CONFIGURABLE DOCUMENT SERVER

• US 20100007917A1
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ip Ot Sub Ulc
• Original Assignee: Captaris, Inc. (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Riedel, Michael, Hunt, Byron D. JR., Harman, William R., Isabelle, Jonathan, Webster, Jason K., Rebert, Treber
• Granted Patent: US 9,277,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.150
• 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 performed by a computer system for routing documents, comprising:

receiving a configuration specification indicating how to handle documents with errors;

receiving a document at a document server;

determining whether the received document is associated with an error;

when the received document is associated with an error, preventing routing of the received document; and

when the received document is not associated with an error, identifying an intended recipient and routing the received document to the identified recipient.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the configuration specification is a configuration option that is set by an administrator of the document server to indicate whether documents with errors should be routed to intended recipients.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the received document is a facsimile document.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the received document is a facsimile document and the determining includes determining whether a transmission error occurred when receiving the document.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising causing a workflow engine to suspend a workflow task when the received document is associated with an error.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the received document is associated with an error when it cannot be converted from one format to another.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the received document is associated with an error when it cannot be converted from an SMS message to a facsimile document.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising causing a workflow engine to change a workflow task when the received document is associated with an error wherein the change includes notifying a user other than the identified recipient.