Method and telecommunications systems for transmitting a facsimile message

• US 6,108,407 A
• Filed: 06/17/1999
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ameritech Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blumenschein, Gordon Lynn, Meek, William Harvey, Meek, Jeffrey James
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US09/335,453
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.22, 379/88.25, 379/93.09-93.11, 379/93.14, 379/93.24, 379/100.01, 379/100.05-100.09, 379/100.12 , 379/100.14-100.15, 379/201, 379/210, 379/211, 379/220, 379/230, 358/400, 358/407, 358/434, 358/440, 358/442
• US Class Current: 379/100.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2016 Call initiation by network rather than by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53308 Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party
• 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 1/324 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 1/32765 Initiating a communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A method and system for transmitting a facsimile message uses a public-switched telecommunications network, the public-switched telecommunication network having a messaging platform capable of storing a plurality of facsimile messages. The initiation of a telephone call to a destination is detected, the content of the call including the facsimile message. If the destination is available at a first time to receive a telephone call, the facsimile message is transmitted. The facsimile message may be stored on the messaging platform only if the destination is unavailable at the first time, or every time a telephone call is initiated by the originating party. The method also provides for situations where a telephone call is redirected, where an inter-NPA seven digit dialing case has occurred, and where "busy" or "no_-- answer" triggers are implemented. If the facsimile message was stored, the facsimile message is transmitted at a second time if the destination is available.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting a facsimile message from an originating party to a destination, the method comprising:

(a) detecting an initiation of a telephone call from an originating party to a destination, the telephone call including a facsimile message;

(b) routing the telephone call to a messaging platform;

(c) storing the facsimile message in a messaging platform;

(d) determining if the destination is available at a first time to receive the telephone call;

(e) if the destination is available at the first time, transmitting the facsimile message from the messaging platform to the destination; and

(f) if the destination is unavailable at the first time;

(i) determining whether the telephone call was redirected at least one time by a redirecting party;

(ii) if the telephone call was determined to be redirected at least one time, determining a redirected destination and modifying an identification of the originating party, wherein the final destination is the original destination if the telephone call was not redirected at least once, and wherein the final destination is the final redirected destination if the telephone call was redirected at least one time;

(iii) determining whether the destination is available at a second time, the second time being later than the first time; and

(iv) transmitting the facsimile message from the messaging platform to the destination if the destination is available at the second time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the telephone call was redirected includes searching a specified memory address for a predetermined data pattern.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

if the telephone call was redirected more than one time, changing the identification of the originating party to that of a final redirecting party; and

if the telephone call was not redirected more than one time, changing the identification of the originating party to that of the original destination.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises detecting an off-hook delay trigger assigned to the originating party.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein (d) comprises determining a destination condition using a service control point.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein (e) comprises launching a transmit message from a service control point to an originating service switching point.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein (f) comprises launching a routing message from a service control point to an originating service switching point.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein (f) comprises launching a transmit message from a service control point to an originating service switching point.

8. A method of transmitting a data or voice message from an originating party to a destination, the method comprising:

(a) detecting an initiation of a telephone call from an originating party to a destination, the telephone call including a data or voice message;

(b) routing the telephone call to a messaging platform;

(c) storing the data or voice message in a messaging platform;

(d) determining if the destination is available at a first time to receive the telephone call;

(e) if the destination is available at the first time, transmitting the data or voice message from the messaging platform to the destination; and

(f) if the destination is unavailable at the first time;

(i) determining whether the telephone call was redirected at least one time by a redirecting party;

(ii) if the telephone call was determined to be redirected at least one time, determining a redirected destination and modifying an identification of the originating party, wherein the final destination is the original destination if the telephone call was not redirected at least once, and wherein the final destination is the final redirected destination if the telephone call was redirected at least one time;

(iii) determining whether the destination is available at a second time, the second time being later than the first time; and

(iv) transmitting the data or voice message from the messaging platform to the destination if the destination is available at the second time.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining whether the telephone call was redirected includes searching a specified memory address for a predetermined data pattern.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

if the telephone call was redirected more than one time, changing the identification of the originating party to that of a final redirecting party; and

if the telephone call was not redirected more than one time, changing the identification of the originating party to that of the original destination.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein (a) comprises detecting an off-hook delay trigger assigned to the originating party.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein (d) comprises determining a destination condition using a service control point.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein (e) comprises launching a transmit message from a service control point to an originating service switching point.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein (f) comprises launching a routing message from a service control point to an originating service switching point.

15. A method of transmitting a facsimile message using a public-switched telecommunications network, the public-switched telecommunications network having a messaging platform capable of storing a plurality of facsimile messages, the method comprising:

(a) detecting an initiation of a telephone call from an originating party on the telecommunications network to an original destination, the content of the telephone call including the facsimile message;

(b) determining that a final destination is not able to receive the telephone call at a first time;

(c) determining that the telephone call was redirected at least one time by a redirecting party;

(d) determining a redirected destination, and modifying an identification of the originating party;

(e) determining that the final destination is able to receive the telephone call at a later time; and

(f) transmitting the facsimile message to the final destination;

wherein the final destination is the original destination if the telephone call was not redirected at least once, and wherein the final destination is the final redirected destination if the telephone call was redirected at least one time.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein (a) comprises detecting an off-hook delay trigger assigned to the originating party.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein determining that the telephone call was redirected includes searching a specified memory address for a predetermined data pattern.