Method and telecommunications system for transmitting a facsimile message

• US 8,300,786 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2007
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Meek, Jeffrey James, Meek, William Harvey, Blumenschein, Gordon Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US11/891,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20070274479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,909 Days
• Field of Search: 379/100.09, 379/88.13, 379/100.14, 379/100.17, 358/1.15, 358/402, 358/407, 358/442
• 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 for transmitting a facsimile message, the method comprising:

detecting an initiation of a telephone call from an originating party to a destination, the content of the telephone call comprising a facsimile message;

determining a destination condition for the destination at a first time;

in response to determining the destination condition at the first time is one of “

busy” and

“

no_answer”

;

determining during the telephone call whether a voice message will be left by the originating party;

launching a routing message to route the telephone call to a messaging platform in response to determining that the voice message will be left by the originating party; and

storing the voice message on the messaging platform in response to routing the telephone call to the messaging platform.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the facsimile message to the destination in response to determining the destination condition at the first time is “

answer.”

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiation of the telephone call is detected based on an off-hook delay trigger assigned to a line of the originating party.

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

5. The method of claim 1, wherein launching a routing message comprises:

determining a telephone number corresponding to the messaging platform based on a lookup-table indexed by a telephone number corresponding to the originating party.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the destination is not a valid destination for receiving the facsimile message; and

terminating the telephone call in response to determining the destination is not a valid destination for receiving the facsimile message.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining the destination condition of the destination at the first time is “

busy” and

“

no_answer,”

transmitting the facsimile message to an administrative destination, wherein the administrative destination differs from the destination.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer program instructions for transmitting a facsimile message, the computer program instructions, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

detecting an initiation of a telephone call from an originating party to a destination, the content of the telephone call comprising a facsimile message;

determining a destination condition for the destination at a first time;

in response to determining the destination condition at the first time is one of “

busy” and

“

no_answer”

;

determining during the telephone call whether a voice message will be left by the originating party;

launching a routing message to route the telephone call to a messaging platform in response to determining that the voice message will be left by the originating party; and

storing the voice message on the messaging platform in response to routing the telephone call to the messaging platform.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, the method further comprising:

transmitting the facsimile message to the destination in response to determining the destination condition at the first time is “

answer.”

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, the method further comprising:

determining that the destination is not a valid destination for receiving the facsimile message; and

terminating the telephone call in response to determining the destination is not a valid destination for receiving the facsimile message.

11. A system comprising:

a memory storing computer program instructions; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the processor configured to execute the computer program instructions, which, when executed, cause the processor to perform a method comprising;

detecting an initiation of a telephone call from an originating party to a destination, the content of the telephone call comprising a facsimile message;

determining a destination condition for the destination at a first time;

in response to determining the destination condition at the first time is one of “

busy” and

“

no_answer”

;

determining during the telephone call whether a voice message will be left by the originating party;

launching a routing message to route the telephone call to a messaging platform in response to determining that the voice message will be left by the originating party; and

storing the voice message on the messaging platform in response to routing the telephone call to the messaging platform.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the method further comprising:

transmitting the facsimile message to the destination in response to determining the destination condition at the first time is “

answer.”

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the method further comprising:

determining that the destination is not a valid destination for receiving the facsimile message; and

terminating the telephone call in response to determining the destination is not a valid destination for receiving the facsimile message.