the destination FIU detects a slowdown in the arrival of data over the network, sending filled lines to the destination FTE, and

(2) when the destination FIU detects unexpected delays in the arrival of data, sending stalling lines to the destination FTE.

2. In a system wherein an originating facsimile terminal equipment (FTE) connects to an intermediate digital network via an originating facsimile interface unit (FIU) and wherein a destination FTE connects to the network via a destination FIU, a method of providing facsimile communications comprising:

(a) the originating FTE sending data to the destination FTE via the originating FIU and the destination FIU;

(b) the originating FIU sending the data to the destination FIU; and

(c) while the destination FIU is waiting for data from the originating FTE, the destination FIU sending a made-up data to the destination FTE to prevent protocol timeouts of the destination FTE.

3. A method as in

claim 2

wherein the data being sent by the originating FTE is scan-line data of a document being sent, and wherein the made-up data comprises data which has a valid format and which was not part of the original document.

4. A method as in

claim 3

wherein the destination FIU sends the made-up data to the destination FTE when the destination FIU has not received a scan line from the originating FIU, and wherein the made-up data comprises a valid scan line.

5. A method as in

claim 4

wherein the destination FIU sends made-up data to the destination FTE until the destination FIU has accumulated some data from the originating FTE.

6. A method as in

claim 4

wherein the destination FIU sends made-up data to the destination FTE until the destination FIU receives an all-white scan line, the method further comprising, when the destination FIU receives an all-white scan line, sending to the destination FTE additional white scan lines.

7. A method as in

claim 3

wherein the destination FIU sends the made-up data to the destination FTE when the destination FIU has received at least some of a scan line from the originating FIU, and wherein the made-up data comprises some of the received scan line and additional data.

8. A method as in

claim 3

wherein the kind of made-up data sent to the destination FTE depends on the number of complete, unprinted scan lines that have been received by the destination FIU over the network.

9. A method as in

claim 8

wherein the sending made-up data comprises:

(a) when the destination FIU detects a slowdown in the arrival of data over the network, sending filled lines to the destination FTE, and

(b) when the destination FIU detects unexpected delays in the arrival of data, sending stalling lines to the destination FTE.

10. A method as in

claim 2

further comprising:

(d) the originating FTE, at the end of sending a page of data, sending an end-of-page signal to the destination FTE via the originating FIU;

(e) the originating FIU delaying acknowledgment to the originating FTE of the end-of-page signal; and

(f) in response to the delayed acknowledgment, the originating FTE sending an another end-of-page signal to the destination FTE via the originating FIU, thereby allowing the destination FIU and the destination FTE to complete their end-of-page protocol.

11. A method as in

claim 2

further comprising, in an error correcting mode (ECM) in which page data is broken up into frames, the destination FIU

(d) packaging into frames all page data sent to be sent to the destination FTE;

(e) sending all page data to the destination FTE as the packaged frames;

(f) keeping a copy of each packaged frame sent to the destination FTE; and

(e) in response to a request from the destination FTE for retransmission of a frame, sending a copy of the requested frame.

12. A method as in

claim 11

wherein the destination FIU keeps a copy of each packaged frame sent to the destination FTE until the frame is acknowledged by the destination FTE.

29. A method as in any of claims 2-28 wherein the originating and the destination facsimile terminal equipment operates according to the G3 protocol.

30. A method as in any of claims 2-28 wherein the network is of unknown and unpredictable delay.

13. In a system wherein an originating facsimile terminal equipment (FTE) connects to an intermediate digital network via an originating facsimile interface unit (FIU) and wherein a destination FTE connects to the network via a destination FIU, a method of receiving a facsimile communication comprising, by the destination FIU:

(a) receiving data from the originating FTE; and

(b) while waiting for data from the originating FTE, sending a made-up data to the destination FTE to prevent protocol timeouts of the destination FTE.

