Methods and telecommunications system for transmitting a facsimile message

• US 8,611,513 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2012
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ameritech Corp. (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:
  US13/626,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20130022184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 379/100.01, 379/100.09, 379/88.13, 379/100.14, 379/100.17, 358/1.15, 358/402, 358/407, 358/442
• US Class Current: 379/100.01
• 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 first destination, the content of the telephone call comprising a facsimile message;

determining a destination condition for the first 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 the telephone call was redirected to a second destination by a redirecting party;

determining the second destination in response to determining that the telephone call was redirected to the second destination; and

modifying an identification of the originating party to designate a redirecting party at the second location as an originating party at the second location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the facsimile message to the second destination in response to determining the second destination.

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 second destination is identified by a telephone number.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone call was redirected using call forwarding service by the receiving party at the second destination.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the telephone call was redirected to a third destination by the receiving party at the second location, wherein a third destination differs from the second destination;

determining the third destination in response to determining that the telephone call was redirected to the third destination; and

modifying an identification of the redirecting party at the second location to designate a redirecting party at the second location as an originating party at the second location.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one of the second destination or the third destination is an administrative facility.

8. A tangible computer readable medium storing computer program instructions for transmitting a facsimile message, which, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform operations 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 the telephone call was redirected to a second destination by a redirecting party;

determining the second destination in response to determining that the telephone call was redirected to the second destination; and

modifying an identification of the originating party to designate a redirecting party at the second location as an originating party at the second location.

9. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the computer program instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform further operations comprising:

transmitting the facsimile message to the second destination in response to determining the second destination.

10. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the initiation of the telephone call is detected based on an off-hook delay trigger assigned to a line of the originating party.

11. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the second destination is identified by a telephone number.

12. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the telephone call was redirected using call forwarding service by the receiving party at the second destination.

13. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the computer program instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform further operations comprising:

determining whether the telephone call was redirected to a third destination by the receiving party at the second location, wherein a third destination differs from the second destination;

determining the third destination in response to determining that the telephone call was redirected to the third destination; and

modifying an identification of the redirecting party at the second location to designate a redirecting party at the second location as an originating party at the second location.

14. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein at least one of the second destination or the third destination is an administrative facility.

15. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory to store computer program instructions, the computer program instructions when executed on the processor cause the processor to perform operations 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 the telephone call was redirected to a second destination by a redirecting party;

determining the second destination in response to determining that the telephone call was redirected to the second destination; and

modifying an identification of the originating party to designate a redirecting party at the second location as an originating party at the second location.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the computer program instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform further operations comprising:

transmitting the facsimile message to the second destination in response to determining the second destination.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the initiation of the telephone call is detected based on an off-hook delay trigger assigned to a line of the originating party.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the second destination is identified by a telephone number.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the telephone call was redirected using call forwarding service by the receiving party at the second destination.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the computer program instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform further operations comprising:

determining whether the telephone call was redirected to a third destination by the receiving party at the second location, wherein a third destination differs from the second destination;

determining the third destination in response to determining that the telephone call was redirected to the third destination; and

modifying an identification of the redirecting party at the second location to designate a redirecting party at the second location as an originating party at the second location.