Delivery expert system, method and computer program product

• US 8,786,890 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2013
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• 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:
  US13/868,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20130301075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/2.1, 358/3.99, 358/3.01, 358/3.12, 358/529, 358/518, 358/534, 358/1.13, 358/400, 358/401, 358/404, 358/444, 358/435, 358/434
• 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. Rules may be stored in a database. The database may include rules based on past delivery information or new delivery instructions. When an input condition is determined, the database may be traversed to determine an action based on the set of rules. The actions may include one or more of resubmitting the fax document to the network for a next delivery attempt, cancelling the document, 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, comprising:

storing a set of rules in a database accessible by the computing device; and

initiating a rule-based process, by the computing device, to determine a next possible action based on an input condition and at least one rule in the set of rules.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

selecting an action based on past delivery.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a delivery instruction; and

storing the delivery instruction in the database.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sending a request for an alternate delivery instruction; and

storing the alternate delivery instruction in the database.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rule-based process comprises traversing a hierarchical decision tree.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the next action comprises one or more of:

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

canceling the document; and

identifying the destination as having a technical problem.

7. The 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:

storing a set of rules in a database accessible by the at least one processor; and

after an unsuccessful initial delivery attempt of the document to the destination, initiating a rule-based process, by the at least one processor, to determine a next possible action based on an input condition and at least one rule in the set of rules.

9. The computer program product according to claim 8, wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform:

selecting an action based on past delivery.

10. The computer program product according to claim 8, wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform:

receiving a delivery instruction; and

storing the delivery instruction in the database.

11. The computer program product according to claim 8, wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform:

sending a request for an alternate delivery instruction; and

storing the alternate delivery instruction in the database.

12. The computer program product according to claim 8, wherein the rule-based process comprises traversing a hierarchical decision tree.

13. The computer program product according to claim 12, wherein the next action comprises one or more of:

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

canceling the document; and

identifying the destination as having a technical problem.

14. The 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;

storing a set of rules in a database accessible by the at least one processor; and

after an unsuccessful initial delivery attempt of the document to the destination, initiating a rule-based process, by the at least one processor, to determine a next possible action based on an input condition and at least one rule in the set of rules.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform:

selecting an action based on past delivery.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform:

receiving a delivery instruction; and

storing the delivery instruction in the database.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the rule-based process comprises traversing a hierarchical decision tree.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the next action comprises one or more of:

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

canceling the document; and

identifying the destination as having a technical problem.

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