Fax back confirmation

• US 6,151,137 A
• Filed: 06/19/1997
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Henrick, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Kimberly A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fields, Derrick
• Application Number:
  US08/879,250
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 379/100.01-100.09, 379/100.17, 358/402-407, 358/438-440, 358/434, 358/435, 395/200, 395/600
• US Class Current: 358/434
• 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 2201/0015 Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0017 Notifying a communication result
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0034 Details of the connection, e.g. connector, interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3218 of a confirmation, acknowledgement or receipt

Abstract

A system and method for providing a status/confirmation report associated with a facsimile message transmitted by an originating facsimile machine over a telecommunications network. A local or first communication path is provided between the originating facsimile machine and a double dialer and a network or second communication path is provided between the double dialer and a point of presence associated with the telecommunications network. The facsimile message is routed over the local and network communication paths from the originating facsimile machine to the point of presence for subsequent transmission to a destination facsimile machine. After receipt of the facsimile message at the point of presence, the local communication path is disconnected while maintaining the connection of the network communication path. The originating facsimile machine is then caused to change from transmission mode to receiving mode and a status/confirmation report is generated and transmitted over the local and network communication paths to the originating facsimile machine.

Claims

1. A method of providing a status/confirmation report associated with a facsimile message transmitted by an originating facsimile machine over a telecommunications network, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first communication path between the originating facsimile machine and a double dialer;

providing a second communication path between the double dialer and a point of presence associated with the telecommunications network;

routing the facsimile message over the first and second communication paths from the originating facsimile machine to the point of presence for subsequent transmission to a destination facsimile machine;

disconnecting the first communication path while maintaining the connection of the second communication path;

causing the originating facsimile machine to change from transmission mode to receiving mode; and

generating and transmitting the status/confirmation report over the first and second communication paths to the originating facsimile machine.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving an end-of-transmission signal from the originating facsimile machine after the facsimile message is transmitted.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of transmitting a disconnect signal to the double dialer over the second communication path in response to receipt of the end-of-transmission signal, the disconnect signal instructing the double dialer to disconnect the first communication path while maintaining the second communication path.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein step of causing the originating facsimile machine to change from transmission mode to receiving mode comprises the steps of:

disconnecting the first communication path;

generating ring voltage over the first communication path between the double dialer and the originating facsimile machine to change the originating facsimile machine from transmitting mode to receiving mode; and

receiving an answer tone at the point of presence from the originating facsimile machine over the second communication path.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of transmitting an initiate signal over the second communication path to the point of presence to transmit the status/confirmation report in response to receiving the answer tone over the first communication path.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the ring voltage is generated by the double dialer.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the facsimile message in memory associated with the point of presence.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of routing the facsimile message over the first and second communication paths comprises the step redirecting the facsimile to the point of presence by dialing a preprogrammed number associated with the point of presence.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the facsimile message is automatically routed over the second communication path in response to an unsuccessful attempt to transmit the facsimile message directly to the destination facsimile machine.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the status/confirmation report transmitted to the original facsimile machine is in the form of a second facsimile message over the same network connection.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting a second status/confirmation report to the originating facsimile machine upon receipt of the facsimile message by the destination facsimile machine.

12. A system for transmitting a facsimile message from an originating facsimile machine to a destination facsimile machine over a telecommunications network, the system comprising:

a double dialer interconnected with the originating facsimile machine via a first communication path between the originating facsimile machine and the double dialer;

a point of presence associated with the telecommunications network and interconnected with the double dialer via a second communication path between the double dialer and the point of presence, wherein the double dialer routes the facsimile message from the originating facsimile machine over the second communication path to the point of presence for subsequent transmission to the destination facsimile machine;

means for disconnecting the first communication path while maintaining the connection of the second communication path in response to receipt and storage of the facsimile message at the point of presence; and

means for causing the originating facsimile to change from transmission mode to receiving mode to facilitate generation and transmission of a status/confirmation report by the point of presence over the first and second communication paths to the originating facsimile machine.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the point of presence comprises a store and forward facility adapted to store the facsimile message in memory associated therewith for subsequent transmission to the destination facsimile machine.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the double dialer comprises telecommunications circuitry for generating ring voltage across the first communication path to cause the originating facsimile machine to switch from transmission mode to receiving mode.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein the double dialer is adapted to transmit an initiate signal over the second communication path to the point of presence in response to receiving an answer tone from the originating facsimile machine over the first communication path.

16. The system according to claim 12, wherein the point of presence is adapted to transmit a disconnect signal to the double dialer over the second communication path in response to receipt of an end-of-transmission signal from the originating facsimile machine, the disconnect signal instructing the double dialer to disconnect the first communication path while maintaining the second communication path.

17. The system according to claim 12, wherein the point of presence is adapted to transmit the status/confirmation report to the original facsimile machine in the form of a return facsimile message.

18. The system according to claim 12, wherein the telecommunications network comprises a public switched telecommunications network.

19. The system according to claim 12, wherein the telecommunications network comprises a private switched telecommunications network.

20. The system according to claim 12, wherein the telecommunications network comprises a digital telecommunications network.

21. The system according to claim 12, wherein the telecommunications network comprises the Internet.

22. The system according to claim 12, wherein the telecommunications network comprises the Intranet.