Rapid delivery of facsimile or other data sets to a massive number of recipients

• US 5,712,712 A
• Filed: 06/01/1995
• Issued: 01/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rapidata Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rapidata Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Sayward, Frederick G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Sr., Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, CHEUKFAN
• Application Number:
  US08/456,544
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 358/403, 358/407, 358/402, 358/440, 358/468, 358/442, 358/405, 358/434, 395/200.15, 370/60, 370/61.1, 370/94.3, 370/94.2, 370/94.1, 379/100, 379/98, 379/202, 379/205
• US Class Current: 358/403
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00954 Scheduling operations or managing resources H04N1/0096 takes precedence; program initiating or switching G06F9/48; allocation of computer resources G06F9/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32064 Multi-address calling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/324 intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32406 in connection with routing or relaying, e.g. using a fax-server or a store-and-forward facility stored and forward data switching systems H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0017 Notifying a communication result
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3222 of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling

Abstract

A method and apparatus for rapid delivery of facsimile or other data sets to a massive number of recipients is disclosed. In accordance with the invention, the data set is distributed and delivered by a number of general purpose computers. A scheduling computer defines the paths for communicating the data set via a plurality of general purpose computers. A broadcasting job comprising the fax to be delivered and the distribution instructions for a first GP computer and the other GP computers in its assigned path is delivered to a first general purpose computer. The first general purpose computer communicates a portion of its fax broadcast job to a second GP computer. The broadcast job is distributed in an exponential tree having at least two, and preferably many, levels. Through the use of an exponential distribution tree, the fax is delivered quickly through the use of many general purpose computers.

Claims

1. A method of delivering a fax to a group of final recipients, each final recipient having delivery instructions including salutation information and delivery information, from a scheduling computer via a plurality of general purpose (GP) computers, the method comprising:

a. providing a data base of cost and speed for communication between the computers and the fax recipients;

b. partitioning the group of fax recipients into a plurality of final sets for delivery by said GP computers

c. assigning each delivery set to a GP computer for delivery of the fax to the final recipients and assigning paths from the scheduling computer to the delivery GP computer via a plurality of GP computers, utilizing the data base of cost and speed to determine the partitioning and paths;

d. determining the number of recipients and assigning a number of recipients per GP delivery computer;

e. for each recipient minimizing the cost based on the data base of cost information and assigning that particular recipient to a delivery GP computer for eventual delivery to said particular recipient;

f. counting the number of deliveries assigned to each GP computer;

g. determining if the number of deliveries assigned to each GP computer is level, and if the number is level increasing the level by an increment of one, and if the number is not level, selecting the GP computer and the recipient to level the number of deliveries assigned to each GP computer; and

h. continuing the above steps (d) through (g) until all fax recipients are assigned;

i. communicating from the scheduling computer to one of the GP computers a broadcasting job comprising the fax to be delivered, the distribution instructions for said one GP computer and the other GP computers in its assigned paths, and said delivery instructions for said final recipients including said salutation information and said delivery information;

i. communicating from said one GP computer to a second GP computer a portion of said broadcasting job received from the scheduling computer, said portion of said broadcasting job comprising the fax to be delivered, the distribution instructions for said second GP computer and any other GP computers in its assigned paths, and said delivery instructions including said salutation information and said delivery information for each delivery GP computer assigned to deliver faxes to the final recipients; and

k. delivering the fax from the GP computers assigned to deliver faxes, said delivery GP computers utilizing said salutation information and the delivery information received from the scheduling computer via the path of GP computers.

2. A method according to claim 1 and further including the step of each said delivery GP computer communicating to the scheduling computer information concerning the success or failure of the delivery of the fax to each said recipient assigned to it.

3. A method according to claim 1 and further including, prior to the scheduling computer delivering any fax job, determining to the status of each GP computer including whether or not the GP computer is operational and not overloaded.

4. An apparatus for delivering a fax to a group of recipients each having delivery instructions including salutation information and delivery information, each recipient having apparatus for receiving the fax, the apparatus comprising:

at least one scheduling computer having memory, said memory including delivery instructions for each recipient, said memory having a computer program for partitioning the group of recipients into a plurality of sets for final delivery;

a plurality of general purpose computers (GP), each GP computer having a communications mechanism for communicating with another GP computer and said fax receiving apparatus;

said scheduling computer assigning each final delivery set to a GP computer for delivery to its assigned recipients, said scheduling computer defining paths for communication of the fax via a plurality of GP computers, said scheduling computer communicating to one of said GP computers a broadcasting job comprising the fax to be delivered, the distribution instructions of said one GP computer and the other GP computers in its assigned path including instructions for portioning said broadcasting job, and said delivery instructions including the salutation information and the delivery information for each said GP computer in its path assigned to deliver faxes;

said one GP computer communicating to a second GP computer a portion of said broadcasting job received from the scheduling computer utilizing said portioning instructions, said portion of said broadcasting job comprising the fax to be delivered, the distribution instructions for the second GP computer and any other GP computers in its assigned path and said portioning instructions, and said delivery instructions including the salutation information and the delivery information for each GP computer assigned to deliver faxes;

said GP computers utilizing said salutation information and the delivery information received from the scheduling computer via the path of GP computers to deliver the fax to each recipient.