14. A method as in

claim 13

wherein the data being sent by the originating FTE is scan-line data of a document being sent, and wherein the made-up data comprises data which has a valid format and which was not part of the original document.

15. A method as in

claim 14

wherein the destination FIU sends the made-up data to the destination FTE when the destination FIU has not received a scan line from the originating FIU, and wherein the made-up data comprises a valid scan line.

16. A method as in

claim 15

wherein the destination FIU sends made-up data to the destination FTE until the destination FIU has accumulated some data from the originating FTE.

17. A method as in

claim 15

wherein the destination FIU sends made-up data to the destination FTE until the destination FIU receives an all-white scan line, the method further comprising, when the destination FIU receives an all-white scan line, sending to the destination FTE additional white scan lines.

18. A method as in

claim 14

wherein the destination FIU sends the made-up data to the destination FTE when the destination FIU has received at least some of a scan line from the originating FIU, and wherein the made-up data comprises some of the received scan line and additional data.

19. A method as in

claim 14

wherein the kind of made-up data sent to the destination FTE depends on the number of complete, unprinted scan lines that have been received by the destination FIU over the network.

20. A method as in

claim 19

wherein the sending made-up data comprises:

(a) when the destination FIU detects a slowdown in the arrival of data over the network, sending filled lines to the destination FTE, and

(b) when the destination FIU detects unexpected delays in the arrival of data, sending stalling lines to the destination FTE.

21. A method of receiving a facsimile communication at a destination facsimile terminal equipment (FTE) from an originating FTE via an intermediate digital network, wherein the destination FTE connects to the network via a destination FIU, the method comprising, by the destination FIU:

(a) receiving data from the originating FTE; and

(b) while waiting for data from the originating FTE, sending a made-up data to the destination FTE to prevent protocol timeouts of the destination FTE.

22. A method as in

claim 21

wherein the data being sent by the originating FTE is scan-line data of a document being sent, and wherein the made-up data comprises data which has a valid format and which was not part of the original document.

23. A method as in

claim 22

wherein the destination FIU sends the made-up data to the destination FTE when the destination FIU has not received a scan line from the originating FIU, and wherein the made-up data comprises a valid scan line.

24. A method as in

claim 22

wherein the destination FIU sends made-up data to the destination FTE until the destination FIU has accumulated some data from the originating FTE.

25. A method as in

claim 22

wherein the destination FIU sends made-up data to the destination FTE until the destination FIU receives an all-white scan line, the method further comprising, when the destination FIU receives an all-white scan line, sending to the destination FTE additional white scan lines.

26. A method as in

claim 23

wherein the destination FIU sends the made-up data to the destination FTE when the destination FIU has received at least some of a scan line from the originating FIU, and wherein the made-up data comprises some of the received scan line and additional data.

27. A method as in

claim 24

wherein the kind of made-up data sent to the destination FTE depends on the number of complete, unprinted scan lines that have been received by the destination FIU over the network.

28. A method as in

claim 23

wherein the sending made-up data comprises:

(a) when the destination FIU detects a slowdown in the arrival of data over the network, sending filled lines to the destination FTE, and

(b) when the destination FIU detects unexpected delays in the arrival of data, sending stalling lines to the destination FTE.

31. In a system wherein an originating facsimile terminal equipment (FTE) connects to an intermediate digital network via an originating facsimile interface unit (FIU) and wherein a destination FTE connects to the network via a destination FIU, the destination FIU comprising:

(a) means for receiving data from an originating FTE via the network; and

(b) means for, while the destination FIU is waiting for data from the originating FTE, sending a made-up data to the destination FTE to prevent protocol timeouts of the destination FTE.

32. In a system wherein an originating facsimile terminal equipment (FTE) connects to an intermediate digital network via an originating facsimile interface unit (FIU) and wherein a destination FTE connects to the network via a destination FIU, a FIU programmed to perform:

while the FIU is waiting for data from an originating FTE, the FIU sending a made-up data to a destination FTE to prevent protocol timeouts of the destination FTE.

