Partial fax delivery and multicast by the store and forward fax devices with limited memory

• US 7,142,550 B1
• Filed: 12/30/1999
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Umansky, Ilya
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, PHUC H
• Application Number:
  US09/474,935
• Time in Patent Office: 2,525 Days
• Field of Search: 370351-356, 370/389, 370/400, 370/401, 370/432, 370466-467, 370/477, 358/1.15, 358402-407, 358/425, 358/440, 358/468, 379/88.13, 379/88.4, 379/88.28, 379/93.05, 379/93.06, 379/93.07, 379/93.14, 379/100.01, 379/100.08, 714/748, 714/750
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• 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 1/00212 Attaching image data to computer messages, e.g. to e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00302 with a telephonic apparatus, e.g. telephone answering machine or videotex terminal H04N1/00307 takes precedence; telephonic communication H04M
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00403 Voice input means, e.g. voice commands
• 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 1/32641 of transmission or transmitted data, e.g. interruption or wrong number of pages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32662 remotely, e.g. to the transmitter from the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0018 via a non-image communication channel, e.g. via a computer network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0065 Converting image data to a format usable by the connected apparatus or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0067 Converting to still picture data

Abstract

An email/fax communication system is disclosed for use in a packet switching network environment including a mail server for storing email messages for transmission thereof, in the form of a fax document, to one or more recipient fax machines. In one embodiment of the present invention, the email/fax communication system is disclosed to include a router for receiving a first email message, in the form of packets, from the mail server, for converting the first email message packets to first fax pages of a fax document and for transmitting the first fax pages to the one or more recipient fax machines. Upon failure to successfully transmit at least one of the first fax pages of the fax document to the one or more recipient fax machines, the router for converting the failed fax pages to secondary email packets for re-transmission thereof to the one or more recipient fax machines, wherein the router behaves as a conventional fax machine by re-transmitting only failed fax pages thereby avoiding re-transmission of the entire fax document.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a mail server configured to store one or more email messages; and

network processing device for converting a first email message from the mail server to facsimile information and transmitting the facsimile information to one or more remote facsimile devices where the network processing device detects a failure in the transmission of the facsimile information to at least one of the remote facsimile devices and transmits a second email message including at least a first portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the detected failure;

wherein the second email message identifies the one or more remote facsimile devices that correspond to the detected failure.

2. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein the first portion of the first email message included within the second email message corresponds to the facsimile information that was unsuccessfully transmitted as a result of the failure.

3. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein the network processing device receives at least some of the information within the second email message back from the mail server, converts the information into facsimile information, and transmits the facsimile information to the one or more identified remote facsimile devices.

4. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein another network processing device receives at least some of the information within the second email message from the mail server, converts the information into facsimile information, and transmits the facsimile information to the one or more identified remote facsimile devices.

5. The communications system according to claim 1 wherein the network processing device detects another failure in the transmission of the facsimile information corresponding to at least one of the remote facsimile devices and transmits a third email message including at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the other detected failure.

6. A method for transmitting facsimile information comprising:

receiving a first email message comprising of first email packets from a mail server;

converting the first email message packets into fax pages of a fax document;

transmitting the fax pages to a recipient fax machine;

upon failure to successfully transmit the fax pages of the fax document to the recipient fax machine, converting failed fax pages, defined by those fax pages of the fax document that failed to be successfully transmitted to the recipient fax machine, into secondary email packets wherein, upon conversion to fax pages, for transmission thereof to the recipient fax machine; and

transmitting one or more of the first email message packets to the mail server for future re-transmission thereof to the recipient fax machine.

7. A method for transmitting facsimile information comprising:

receiving a first email message, in the form of packets;

converting the first email message packets into first fax pages of a fax document;

transmitting the first fax pages to a recipient fax machine;

upon failure to successfully transmit at least one of the first fax pages of the fax document to the recipient fax machine, converting the failed fax pages into secondary email packets for re-transmission thereof to the recipient fax machine; and

transmitting one or more of the first email message packets to a destination other than the recipient fax machine.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 further comprising the steps of receiving a first envelope information for identification of the source, destination and header information associated with the first email message and storing the first envelope information.

9. A method as recited in claim 7 including the step of transmitting the first email message to multiple recipient fax machines.

10. A communications system comprising:

a mail server configured to store one or more email messages; and

network processing device for converting a first email message from the mail server to facsimile information and transmitting the facsimile information to one or more remote facsimile devices where the network processing device detects a failure in the transmission of the facsimile information to at least one of the remote facsimile devices and transmits a second email message including at least a first portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the detected failure;

wherein the first portion of the first email message included within the second email message corresponds to the facsimile information that was unsuccessfully transmitted as a result of the failure;

wherein the network processing device reconverts the unsuccessfully transmitted facsimile information into an email message format for inclusion within the second email message.