5. A method of delivering a data set to a group of recipients, each recipient having delivery information, said data set being distributed and delivered by a plurality of general purpose (GP) computers from a scheduling computer, the method comprising:

defining paths for communicating the data set via a plurality of said GP computers to deliver said data set to a recipient;

communicating from the scheduling computer to one of the GP computers a broadcasting job comprising the data set to be delivered, the distribution instructions for said one GP computer and the other GP computers in its assigned path, said distribution instructions including instructions for portioning the broadcasting job;

communicating from said one GP computer to a second GP computer a portion of said broadcasting job received by said one GP computer from the scheduling computer, said portion of said broadcasting job comprising the data set to be delivered and distribution instructions for said second GP computer and any other GP computers in its assigned path including further portioning instructions; and

delivering the data set from the GP computers to a recipient.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein portions of the broadcast job are delivered to said GP computers in an exponential distribution comprising a tree having at least two levels and said second GP computer at a second level delivers said portion of said broadcast job received from said one GP computer to a third GP computer located at a third level of said tree.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said scheduling computer delivers another portion of said broadcast job to a fourth GP computer at a first level, and wherein said fourth GP computer delivers a portion of the broadcast job received from the scheduling computer to a fifth GP computer at said second level of said tree.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said scheduling computer sends out portions of said broadcast job to a different GP computer through a plurality of levels, with each continuing level, the broadcast job being delivered in portions to an increasing number of GP computers, said GP computers in turn, distributing still another portion of said broadcast job to other GP computers, said broadcast job being divided up into a multitude of portions to be distributed and delivered by said GP computers.

9. A method of delivering a data set to a group of recipients, each recipient having delivery information, said data sets being distributed and delivered by a plurality of general purpose (GP) computers, the method comprising:

determining the GP computers that are available to assist in delivery of the data sets;

utilizing an exponential progression having at least two levels for distributing a broadcasting job comprising said data set to be delivered and the distribution instructions for delivery of said data set through a path of GP computers, including instructions for portioning the broadcasting job at each level of the exponential progression, dividing said broadcasting job at each level according to the portioning instructions received from the previous level, said distribution of said data sets and the eventually delivery of said data sets being divided among said GP computers to enhance the speed of delivery of said data sets.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said exponential geometric progression is a binomial expansion.

11. A method according to claim 9 wherein said geometric progression is a binary expansion.

12. A method of telephonically delivering a fax to a group of final recipients, each final recipient having final delivery instructions including salutation information and delivery information, from a scheduling computer via a plurality of general purpose (GP) computers over a telephone network, the method comprising:

a. providing a telephonic connection among said GP computers to permit any GP computer to connect and disconnect with other GP computers;

b. partitioning the group of fax recipients into a plurality of final sets for delivery by said GP computers;

c. assigning each delivery set to a delivery GP computer for delivery to the final recipients and assigning paths from the scheduling computer to the delivery computer via a plurality of GP computers;

d. communicating from the scheduling computer to one of the GP computers a broadcasting job comprising the fax to be delivered, the distribution instructions for said one GP computer and the other GP computers in its assigned paths, said distribution instructions including instructions for portioning the broadcasting job, and said delivery instructions for said final recipients including said final delivery instructions;

e. communicating telephonically from said one GP computer to a second GP computer at a first level a first portion of said broadcasting job received from the scheduling computer, said first portion of said broadcasting job comprising the fax to be delivered, the distribution instructions for said second GP computer and any other GP computers in its assigned paths including said portioning instructions, and said final delivery instructions including said salutation information and said delivery information for each delivery GP computer assigned to deliver faxes to the final recipients, and then disconnecting the telephonic communication between said one GP computer and said second GP computer;

f. communicating telephonically from said one GP computer to a third GP computer at a second level a second portion of said broadcasting job and then disconnecting the telephonic communication between said one GP computer and said third GP computer; and

g. delivering the fax from the GP computers assigned to deliver faxes, said delivery GP computer utilizing said salutation information and the delivery information received from the scheduling computer via the path of GP computers.

13. A method according to claim 12 and further including:

communicating telephonically from said second GP computer to a fourth GP computer at said second level a subportion of said first portion of said broadcasting job and then disconnecting the telephonic communication between said second GP computer and said fourth GP computer.

14. A method according to claim 13 and further including:

communicating from said second GP computer to still another GP computer at a third level a sub-subportion of said first portion of the broadcasting job and then disconnecting the telephonic communication between said second GP computer and said still another GP computer.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the method of steps of claim 15 are reiterated to at least five levels.