33. An FIU as in

claim 32

wherein the data being sent by the originating FTE is scan-line data of a document being sent, and wherein the made-up data comprises data which has a valid format and which was not part of the original document.

34. An FIU as in

claim 33

wherein the FIU is programmed to send the made-up data to the destination FTE when the destination FIU has not received a scan line from the originating FIU, and wherein the made-up data comprises a valid scan line.

35. An FIU as in

claim 34

wherein the destination FIU sends made-up data to the destination FTE until the FIU has accumulated some data from the originating FTE.

36. An FIU as in

claim 35

wherein the FIU is further programmed to send made-up data to the destination FTE until the destination FIU receives an all-white scan line, the method further comprising, when the destination FIU receives an all-white scan line, sending to the destination FTE additional white scan lines.

37. An FIU as in

claim 32

wherein the FIU is programmed to send the made-up data to the destination FTE when the FIU has received at least some of a scan line from the originating FIU, and wherein the made-up data comprises some of the received scan line and additional data.

38. An FIU as in

claim 32

wherein the kind of made-up data sent to the destination FTE depends on the number of complete, unprinted scan lines that have been received by the FIU over the network.

39. An FIU as in

claim 38

wherein the sending made-up data comprises:

(a) when the destination FIU detects a slowdown in the arrival of data over the network, sending filled lines to the destination FTE, and

(b) when the destination FIU detects unexpected delays in the arrival of data, sending stalling lines to the destination FTE.

40. An FIU as in any one of claims 32-39 wherein the originating and the destination facsimile terminal equipment operates according to the G3 protocol.

41. An FIU as in any one of claims 32-39 wherein the network is of unknown and unpredictable delay.

42. In a system wherein an originating facsimile terminal equipment (FTE) connects to an intermediate digital network of unknown and unpredictable delay via an originating facsimile interface unit (FIU) and wherein a destination FTE connects to the network via a destination FIU, wherein the originating and the destination facsimile terminal equipment operates according to the G3 protocol, a memory medium comprising software programmed to provide facsimile communications by:

(a) the originating FTE sending data to the destination FTE via the originating FIU and the destination FIU;

(b) the originating FIU sending the data to the destination FIU;

(c) while the destination FIU is waiting for data from the originating FTE, the destination FIU sending a made-up data to the destination FTE to prevent protocol timeouts of the destination FTE;

(d) the originating FTE, at the end of sending a page of data, sending an end-of-page signal to the destination FTE via the originating FIU;

(e) the originating FIU delaying acknowledgment to the originating FTE of the end-of-page signal; and

(f) in response to the delayed acknowledgment, the originating FTE sending an another end-of-page signal to the destination FTE via the originating FIU, thereby allowing the destination FIU and the destination FTE to complete their end-of-page protocol, and, in an error correcting mode (ECM) in which page data is broken up into frames,

(g) packaging into frames all page data sent to be sent to the destination FTE;

(h) sending all page data to the destination FTE as the packaged frames;

(i) keeping a copy of each packaged frame sent to the destination FTE; and

(j) in response to a request from the destination FTE for retransmission of a frame, sending a copy of the requested frame,

wherein the data being sent by the originating FTE is scan-line data of a document being sent, and wherein the made-up data comprises data which has a valid format and which was not part of the original document, and

wherein the software is further programmed such that the destination FIU sends the made-up data to the destination FTE when the destination FIU has not received a scan line from the originating FIU, and wherein the made-up data comprises a valid scan line, and

wherein the software is further programmed such that the destination FIU sends made-up data to the destination FTE until the destination FIU has accumulated some data from the originating FTE,

wherein the software is further programmed such that the destination FIU sends made-up data to the destination FTE until the destination FIU receives an all-white scan line, the memory medium further comprising, when the destination FIU receives an all-white scan line, sending to the destination FTE additional white scan lines, and

wherein the kind of made-up data sent to the destination FTE depends on the number of complete, unprinted scan lines that have been received by the destination FIU over the network, and wherein the sending of made-up data comprises;

(a) when the destination FIU detects a slowdown in the arrival of data over the network, sending filled lines to the destination FTE, and

(b) when the destination FIU detects unexpected delays in the arrival of data, sending stalling lines to the destination FTE.