11. A communications system comprising:

a mail server configured to store one or more email messages; and

network processing device for converting a first email message from the mail server to facsimile information and transmitting the facsimile information to one or more remote facsimile devices where the network processing device detects a failure in the transmission of the facsimile information to at least one of the remote facsimile devices and transmits a second email message including at least a first portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the detected failure;

wherein the network processing device detects another failure in the transmission of the facsimile information corresponding to at least one of the remote facsimile devices and transmits a third email message including at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the other detected failure;

wherein the third email message identifies which of the remote facsimile devices corresponds to the other detected failure.

12. A device comprising:

a first interface for exchanging one or more email messages with a mail server;

a translator configured to convert a first email message from the mail server into facsimile information; and

a second interface for transmitting the facsimile information to one or more remote facsimile devices, where the first interface transmits a second email message that includes at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to a failure in the transmission of the facsimile information to at least one of the remote facsimile devices;

wherein the second email message identifies which of the one or more remote facsimile devices corresponds to the failure.

13. The device according to claim 12 wherein the portion of the first email message included within the second email message corresponds to the facsimile information that was unsuccessfully transmitted as a result of the failure.

14. The device according to claim 12 wherein the first interface receives the second email message from the mail server, the translator converts the second email message into facsimile information, and the second interface transmits the facsimile information to the one or more identified remote facsimile devices.

15. The device according to claim 12 wherein the first interface transmits a third email message including at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the another failure in the transmission of the facsimile information to at least another one of the remote facsimile devices.

16. A device comprising:

a first interface for exchanging one or more email messages with a mail server;

a translator configured to convert a first email message from the mail server into facsimile information; and

a second interface for transmitting the facsimile information to one or more remote facsimile devices, where the first interface transmits a second email message that includes at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to a failure in the transmission of the facsimile information to at least one of the remote facsimile devices;

wherein the portion of the first email message included within the second email message corresponds to the facsimile information that was unsuccessfully transmitted as a result of the failure;

wherein the translator reconverts the unsuccessfully transmitted facsimile information into an email message format for inclusion within the second email message.

17. A device comprising:

a first interface for exchanging one or more email messages with a mail server;

a translator configured to convert a first email message from the mail server into facsimile information; and

a second interface for transmitting the facsimile information to one or more remote facsimile devices, where the first interface transmits a second email message that includes at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to a failure in the transmission of the facsimile information to at least one of the remote facsimile devices;

wherein the first interface transmits a third email message including at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the another failure in the transmission of the facsimile information to at least another one of the remote facsimile devices;

wherein the third email message identifies which of the one or more remote facsimile devices corresponds to the another failure.

18. A device comprising:

means for converting a first email message from a mail server into facsimile information;

means for transmitting the facsimile information to one or more remote facsimile devices;

means for identifying a failure in the transmission of the facsimile information to at least one of the remote facsimile devices; and

means for transmitting a second email message including at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the identified failure;

wherein the second email message identifies which of the one or more remote facsimile devices corresponds to the identified failure.

19. The device according to claim 18 wherein the portion of the first email message included within the second email message corresponds to the facsimile information that was unsuccessfully transmitted as a result of the failure.

20. The device according to claim 18 including

means for receiving the second email message from the mail server,

means for converting the second email message into facsimile information;

and

means for transmitting the facsimile information to the one or more identified remote facsimile devices.

21. The device according to claim 18 including

means for identifying another failure in the transmission of the facsimile information corresponding to at least one of the remote facsimile devices;

and

means for transmitting a third email message including at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the another identified failure.

22. A device comprising:

means for converting a first email message from a mail server into facsimile information;

means for transmitting the facsimile information to one or more remote facsimile devices;

means for identifying a failure in the transmission of the facsimile information to at least one of the remote facsimile devices;

means for transmitting a second email message including at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the identified failure, wherein the portion of the first email message included within the second email message corresponds to the facsimile information that was unsuccessfully transmitted as a result of the failure; and

means for reconverting the unsuccessfully transmitted facsimile information into an email message format for inclusion within the second email message.

23. A device comprising:

means for converting a first email message from a mail server into facsimile information;

means for transmitting the facsimile information to one or more remote facsimile devices;

means for identifying a failure in the transmission of the facsimile information to at least one of the remote facsimile devices;

means for transmitting a second email message including at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the identified failure;

means for identifying another failure in the transmission of the facsimile information corresponding to at least one of the remote facsimile devices; and

means for transmitting a third email message including at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the another identified failure;

wherein the third email message identifies which of the one or more remote facsimile devices corresponds to the another identified failure.

