System and method for document transmission and routing with recipient control

• US 9,635,199 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2015
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ip Ot Sub Ulc
• Original Assignee: Open Text Sa Ulc (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Street, Jr., William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): EBRAHIMI DEHKORDY, SAEID
• Application Number:
  US14/860,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20160014287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 358 113- 115
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 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 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00403 Voice input means, e.g. voice commands
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/324 intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32422 Reprocessing messages, e.g. in case the intended destination is busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32609 Fault detection or counter-measures, e.g. original mis-positioned, shortage of paper
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32635 of reproducing apparatus or receiver, e.g. out of paper
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32673 Adjusting or controlling an operating mode, e.g. from paper reception to memory reception H04N1/32678 takes precedence; inhibiting an operation H04N1/00925
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32678 Performing substitution, e.g. substitute reception or substituting a corrupted line of data H04N1/32384 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32683 Preventive counter-measures, e.g. using redundant hardware, or anticipating a fault arrangements for keeping a communication line open H04N1/32795
• 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

Abstract

Techniques for transmitting information to a recipient under their control are described. In some situations, the techniques are used in conjunction with a fax delivery system to provide, as part of a connection established to perform a fax transmission, a variety of functionalities to a human recipient that is participating as part of the connection, such as when the human recipient is contacted in error. In addition, in some situations, an interactive voice response system is used to receive and interpret input from a human recipient, such as in response to one or more control selections or options provided to the human recipient.

Claims

1. A method of communicating information based on live instructions, comprising:

subsequent to failure of a server machine establishing a network connection with a device associated with an intended recipient, the server machine providing, via the device, at least one control option to a human with whom a connection is established erroneously at the device instead of the network connection with the device;

the server machine receiving, via the connection established erroneously with the human at the device, an indication of a response from the human;

the server machine analyzing the response to determine a live instruction relating to the at least one control option; and

the server machine controlling communication of information associated with the intended recipient to the device or to a different device based on the live instruction.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the response is a spoken response and wherein the server machine analyzes the spoken response including performing a speech-to-text conversion of the spoken response.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the controlling comprises executing a subroutine to provide at least one of:

a cancellation option;

a send option;

a retry option;

a forward option;

or

a hold option.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein when the forward option is selected by the human, the server machine prompting the human to provide connection information associated with the intended recipient.

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

the server machine verifying whether the connection information provided by the human is valid.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein when the hold option is selected by the human, the server machine providing instructions to the human for later retrieval of the information.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein, based on the live instruction, the server machine temporarily holds the information and automatically retries communicating the information associated with the intended recipient to the device or to the different device at a later time.

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

subsequent to failure of establishing a network connection with a device associated with an intended recipient, providing, via the device, at least one control option to a human with whom a connection is established erroneously at the device instead of the network connection with the device;

receiving, via the connection established erroneously with the human at the device, an indication of a response from the human;

analyzing the response to determine a live instruction relating to the at least one control option; and

controlling communication of information associated with the intended recipient to the device or to a different device based on the live instruction.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the response is a spoken response and wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to analyze the spoken response including performing a speech-to-text conversion of the spoken response.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the controlling comprises executing a subroutine to provide at least one of:

a cancellation option;

a send option;

a retry option;

a forward option;

or

a hold option.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein when the forward option is selected by the human, the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform prompting the human to provide connection information associated with the intended recipient.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform verifying whether the connection information provided by the human is valid.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein when the hold option is selected by the human, the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform providing instructions to the human for later retrieval of the information.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein, based on the live instruction, the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform temporarily holding the information and automatically retrying communicating the information associated with the intended recipient to the device or to the different device at a later time.

15. A system for communicating information based on live instructions, the system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one non-transitory computer readable medium; and

stored instructions translatable by the at least one processor to perform;

subsequent to failure of establishing a network connection with a device associated with an intended recipient, providing, via the device, at least one control option to a human with whom a connection is established erroneously at the device instead of the network connection with the device;

receiving, via the connection established erroneously with the human at the device, an indication of a response from the human;

analyzing the response to determine a live instruction relating to the at least one control option; and

controlling communication of information associated with the intended recipient to the device or to a different device based on the live instruction.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the response is a spoken response and wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to analyze the spoken response including performing a speech-to-text conversion of the spoken response.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the controlling comprises executing a subroutine to provide at least one of:

a cancellation option;

a send option;

a retry option;

a forward option;

or

a hold option.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein when the forward option is selected by the human, the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform prompting the human to provide connection information associated with the intended recipient and verifying whether the connection information provided by the human is valid.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein when the hold option is selected by the human, the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform providing instructions to the human for later retrieval of the information.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein, based on the live instruction, the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform temporarily holding the information and automatically retrying communicating the information associated with the intended recipient to the device or to the different device at a later time.