Method and telecommunication system for transmitting a facsimile message

• US 7,038,804 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2003
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P.
• Inventors: Blumenschein, Gordon Lynn, Meek, William Harvey, Meek, Jeffrey James
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Kimberly A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTER, TIA A
• Application Number:
  US10/337,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20030152204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.115, 358/407, 358/434, 358/402, 358/404, 358/1.16, 379/100.01, 379/100.05, 379/100.06, 379/100.07, 379/100.08, 379/100.09
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• 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 for transmitting a facsimile message from an originating party to a destination, the method comprising:

determining a destination condition for a destination at a first time using an originating service switching point;

completing a telephone call comprising a facsimile message from the originating service switching point to the destination if the destination condition was “

answer”

at a first time;

suspending the telephone call and launching an information message from the originating service switching point to at least one service control point if the originating service switching point encounters a trigger; and

returning a routing message from the at least one service control point to the originating service switching point to route the telephone call to a messaging platform only if a trigger is encountered at the first time.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

routing the facsimile message to the messaging platform.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

storing the routed facsimile message on the messaging platform;

determining a destination condition at a second time, the second time later than the first time; and

transmitting the facsimile message to the destination if the destination condition was “

answer”

at the second time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the routing message contains a telephone number corresponding to the message platform.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger is a busy trigger.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger is a no_answer trigger.

7. A method for transmitting a data message from an originating party to a destination, the method comprising:

determining a destination condition for a destination at a first time using an originating service switching point;

completing a telephone call comprising a data message from the originating service switching point to the destination if the destination condition was “

answer”

at a first time;

suspending the telephone call and launching an information message from the originating service switching point to at least one service control point if the originating service switching point encounters a trigger; and

returning a routing message from the at least one service control point to the originating service switching point to route the telephone call to a messaging platform only if a trigger is encountered at the first time.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

routing the data message to the messaging platform.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

storing the routed data message on the messaging platform;

determining a destination condition at a second time, the second time later than the first time; and

transmitting the data message to the destination if the destination condition was “

answer”

at the second time.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the routing message contains a telephone number corresponding to the message platform.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the trigger is a busy trigger.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the trigger is a no_answer trigger.

13. A telecommunications system comprising:

a messaging platform;

at least one service control point; and

an originating service switching point in communication with the messaging platform and the at least one service control point;

wherein the originating service switching point is operative to determine a destination condition for a destination at a first time, complete a telephone call to the destination if the destination condition was “

answer”

at a first time, and suspend the telephone call and launch an information message to the at least one service control point if a trigger is encountered;

wherein the at least one service control point is operative to return a routing message to the originating service switching point to route the telephone call to a messaging platform only if a trigger is encountered at the first time;

wherein the telephone call comprises one of the following;

a facsimile message or a data message.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

routing said facsimile or data message to the messaging platform.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

storing said facsimile or data message on the messaging platform;

determining a destination condition at a second time, the second time later than the first time; and

transmitting the stored message to the destination if the destination condition was “

answer”

at the second time.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the routing message contains a telephone number corresponding to the message platform.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the trigger is a busy trigger.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the trigger is a no_answer trigger.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the telephone call comprises a facsimile message.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the telephone call comprises a data message.