Facsimile long term storage and retrieval system

• US 6,046,824 A
• Filed: 07/24/1997
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nice Systems Limited (Nice Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Nice Systems Limited (Nice Ltd)
• Inventors: Barak, Haim
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, II, Jerome
• Application Number:
  US08/899,959
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 358/400, 358/402, 358/407, 358/434, 358/435, 358/436, 358/440, 358/468, 370/351, 370/354, 370/360, 370/362-386, 379/100.04, 379/100.06, 379/100.12, 379/100.13, 379/102.02, 379/67
• US Class Current: 358/400
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00002 Diagnosis, testing or measuring; Detecting, analysing or monitoring not otherwise provided for error detection, error correction or monitoring in digital computers or digital computer components G06F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0001 Transmission systems or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00042 Monitoring, i.e. observation H04N1/00029 - H04N1/00039 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00058 using a separate apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0009 Storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2166 for mass storage, e.g. in document filing systems information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/34 for coin-freed systems ; Pay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3212 of data relating to a job, e.g. communication, capture or filing of an image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3214 of a date
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3215 of a time or duration

Abstract

A passive long term facsimile transmission storage and retrieval system, which includes a facsimile logger passively or actively coupled to at least one telephone line connected to a facsimile machine is provided. The facsimile logger acquires and stores the facsimile transmissions that occur on the telephone line, on long term archive media. The system also includes a database coupled to the facsimile logger and at least one workstation coupled to the facsimile logger. The database holds relevant data associated with the stored facsimile transmission. The workstation is able to search for and retrieve the facsimile transmissions previously stored by the facsimile logger on the long term archive media. The fax logger also includes the capability for a user to enter a series of numbers that provide information concerning the identity of the operator, the account number for billing purposes and any subaddressing related data. The series of numbers are entered on the keypad of the fax machine. The fax logger also includes a fax line monitor for checking for and reporting any malfunctions found in either the line or the fax machine itself.

Claims

1. A long term facsimile transmission storage and retrieval system, comprising:

first processor means adapted to provide facsimile logging, said first processor means operatively coupled between at least one telephone line via a private branch exchange extensions or a standard telephone line and at least one facsimile machine via a local connection, said first processor means storing and forwarding inbound facsimile transmissions that arrive on said at least one telephone line and outbound facsimile transmission that originate from said at least one facsimile machine over said local connection, said first processor means operative to permanently archive said inbound and said outbound facsimile transmissions on long term archive media so as to permit random retrieval;

a database coupled to said first processor means, said database for holding relevant data associated with said stored facsimile transmission;

second processor means operatively coupled to said first processor means, said second processor means able to search and retrieve said facsimile transmissions previously stored by said first processor means on said long term archive media, said search and retrieval operations occurring independently of said inbound transmission, outbound transmission and archiving functions of said first processor means;

means for accepting and processing data supplied by a user, said data including operator identity, account information for billing and sub address data;

third processor means operatively coupled to said first processor means, said third processor means for generating and sending a confirmation message to the user regarding the result of the facsimile transmission;

means for appending said sub address data to said outbound facsimile transmissions; and

bypass means coupled between said first processor means and said at least one telephone line and between said first processor means and said at least one facsimile machine, said bypass means operative to receive a keep alive indication from said first processor means, said bypass means operative to disconnect said first processor means and connect said at least one telephone line directly to said at least one facsimile machine in the event said keep alive indication is not received within a predetermined time period.

2. A facsimile logger coupled between a telephone line and a facsimile machine, comprising:

a telephone line interface coupled to the telephone line, said telephone line interface interfacing the telephone line to an internal data bus;

a facsimile line interface coupled to the facsimile machine, said facsimile line interface for interfacing the facsimile machine to said internal data bus;

a switch having an input port and an output port, said input port coupled to said internal data bus, said output port coupled to a fax/modem, said switch able to couple said telephone line interface to said fax/modem and said facsimile line interface to said fax/modem;

said fax/modem coupled to said switch, said fax/modem for translating said facsimile transmissions between a telephone line facsimile signal format and digital facsimile data;

a processor coupled to said fax/modem for receiving and processing said digital facsimile data, said processor controlling the operation of the facsimile logger, said processor for determining the input to output configuration of said switch;

a database coupled to said processor, said database holding relevant data associated with said facsimile transmissions;

storage means coupled to said processor, said storage means providing a temporary memory storage area for said facsimile transmissions as they are received from the telephone line;

an archive subsystem coupled to said processor, said archive subsystem recording said facsimile transmissions on long term archive media, said archive subsystem retrieving said facsimile transmissions, previously archived, upon command from said processor;

means for accepting and processing data supplied by a user, said data including operator identity, account information for billing and subaddress data;

means for generating and sending a confirmation message to the user regarding the result of the facsimile transmission; and

means for appending said subaddress data to said outbound facsimile transmissions.

3. The facsimile logger according to claim 2, wherein said internal data bus comprises a Multi-Vendor Interface Protocol (MVIP) bus.

