Method and telecommunications system for transmitting a facsimile message

• US 6,611,581 B1
• Filed: 06/17/1999
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Original Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Inventors: Stevens, Thomas F., Yuschik, Matthew J., Nelson, Mark H., Meek, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US09/335,454
• Time in Patent Office: 1,531 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.22, 379/88.25, 379/93.14, 379/93.24, 379/100.01, 379/100-5-1, 379/100-2-1, 379/100.14, 379/100.15, 379/201, 379/210, 379/211, 379/220, 379/230, 379/207, 379/142, 379/207.13, 379/196-200, 358/400, 358/434, 358/440, 358/442-444, 358/403, 358/404, 358/407, 358/468, 370/428
• 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 is stored on the messaging platform only if the destination is unavailable at the first time. If the facsimile message was stored, the facsimile message is transmitted at a second time if the destination 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 the originating party to the destination, the telephone call including the facsimile message;

(b) regardless of the service subscribed to by the destination, determining if the destination is available at a first time to receive the telephone call;

(c) if the destination is available at the first time, transmitting the facsimile message from the originating party to the destination;

(d) if the destination is unavailable at the first time, determining whether the destination is listed on a list of priority numbers established by the originating party; and

(e) if the destination is listed on the list of priority numbers established by the originating party;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6. A telecommunications system for transmitting a facsimile message from an originating party to a destination, the telecommunications system comprising:

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

means for, regardless of the service subscribed to by the destination, determining if the destination is available at a first time to receive the telephone call;

means for, if the destination is available at the first time, transmitting the facsimile message to the destination at the first time;

means for, if the destination is unavailable at the first time, determining whether the destination is listed on a list of priority numbers established by the originating party; and

means for, if the destination is listed on the list of priority numbers established by the originating party, storing the facsimile message on a messaging platform, determining whether the destination is available at a second time, the second time being later than the first time, and transmitting the facsimile message to the destination if the destination is available at the second time.

7. The telecommunications system of claim 6, wherein means for detecting comprises an originating service switching point.

8. The telecommunications system of claim 7, wherein the originating service switching point is capable of sending a close call message if the telephone call is abandoned.

9. The telecommunications system of claim 6, wherein means for determining comprises a service control point.

10. The telecommunications system of claim 9, wherein the service control point is capable of determining that the destination is not a valid destination for receiving the facsimile message.

11. The telecommunications system of claim 10, wherein the service control point is capable of aborting the telephone call if the destination is not a valid destination for receiving the facsimile message.

12. The telecommunications system of claim 6, wherein means for transmitting the facsimile message to the destination at the first time comprises a service control point.

13. The telecommunications system of claim 6, wherein means for transmitting the facsimile message to the destination at a second time comprises a messaging platform.

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

(a) detecting an initiation of a telephone call on the telecommunications network to the destination;

(b) suspending the telephone call and launching an information message from the originating service switching point to the at least one service control point;

(c) determining a destination condition for the destination at a first time using the at least one service control point;

(d) if the destination condition was “

answer”

at the first time, launching a transmit message from the at least one service control point to the originating service switching point to transmit the data or voice message to the destination;

(e) if the destination condition was “

busy”

or “

no-answer”

at the first time, determining whether the destination is listed on a list of priority numbers established by the originating party; and

(f) if the destination is listed on the list of priority numbers established by the originating party;

(i) launching 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; and

(ii) storing the data or voice message on the messaging platform.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the routing message contains a telephone number corresponding to the message platform.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein launching a routing message comprises determining the telephone number corresponding to the message platform using a lookup-table that is indexed by a telephone number corresponding to the originating party.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising sending a close call message from a destination service switching point to the at least one service control point if the call is complete.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising 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.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising determining that the destination is not a valid destination.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising aborting the telephone call if the destination is not a valid destination.