Fax overflow loopback prevention

• US 6,088,126 A
• Filed: 11/27/1996
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unify GmbH & Co. KG (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Blohm, Jeffrey M., Locke, Michael E., Khouri, Joseph F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Kimberly A.
• Application Number:
  US08/759,153
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 358/404, 358/405, 358/406, 358/434, 358/436, 358/438, 358/439, 358/440, 358/442, 358/407, 358/435, 358/437, 358/402, 358/403, 358/444, 379/100.09
• US Class Current: 358/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32117 in a separate transmission or protocol signal prior to or subsequent to the image data transmission, e.g. in digital identification signal [DIS], in non standard setup [NSS] or in non standard field [NSF] for mode signalling H04N1/333
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32374 Storage subsequent to an attempted transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/324 intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32422 Reprocessing messages, e.g. in case the intended destination is busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3295 Deletion of stored data; Preventing such deletion

Abstract

Method for preventing a facsimile server from looping back on itself, the method including the steps of: (a) transmitting fax server identifier information during fax transmission setup; (b) analyzing the fax server identifier information to determine whether the fax server identifier information is the same as that of the fax server that is placing the call; and (c) if the fax server identifier information is the same, dropping the call, otherwise, continuing the call. In a preferred embodiment, the fax identifier information is transmitted in the NSF command of the facsimile communication protocol.

Claims

1. A method for preventing a facsimile server from looping back on itself when placing a call to a fax device, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting facsimile server identification information during fax transmission setup when placing a call to said fax device, said facsimile server identification information identifying an application of said facsimile server;

receiving source identification information, said source identification information identifying the source of a call, when answering a call;

analyzing the received source identification information to determine whether the source identification information matches the facsimile server identification information transmitted by said facsimile server when said facsimile server places a call; and

terminating the call if the both of the following occur;

the received source identification information matches the facsiile server identification information; and

the identified application has been predefined to require termination of the call.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step for transmitting comprises transmitting the facsimile server identification information in an NSF command of a facsimile communication protocol.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of transmitting comprises transmitting the facsimile server identification information in a CSI command of a facsimile communication protocol.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of transmitting comprises transmitting the facsimile server identification information in a TSI command of a facsimile communication protocol.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of transmitting comprises transmitting the facsimile server identification information in an NSF and a CSI command of a facsimile communication protocol.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the facsimile server is part of a cluster and the facsimile server identification information includes cluster identification information.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of terminating the call further comprises a count of instances wherein a call is terminated.

8. The method of claim 7 which further comprises reporting the count.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said fax device is a second fax server.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of transmitting comprises transmitting the facsimile server identification information in a tone before a CED signal.

11. A method for rerouting a call from a calling facsimile server to a recipient fax machine comprising the steps of:

when the recipient fax machine is unable to accept the call, forwarding the call to a rerouting facsimile server;

transmitting identifier information of the rerouting facsimile server to the calling facsimile server during fax transmission setup;

using the facsimile server identifier information of the rerouting facsimile server to access a database;

retrieving from the database routing information associated with the facsimile server identifier information of the rerouting facsimile server; and

routing the call to the recipient facsimile machine in accordance with the routing information.