24. A method comprising:

converting a first email message from a mail server into facsimile information;

transmitting the facsimile information to one or more remote facsimile devices;

detecting a failure in the transmission of the facsimile information to at least one of the remote facsimile devices; and

transmitting a second email message including at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the detected failure;

wherein the second email message identifies which of the one or more remote facsimile devices corresponds to the detected failure.

25. The method according to claim 24 wherein the portion of the first email message included within the second email message corresponds to the facsimile information that was unsuccessfully transmitted as a result of the failure.

26. The method according to claim 24 includes

receiving the second email message from the mail server,

converting the second email message into facsimile information;

and

transmitting the facsimile information to the one or more identified remote facsimile devices.

27. The method according to claim 24 including

detecting another failure in the transmission of the facsimile information corresponding to at least one of the remote facsimile devices;

and

transmitting a third email message including at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the another detected failure.

28. A method comprising:

converting a first email message from a mail server into facsimile information;

transmitting the facsimile information to one or more remote facsimile devices;

detecting a failure in the transmission of the facsimile information to at least one of the remote facsimile devices;

transmitting a second email message including at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the detected failure, wherein the portion of the first email message included within the second email message corresponds to the facsimile information that was unsuccessfully transmitted as a result of the failure; and

reconverting the unsuccessfully transmitted facsimile information into an email message format for inclusion within the second email message.

29. A method comprising:

converting a first email message from a mail server into facsimile information;

transmitting the facsimile information to one or more remote facsimile devices;

detecting a failure in the transmission of the facsimile information to at least one of the remote facsimile devices;

transmitting a second email message including at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the detected failure;

detecting another failure in the transmission of the facsimile information corresponding to at least one of the remote facsimile devices; and

transmitting a third email message including at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the another detected failure;

wherein the third email message identifies which of the one or more remote facsimile devices corresponds to the another detected failure.

30. An apparatus including a computer-readable medium containing computer instructions that, when executed, cause a processor or multiple communicating processors to perform a method comprising:

converting a first email message from a mail server into facsimile information;

transmitting the facsimile information to one or more remote facsimile devices;

identifying a failure in the transmission of the facsimile information to at least one of the remote facsimile devices; and

transmitting a second email message including at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the identified failure;

wherein the second email message identifies which of the one or more remote facsimile devices corresponds to the identified failure.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the portion of the first email message included within the second email message corresponds to the facsimile information that was unsuccessfully transmitted as a result of the failure.

32. The apparatus according to claim 30 includes

receiving the second email message from the mail server,

converting the second email message into facsimile information;

and

transmitting the facsimile information to the one or more identified remote facsimile devices.

33. The apparatus according to claim 30 including

identifying another failure in the transmission of the facsimile information corresponding to at least one of the remote facsimile devices;

and

transmitting a third email message including at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the another detected failure.

34. An apparatus including a computer-readable medium containing computer instructions that when executed, cause a processor or multiple communicating processors to perform a method comprising:

converting a first email message from a mail server into facsimile information;

transmitting the facsimile information to one or more remote facsimile devices;

identifying a failure in the transmission of the facsimile information to at least one of the remote facsimile devices;

transmitting a second email message including at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the identified failure, wherein the portion of the first email message included within the second email message corresponds to the facsimile information that was unsuccessfully transmitted as a result of the failure; and

reconverting the unsuccessfully transmitted facsimile information into an email message format for inclusion within the second email message.

35. An apparatus including a computer-readable medium containing computer instructions that, when executed, cause a processor or multiple communicating processors to perform a method comprising:

converting a first email message from a mail server into facsimile information;

transmitting the facsimile information to one or more remote facsimile devices;

identifying a failure in the transmission of the facsimile information to at least one of the remote facsimile devices;

transmitting a second email message including at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the identified failure

identifying another failure in the transmission of the facsimile information corresponding to at least one of the remote facsimile devices; and

transmitting a third email message including at least a portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the another detected failure;

wherein the third email message identifies which of the one or more remote facsimile devices corresponds to the another identified failure.

36. A communications system comprising:

a mail server configured to store one or more email messages; and

network processing device for converting a first email message from the mail server to facsimile information and transmitting the facsimile information to one or more remote facsimile devices where the network processing device detects a failure in the transmission of the facsimile information to at least one of the remote facsimile devices and transmits a second email message including at least a first portion of the first email message to the mail server responsive to the detected failure;

wherein the network processing device detects the failure in the transmission of the facsimile information to a first remote facsimile device and continues transmitting the facsimile information to one or more of the other remote facsimile devices.