4. The facsimile logger according to claim 2, wherein said switch comprises a multiplexor.

5. A multi-channel facsimile logger coupled to N telephone lines and to N facsimile machines, comprising:

N telephone line interfaces, each telephone line interface coupled to one of said N telephone lines, said N telephone line interfaces for interfacing said N telephone lines to an internal data bus;

N facsimile line interfaces, each facsimile line interface coupled to one of said N facsimile machines, said N facsimile line interfaces interfacing said N facsimile machines to said internal data bus;

a switch having N input ports and M output ports, said N input ports coupled to said internal data bus, each output port coupled to one of M fax/modems, said switch able to couple any one telephone line interface to any one fax/modem and any one facsimile line interface to any one fax/modem;

said M fax/modems for translating said facsimile transmissions between a telephone line facsimile signal format and digital facsimile data;

a processor coupled to said M fax/modems for receiving and processing said digital facsimile data, said processor controlling the operation of said active facsimile logger, said processor for determining the input to output configuration of said switch;

a database coupled to said processor, said database holding relevant data associated with said facsimile transmissions;

a storage coupled to said processor, said storage providing a temporary memory storage area for said facsimile transmissions as they are received from said telephone line;

an archive subsystem coupled to said processor, said archive subsystem recording said facsimile transmissions on long term archive media, said archive subsystem retrieving said facsimile transmissions, previously archived, upon command from said processor;

means for accepting and processing data supplied by a user, said data including operator identity, account information for billing and subaddress data;

means for generating and sending a confirmation message to the user regarding the result of the facsimile transmission;

means for appending said subaddress data to said outbound facsimile transmissions; and

wherein N and M are both positive integers.

6. The multi-channel facsimile logger according to claim 5, wherein said internal data bus comprises a Multi-Vendor Interface Protocol (MVIP) bus.

7. The multi-channel facsimile logger according to claim 5, wherein said switch comprises an N input and M output multiplexor.

8. A multi-channel facsimile logger, comprising:

L passive telephone line interfaces, each passive telephone line interface coupled to one of L telephone lines, said L passive telephone line interfaces interfacing said L telephone lines to an internal data bus, said L passive telephone interfaces operative to not interfere with facsimile transmissions occurring on said L telephone lines;

a facsimile detector coupled to said L passive telephone line interfaces, said facsimile detector detecting the presence of said facsimile transmissions on said L telephone lines;

N telephone line interfaces, each telephone line interface coupled to one of N telephone lines, said N telephone line interfaces interfacing said N telephone lines to an internal data bus;

N facsimile line interfaces, each facsimile line interface coupled to one of N facsimile machines, said N facsimile line interfaces interfacing said N facsimile machines to said internal data bus;

a switch having N input ports and M output ports, said N input ports coupled to said internal data bus, each output port coupled to one of M fax/modems, said switch able to couple any one of said N telephone line interfaces to any one of said M fax/modems, any one of said N facsimile line interfaces to any one of said M fax/modems and any one of said L passive telephone line interfaces to any one of said M fax/modems;

said M fax/modems for translating said facsimile transmissions between a telephone line facsimile signal format and digital facsimile data;

a processor coupled to said M fax/modems for receiving and processing said digital facsimile data, said processor controlling the operation of said active facsimile logger, said processor for determining the input to output configuration of said switch;

a database coupled to said processor, said database holding relevant data associated with said facsimile transmissions;

a storage coupled to said processor, said storage providing a temporary memory storage area for said facsimile transmissions as they are received from said telephone line;

an archive subsystem coupled to said processor, said archive subsystem recording said facsimile transmissions on long term archive media, said archive subsystem retrieving said facsimile transmissions, previously archived, upon command from said processor;

means for accepting and processing data supplied by a user, said data including operator identity, account information for billing and subaddress data;

means for generating and sending a confirmation message to the user regarding the result of the facsimile transmission;

means for appending said subaddress data to said outbound facsimile transmissions; and

wherein L, M and N are positive integers.

9. The multi-channel facsimile logger according to claim 8, wherein said internal data bus comprises a Multi-Vendor Interface Protocol (MVIP) bus.

10. The multi-channel facsimile logger according to claim 8, wherein said switch comprises an N input and M output multiplexor.

11. A multi-channel facsimile logger coupled to N telephone lines and to N facsimile machines, comprising:

N telephone line interfaces, each telephone line interface coupled to one of said N telephone lines, said N telephone line interfaces for interfacing said N telephone lines to an internal data bus;

N facsimile line interfaces, each facsimile line interface coupled to one of said N facsimile machines, said N facsimile line interfaces interfacing said N facsimile machines to said internal data bus;

a switch having N input ports and M output ports, said N input ports coupled to said internal data bus, each output port coupled to one of M fax/modems, said switch able to couple any one telephone line interface to any one fax/modem and any one facsimile line interface to any one fax/modem;

said M fax/modems for translating said facsimile transmissions between a telephone line facsimile signal format and digital facsimile data;

a processor coupled to said M fax/modems for receiving and processing said digital facsimile data, said processor controlling the operation of said active facsimile logger, said processor for determining the input to output configuration of said switch;

bypass means coupled between said logger and said N telephone lines and between said logger and said N facsimile machines, said bypass means operative to receive a keep alive indication from said facsimile logger, said bypass means operative to disconnect said facsimile logger and connect said N telephone lines directly to said N facsimile machines in the event said keep alive indication is not received within a predetermined time period; and

wherein N and M are both positive integers.

12. The facsimile logger according to claim 11, further comprising:

a database coupled to said processor, said database holding relevant data associated with said facsimile transmissions;

a storage coupled to said processor, said storage providing a temporary memory storage area for said facsimile transmissions as they are received from said telephone line;

an archive subsystem coupled to said processor, said archive subsystem recording said facsimile transmissions on long term archive media, said archive subsystem retrieving said facsimile transmissions, previously archived, upon command from said processor;

means for accepting and processing data supplied by a user, said data including operator identity, account information for billing and subaddress data;

means for generating and sending a confirmation message to the user regarding the result of the facsimile transmission; and

means for appending said subaddress data to said outbound facsimile transmissions.

13. The multi-channel facsimile logger according to claim 11, wherein said internal data bus comprises a Multi-Vendor Interface Protocol (MVIP) bus.

14. The multi-channel facsimile logger according to claim 11, wherein said switch comprises an N input and M output multiplexor.