Configurable document server

• US 10,587,772 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2016
• Issued: 03/10/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ip Ot Sub Ulc
• Original Assignee: Open Text Sa Ulc (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Webster, Jason K., Riedel, Michael, Hunt, Jr., Byron D., Rebert, Treber, Isabelle, Jonathan, Harman, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghayour, Mohammad H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dhingra, Pawan
• Application Number:
  US14/992,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20160124694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,520 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1208 resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/121 Facilitating exception or error detection and recovery, e.g. fault, media or consumables depleted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1217 achieving reduced idle time at the output device or increased asset utilization
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/126 Job scheduling, e.g. queuing, determine appropriate device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1275 Print workflow management, e.g. defining or changing a workflow, cross publishing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1288 in client-server-printer device configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0022 involving facsimile protocols or a combination of facsimile protocols and computer data transmission protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00912 Arrangements for controlling a still picture apparatus or components thereof not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/324 intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32411 Handling instructions for routing or relaying
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32427 Optimising routing, e.g. for minimum cost
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32641 of transmission or transmitted data, e.g. interruption or wrong number of pages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

A configurable document server is described. In some embodiments, the configurable document server can enable administrators to set an option that prevents documents from being routed to users when the configurable document server experiences some types of errors. When the configurable document server determines that such an error condition exists, it may prevent the routing of the corresponding document. By preventing documents causing errors from being routed, the configurable document server enables administrators to improve the accuracy of document workflow and thereby improve productivity of users.

Claims

1. A method of routing documents in a network environment, the method comprising:

receiving a transmitted document at a document server after the document has been transmitted by a sender of the document, wherein the document server is distinct from the sender and an intended recipient; and

after the document has been transmitted by the sender and received at the document server;

determining by the document server integrated with workflow operations, the workflow operations comprising multiple workflow steps, actions or tasks according to specified workflow requirements and embodied on a server machine, whether an error condition exists in association with the transmitted document received at the document server based on error detection made by a facsimile board, facsimile software, or a hardware or software component connected to the document server, in association with receipt of the transmitted document at the document server by the facsimile board, facsimile software, or a hardware or software component;

if an error condition exists, the document server determining whether a configuration option is set to prevent routing of the received document on error;

if the configuration option is not set to prevent routing on error, the document server routing or forwarding the received document to a target over a network; and

if the configuration option is set to prevent routing on error, the document server invoking a routine, the routine preventing the received document from being routed or forwarded to an intended recipient and causing the performance of at least one of;

notifying a workflow process involving the document,

suspending the workflow process relating to the document, or

archiving a workflow task involving the document.

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

routing the document to an administrator when the configuration option is set to prevent rowing on error and an error condition exists.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the target is determined based on metadata, document type, or other attributes relating to the document.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the target comprises a public switched telephone network (PSTN), another document server, a board server, a document transport module, a multi-function device, a network service, or a network device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein an error condition exists when the document could not be converted from one format to another, when a facsimile transmission error occurs, or when another error condition relating to the document server occurs.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the document comprises an email, a voice message, a scanned document, or a facsimile message.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the document enters the document server after the document is scanned.

8. A system for routing documents in a network environment, the system comprising:

a document server integrated with workflow operations, the workflow operations comprising multiple workflow steps, actions or tasks according to specified workflow requirements and embodied on a server machine, the document server configured for;

receiving a transmitted document after the document has been transmitted by a sender of the document, wherein the document server is distinct from the sender and an intended recipient;

after the document has been transmitted by the sender and received at the document server;

determining whether an error condition exists in association with the transmitted document received at the document server based on error detection made by a facsimile board, facsimile software, or a hardware or software component connected to the document server, in association with receipt of the transmitted document at the document server by the facsimile board, facsimile software, or a hardware or software component;

if an error condition exists, determining whether a configuration option is set to prevent routing of the received document on error;

if the configuration option is not set to prevent routing on error, routing or forwarding the received document to a target over a network; and

if the configuration option is set to prevent routing on error, invoking a routine, the routine preventing the received document from being routed or forwarded to an intended recipient and causing the performance of at least one of;

notifying a workflow process involving the document,

suspending the workflow process relating to the document, or

archiving a workflow task involving the document.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the document server is further configured for routing the document to an administrator when the configuration option is set to prevent routing on error and an error condition exists.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the target is determined based on metadata, document type, or other attributes relating to the document.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the target comprises a public switched telephone network (PSTN), another document server, a board server, a document transport module, a multi-function device, a network service, or a network device.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein an error condition exists when the document could not be converted from one format to another, when a facsimile transmission error occurs, or when another error condition relating to the document server occurs.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the document comprises an email, a voice message, a scanned document, or a facsimile message.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the document enters the document server after the document is scanned.

15. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions translatable by a server machine embodying a document server for routing documents and integrated with workflow operations, the workflow operations comprising multiple workflow steps, actions or tasks according to specified workflow requirements, the server machine operating in a network environment, the instructions when translated by the server machine;

receiving a transmitted document after the document has been transmitted by a sender of the document wherein the document server is distinct from the sender and an intended recipient; and

after the document has been transmitted by the sender and received at the document server;

determine whether an error condition exists in association with the transmitted document received at the document server based on error detection made by a facsimile board, facsimile software, or a hardware or software component connected to the document server, in association with receipt of the transmitted document at the document server by the facsimile board, facsimile software, or a hardware or software component, the document server integrated with workflow operations;

if an error condition exists, determine whether a configuration option is set to prevent routing of the received document on error;

if the configuration option is not set to prevent routing on error, route or forward received the document to a target over a network; and

if the configuration option is set to prevent routing on error, invoking a routine, the routine prevent the received document from being routed or forwarded to an intended recipient and causing the performance of at least one of;

notifying a workflow process involving the document,

suspending the workflow process relating to the document, or

archiving a workflow task involving the document.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions when translated by the server machine route the document to an administrator when the configuration option is set to prevent routing on error and an error condition exists.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the target is determined based on metadata, document type, or other attributes relating to the document.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the target comprises a public switched telephone network (PSTN), another document server, a board server, a document transport module, a multi-function device, a network service, or a network device.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein an error condition exists when the document could not be converted from one format to another, when a facsimile transmission error occurs, or when another error condition relating to the document server occurs.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the document comprises an email, a voice message, a scanned document, or a facsimile message.

21. A system for routing documents in a network environment, the system comprising:

at least one processor;

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

allocating one or more document flows to handle multiple documents received at a document server, the one or more document flows configured to handle the multiple documents according to type, the multiple documents including a document of a first type of document;

determining whether at least one of a plurality of error conditions relating to the document of the first type received at the document server, the document server, or a transmission of the document exists based on error detection made at the document server when the document is received, the document server configured to service document processing requests from network nodes or devices in a network environment;

if an error condition exists, determining whether configuration option is set to prevent routing when the error condition exists;

if the configuration option is not set to prevent routing when the error condition exists, routing or forwarding the document to an intended recipient upon receiving the document, wherein the routing or forwarding the document comprises;

an allocated document flow communicating with a universal document transport module to process the document of the first type or forward the document of the first type for processing, the universal document transport module operating independently of an originating message service or source of the document; and

if the configuration option is set to prevent routing when the error condition exists, preventing the document from being routed or forwarded to the intended recipient.