Method and telecommunication system for transmitting a facsimile message

• US 6,125,171 A
• Filed: 05/28/1998
• Issued: 09/26/2000
• 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): Loomis, Paul
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US09/086,758
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.22, 379/88.25, 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 , 379/211-213, 379/220, 379/230, 358/400, 358/434, 358/440, 358/442, 358/407
• US Class Current: 379/100.09
• 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 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 the steps of:

(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 if a final destination is able to receive the telephone call at a first time;

(c) if the final destination was able to receive the telephone call at the first time, transmitting the facsimile message to the final destination;

(d) if the final destination was not able to receive the telephone call at the first time, determining whether the telephone call was redirected at least one time by a redirecting party;

(e) if the telephone call was determined to be not redirected at least one time, proceeding directly to step (g);

(f) 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;

(g) if the final destination was not able to receive the telephone call at the first time, storing the facsimile message in the messaging platform and determining if the final destination is able to receive the telephone call at a later time; and

(h) if the final destination was able to receive the telephone call at the later time, 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.

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

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the specified memory address contains a RedirectionInformation parameter wherein:

the presence of the predetermined data pattern in the RedirectionInformation parameter indicates that the telephone call was redirected; and

the absence of the predetermined data pattern in the RedirectionInformation parameter indicates that the telephone call was not redirected.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of modifying the identification of the originating party includes determining whether the telephone call was redirected more than one time.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

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.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing the facsimile message on the messaging platform.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of transmitting the facsimile message to the final destination includes the step of transmitting the facsimile message to the messaging platform only if the destination is unavailable at the first time.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of storing the facsimile message on the messaging platform.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein if the facsimile message was stored on the messaging platform,

(i) determining that the final destination is available at the later time;

and

(ii) transmitting the facsimile message to the final destination if the final destination is available at the later time.

10. A system for 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 system comprising:

a detector for detecting the 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, and for determining if a final destination is able to receive the telephone call;

means, coupled to the detector, for determining whether the telephone call was redirected by a redirecting party at least one time, and if so, determining a redirected 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 redirected destination if the telephone call was redirected at least one time; and

a messaging platform, in communication with the detector, for receiving and storing a routed facsimile message;

wherein, the means for determining whether the telephone call was redirected routes the facsimile message to the messaging platform if the final destination was not able to receive the telephone call at a first time, and wherein the messaging platform includes means for transmitting the facsimile message to the final destination.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the means for determining whether the telephone call was redirected includes means for searching a specified memory address for a predetermined data pattern.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the specified memory address contains a RedirectionInformation parameter wherein:

the presence of the predetermined data pattern in the RedirectionInformation parameter indicates that the telephone call was redirected; and

the absence of the predetermined data pattern in the RedirectionInformation parameter indicates that the telephone call was not redirected.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the means for modifying the identification of the originating party if the telephone call was redirected at least one time includes means for determining whether the telephone call was redirected more than one time.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising means for changing the identification of the originating party to that of a final redirecting party if the telephone call was redirected more than one time, and means for changing the identification of the originating party to that of the original destination if the telephone call was not redirected more than one time.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the means for transmitting the facsimile message to the final destination includes means for transmitting the facsimile message to the messaging platform.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the means for transmitting the facsimile message to the final destination includes means for transmitting the facsimile message to the messaging platform only if the destination is unavailable at a first time.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising means for storing the facsimile message on the messaging platform.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising means, if the facsimile message was stored on the messaging platform, for the messaging platform

(i) determining that the final destination is available at a second time, the second time later than the first time, and

(ii) transmitting the facsimile message to the final destination if the final destination is available at the second time.

19. A method of transmitting a facsimile message from a line of an originating party to a destination using an advanced intelligent telecommunications network having a plurality of service switching points including an originating service switching point, at least one service control point, and a messaging platform capable of storing a plurality of facsimile messages, the method comprising the steps of:

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

determining a destination condition for a final destination at a first time, wherein the final destination is the original destination if the call was not redirected at least once, and wherein the final destination is the final redirected destination if the call was redirected at least one time;

suspending the telephone call and launching an information message from the originating service switching point to the at least one service control point if a busy or no_-- answer condition is detected;

determining whether the telephone call was redirected by a redirecting party at least one time, and if so, determining a redirected destination;

if the telephone call was redirected at least one time, modifying an identification of the originating party;

returning a routing message from the at least one service control point to the originating service switching point to route the telephone call to the messaging platform if the destination condition was "busy" or "no_-- answer" at the first time; and

if the facsimile message was routed to the messaging platform,

(i) storing the routed facsimile message on the messaging platform;

(ii) determining a destination condition for the final destination at a second time, the second time later than the first time; and

(iii) transmitting the facsimile message to the final destination if the destination condition is "answer" at the second time.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of determining whether the telephone call was redirected includes searching a specified memory address for a predetermined data pattern.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the specified memory address contains a RedirectionInformation parameter wherein:

the presence of the predetermined data pattern in the RedirectionInformation parameter indicates that the telephone call was redirected; and

the absence of the predetermined data pattern in the RedirectionInformation parameter indicates that the telephone call was not redirected.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of modifying the identification of the originating party if the telephone call was redirected at least one time includes determining whether the telephone call was redirected more than one time.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the steps of:

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.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the routing message contains a telephone number corresponding to the message platform, to which the facsimile message is to be routed.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of returning a routing message includes determining the telephone number corresponding to the message platform using a lookup-table that is indexed by a telephone number corresponding to the calling party.

26. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of sending a close call message from a destination service switching point to the at least one service control point if the call is completed.

27. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of sending a close call message from the originating service switching point to the at least one service control point if the telephone call is abandoned prior to receiving a routing message from the at least one service control point.

28. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of determining that the destination is not a valid destination for receiving the facsimile message.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of aborting the telephone call if the destination is not a valid destination for receiving the facsimile message.

30. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of returning a routing message from the at least one service control point to the originating service switching point to route the telephone call to the messaging platform occurs only if a busy or no_-- answer condition is detected.

31. A telecommunications system for transmitting a facsimile message from a line of an originating party to a destination using an advanced intelligent telecommunications network, the system comprising:

an originating service switching point for detecting an initiation of a telephone call on the telecommunications network from the originating party to an original destination, the content of the telephone call including the facsimile message, for determining a destination condition for a final destination at a first time, wherein the final destination is the original destination if the telephone call was not redirected at least once, and wherein the final destination is a final redirected destination if the telephone call was redirected at least one time, and for launching an information message if the destination condition was "busy" or "no_-- answer" at the first time;

a service control point, in communication with the originating service switching point, for receiving the information messages from the originating service switching point, for determining whether the telephone call was redirected by a redirecting party at least one time, and if so, determining a redirected destination, for modifying an identification of the originating party if the telephone call was redirected at least one time, and for returning a routing message from the at least one service control point to the originating service switching point to route the telephone call if the destination condition was "busy" or "no_-- answer" at the first time; and

a messaging platform, in communication with the originating service switching point and capable of storing a plurality of facsimile messages, for receiving and storing a routed facsimile message;

wherein if the facsimile message was routed to the messaging platform, the messaging platform determines a destination condition at a second time, the second time later than the first time, and the messaging platform transmits the facsimile message to the final destination if the destination condition was "answer" at the second time.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the service control point determines whether the telephone call was redirected by searching a specified memory address for a predetermined data pattern.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the specified memory address contains a RedirectionInformation parameter wherein:

the presence of the predetermined data pattern in the RedirectionInformation parameter indicates that the telephone call was redirected; and

the absence of the predetermined data pattern in the RedirectionInformation parameter indicates that the telephone call was not redirected.

34. The system of claim 31 wherein the service control point modifies the identification of the originating party if the telephone call was redirected at least one time by determining whether the telephone call was redirected more than one time.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the service control point modifies the identification of the originating party by changing the identification of the originating party to that of a final redirecting party if the telephone call was redirected more than one time, and by changing the identification of the originating party to that of the original destination if the telephone call was not redirected more than one time.

36. The system of claim 31 wherein the routing message contains a telephone number corresponding to the messaging platform, to which the facsimile message is to be routed.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein the service control point determines the telephone number corresponding to the message platform using a lookuptable that is indexed by a telephone number corresponding to the calling party.

38. The system of claim 31 wherein a destination service switching point sends a close call message from the destination service switching point to the at least one service control point if the telephone call is completed.

39. The system of claim 31 wherein the originating service switching point sends a close call message to the at least one service control point if the telephone call is abandoned prior to receiving the routing message from the at least one service control point.

40. The system of claim 31 wherein the service control point is capable of determining that the destination is not a valid destination for receiving the facsimile message.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein the service control point aborts the telephone call if the destination is not a valid destination for receiving a facsimile message.

42. The system of claim 31 wherein the service control point launches the routing message to the originating service switching point to route the telephone call to the messaging platform only if a busy or no_-- answer condition is detected.

43. 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 the steps of:

(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 a 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 a final redirected destination if the telephone call was redirected at least one time;

(c) determining if the final destination is able to receive the telephone call at a first time;

(d) if the final destination was able to receive the telephone call at the first time, transmitting the facsimile message to the final destination;

(e) if the final destination was not able to receive the telephone call at the first time, storing the facsimile message in the messaging platform and determining if the final destination is able to receive the telephone call at a later time; and

(f) if the final destination was able to receive the telephone call at the later time, transmitting the facsimile message to the final destination.

44. The method of claim 43 further comprising the step of storing the facsimile message on the messaging platform.

45. The method of claim 43 wherein the step of transmitting the facsimile message to the final destination includes the step of transmitting the facsimile message to the messaging platform only if the destination is unavailable at the first time.

46. The method of claim 45 further comprising the step of storing the facsimile message on the messaging platform.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein if the facsimile message was stored on the messaging platform,

(i) determining that the final destination is available at the later time;

and

(ii) transmitting the facsimile message to the final destination if the final destination is available at the later time.