Delivery expert system, method and computer program product

• US 8,437,030 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2012
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ip Ot Sub Ulc
• Original Assignee: Open TEXT SA (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Ranalli, Douglas J., Huebner, Robert, Johns, Valerie Louise, Ranalli, Shelley J., Baumgartner, Lori, Li, Diana
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, II, Jerome
• Application Number:
  US13/437,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20120188607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/2.1, 358/2.99, 358/3.01, 358/3.12, 358/529, 358/518, 358/534, 358/1.13, 358/400, 358/401, 358/404, 358/444, 358/434, 358/435
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0001 Transmission systems or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00082 Adjusting or controlling interrupting an operation H04N1/00915; inhibiting an operation H04N1/00925
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00206 Transmitting or receiving computer data via an image communication device, e.g. a facsimile transceiver H04N1/00236 takes precedence
• 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 1/0083 Arrangements for transferring signals between different components of the apparatus, e.g. arrangements of signal lines or cables for control or supervision between image input and output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32053 Delayed transmission, e.g. to make use of reduced connection rates H04N1/32074 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32074 Redialing, e.g. after failure to make a connection
• 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 1/32411 Handling instructions for routing or relaying
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32422 Reprocessing messages, e.g. in case the intended destination is busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32641 of transmission or transmitted data, e.g. interruption or wrong number of pages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0098 User intervention not otherwise provided for, e.g. placing documents, responding to an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 Transmission

Abstract

An automated rule-based system for facilitating delivery of a fax document from a source to a destination over a network where an initial delivery attempt has been unsuccessful. Actions to be taken are based upon a time-variable set of input conditions which may be determined from one or more of the destination, the source, a database of past delivery attempts, and a human analyst. The actions may include one or more of resubmitting the fax document to the network for a next delivery attempt, cancelling the document, sending a request to the source or destination for additional delivery information, and identifying the destination as a technical problem. The input conditions may include an identification of non-business days and non-business hours.

Claims

1. A method for a computing device to facilitate delivery of a document from a source to a destination over a network after an unsuccessful initial delivery attempt of the document to the destination, the method comprising:

initiating a rule-based process at the computing device to automatically determine a possible next action related to the delivery of the document based on an input condition such that the next action is automatically determined based on the input condition.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving rule-based instructions from the source, wherein the rule-based instructions are received from the source after the unsuccessful initial delivery attempt of the document to the destination.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving rule-based instructions from the source, wherein the rule-based instructions are received from the source before the unsuccessful initial delivery attempt of the document to the destination.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the input condition comprises a set of multiple input conditions.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the input condition comprises one or more of:

the destination;

the source;

past delivery attempts to the destination;

an identification of non-business days at the destination; and

an identification of non-business hours at the destination.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the next action comprises one or more of:

resubmitting the document to the network for a next delivery attempt;

canceling the document;

sending a request to the source or destination for additional delivery information; and

identifying the destination as having a technical problem.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the document is an email message, a voice mail message, or a fax document.

8. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions translatable by at least one processor to perform:

after an unsuccessful initial delivery attempt of a document from a source to a destination over a network, initiating a rule-based process at the computing device to automatically determine a possible next action related to the delivery of the document based on an input condition such that the next action is automatically determined based on the input condition.

9. A computer program product according to claim 8, wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform receiving rule-based instructions from the source, wherein the rule-based instructions are received from the source after the unsuccessful initial delivery attempt of the document to the destination.

10. A computer program product according to claim 8, wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform receiving rule-based instructions from the source, wherein the rule-based instructions are received from the source before the unsuccessful initial delivery attempt of the document to the destination.

11. A computer program product according to claim 8, wherein the input condition comprises a set of multiple input conditions.

12. A computer program product according to claim 8, wherein the input condition comprises one or more of:

the destination;

the source;

past delivery attempts to the destination;

an identification of non-business days at the destination; and

an identification of non-business hours at the destination.

13. A computer program product according to claim 8, wherein the next action comprises one or more of:

resubmitting the document to the network for a next delivery attempt;

canceling the document;

sending a request to the source or destination for additional delivery information; and

identifying the destination as having a technical problem.

14. A computer program product according to claim 8, wherein the document is an email message, a voice mail message, or a fax document.

15. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions translatable by the at least one processor to perform;

after an unsuccessful initial delivery attempt of a document from a source to a destination over a network, initiating a rule-based process at the computing device to automatically determine a possible next action related to the delivery of the document based on an input condition such that the next action is automatically determined based on the input condition.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform receiving rule-based instructions from the source, wherein the rule-based instructions are received from the source after the unsuccessful initial delivery attempt of the document to the destination.

17. A system according to claim 15, wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform receiving rule-based instructions from the source, wherein the rule-based instructions are received from the source before the unsuccessful initial delivery attempt of the document to the destination.

18. A system according to claim 15, wherein the input condition comprises one or more of:

the destination;

the source;

past delivery attempts to the destination;

an identification of non-business days at the destination; and

an identification of non-business hours at the destination.

19. A system according to claim 15, wherein the next action comprises one or more of:

resubmitting the document to the network for a next delivery attempt;

canceling the document;

sending a request to the source or destination for additional delivery information; and

identifying the destination as having a technical problem.

20. A system according to claim 15, wherein the document is an email message, a voice mail message, or a fax document.