43. In a system wherein an originating facsimile terminal equipment (FTE) connects to an intermediate digital network via an originating facsimile interface unit (FIU) and wherein a destination FTE connects to the network via a destination FIU, a memory medium comprising software programmed to provide facsimile communications by:

(a) the originating FTE sending data to the destination FTE via the originating FIU and the destination FIU;

(b) the originating FIU sending the data to the destination FIU; and

(c) while the destination FIU is waiting for data from the originating FTE, the destination FIU sending a made-up data to the destination FTE to prevent protocol timeouts of the destination FTE.

44. A memory medium as in

claim 43

wherein the data being sent by the originating FTE is scan-line data of a document being sent, and wherein the made-up data comprises data which has a valid format and which was not part of the original document.

45. A memory medium as in

claim 44

wherein the software is further programmed such that the destination FIU sends the made-up data to the destination FTE when the destination FIU has not received a scan line from the originating FIU, and wherein the made-up data comprises a valid scan line.

46. A memory medium as in

claim 45

wherein the software is further programmed such that the destination FIU sends made-up data to the destination FTE until the destination FIU has accumulated some data from the originating FTE.

47. A memory medium as in

claim 45

wherein the software is further programmed such that the destination FIU sends made-up data to the destination FTE until the destination FIU receives an all-white scan line, the memory medium further comprising, when the destination FIU receives an all-white scan line, sending to the destination FTE additional white scan lines.

48. A memory medium as in

claim 43

wherein the software is further programmed such that the destination FIU sends the made-up data to the destination FTE when the destination FIU has received at least some of a scan line from the originating FIU, and wherein the made-up data comprises some of the received scan line and additional data.

49. A memory medium as in

claim 44

wherein the kind of made-up data sent to the destination FTE depends on the number of complete, unprinted scan lines that have been received by the destination FIU over the network.

50. A memory medium as in

claim 49

wherein the sending of made-up data comprises:

(a) when the destination FIU detects a slowdown in the arrival of data over the network, sending filled lines to the destination FTE, and

(b) when the destination FIU detects unexpected delays in the arrival of data, sending stalling lines to the destination FTE.

51. A memory medium as in

claim 43

wherein the software is further programmed to provide facsimile communications by:

(d) the originating FTE, at the end of sending a page of data, sending an end-of-page signal to the destination FTE via the originating FIU;

(e) the originating FIU delaying acknowledgment to the originating FTE of the end-of-page signal; and

(f) in response to the delayed acknowledgment, the originating FTE sending an another end-of-page signal to the destination FTE via the originating FIU, thereby allowing the destination FIU and the destination FTE to complete their end-of-page protocol.

52. A memory medium as in

claim 43

wherein the software is further programmed to provide facsimile communications by, in an error correcting mode (ECM) in which page data is broken up into frames,

(d) packaging into frames all page data sent to be sent to the destination FTE;

(e) sending all page data to the destination FTE as the packaged frames;

(f) keeping a copy of each packaged frame sent to the destination FTE; and

(e) in response to a request from the destination FTE for retransmission of a frame, sending a copy of the requested frame.

53. A memory medium as in

claim 52

wherein the destination FIU keeps a copy of each packaged frame sent to the destination FTE until the frame is acknowledged by the destination FTE.

54. A memory medium as in one of

claims 43

to

53

wherein the originating and the destination facsimile terminal equipment operates according to the G3 protocol.

55. A memory medium as in one of

claims 43

to

53

wherein the network is of unknown and unpredictable delay.