Methods and systems for fax routing

• US 7,474,432 B1
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: j2 Cloud Services, LLC (Consensus Cloud Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: FuzeBox, Inc.
• Inventors: Trandal, David, Kirchhoff, Leland
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Kimberly A
• Application Number:
  US11/684,799
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/440, 358/442, 358/402, 358/407, 379/100.08, 379/100.09, 379/100.12, 379/210.02, 379/88.2, 379/211.02, 379/142.05, 379/268, 379/265.09, 379/88.19, 379/88.21, 379/207.02, 379/133
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/247 Telephone sets including user guidance or feature selection means facilitating their use user interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2478 Telephone terminals specially adapted for non-voice services, e.g. email, internet access centralized arrangements where telephones services are combined H04M7/0024; for recording text messages H04M3/5322; for accessing Internet H04M3/4938
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0033 Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00212 Attaching image data to computer messages, e.g. to e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00214 details of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0022 involving facsimile protocols or a combination of facsimile protocols and computer data transmission protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/324 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 1/32422 Reprocessing messages, e.g. in case the intended destination is busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32438 Informing the addressee of reception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3202 of communication or activity log or report

Abstract

In an illustrative embodiment, methods and systems are provided for processing facsimiles. A call processing system receives a first message transmitted from a first carrier system regarding a facsimile call to a phone address. The first message includes an identifier associated with the user. The identifier is used to determine if the user is authorized to receive call processing system services. If the user is authorized, a second message is transmitted to the first carrier system, the second message indicating that the first carrier system is to connect the call to the call processing system. The call processing system is connected to the call. A facsimile is received via the call at the call processing system. Information regarding the facsimile call is provided over a network, wherein some or all of the information is displayed in a call log visually accessible by the user.

Claims

1. A method of processing facsimiles, the method comprising:

receiving at a call processing system a first message transmitted from a first carrier system at least partly in response to the first carrier system receiving a call from a caller directed to a user phone address, the first message including a phone address associated with the caller and an identifier associated with the user;

using information in the first message to determine if the user is a subscriber of a first service offered by the call processing system; and

if the user is a subscriber of the first service offered by the call processing system;

receiving a facsimile via the call at the call processing system;

logging the call in a first call processing system call log;

determining if a user telecommunications client is online, and if the telecommunications client is online, enabling the client and call log to synchronize with at least a portion of the first call processing system so that the call is included in a call log displayed via a client application.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first carrier system transmits the first message at least partly in response to a condition set on a user line being satisfied.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the condition is a busy or ring no-answer condition.

4. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the condition is an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) trigger.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the client log entry for a call includes the number of facsimile pages.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the client log entry for a call includes information related to the length of the facsimile, the time of the call, and/or the caller identity.

7. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein the client is configured to display the facsimile at least partly in response to a user action.

8. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein the client is configured to automatically display the facsimile.

9. The method as defined in claim 5, wherein the client is configured to display voice call log entries and facsimile call log entries.

10. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein the client is configured to indicate whether there is a voice message associated with a call log entry.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the user phone address is used for receiving voice communications and facsimiles.

12. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the call processing converts the facsimile from a first format to a format specified by the user prior to delivering the facsimile to the user.

13. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the call processing system converts the facsimile from a first format to a format specified by the user substantially immediately after the call processing system receives the facsimile.

14. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the call processing system converts the facsimile from a first format to a format specified by the user substantially immediately before the call processing system transmits the facsimile to a user terminal.

15. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first carrier system includes at least a Service Switching Point and the call processing system includes at least a Service Control Point.

16. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising:

accessing from memory facsimile-related instructions previously provided at least in part by the user, including an instruction regarding one or more user specified destinations for facsimile receipt; and

transmitting the facsimile to at least one user specified destination.

17. The method as defined in claim 16, wherein the one or more user specified destinations includes an email address.

18. The method as defined in claim 16, wherein the one or more user specified destinations includes an SMS address and/or an MMS address.

19. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising obtaining information regarding the caller from at least one of the following:

a customer contact data store;

a call processing system name cache;

a CNAM (Calling Name) database;

a Line Information Database (LIDB);

and providing at least a portion of the obtained information to the user in association with the facsimile.

20. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising:

determining if the user has an existing contact record for the caller; and

if the user does not have an existing contact record for the caller, creating a call record for the caller using at least a portion of the first message information.

21. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising using at least a portion of the first message information to determine if the user has indicated whether facsimiles from the caller are not to be delivered to the user.

22. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising the call processing system determining that the call is a facsimile related call by comparing the user phone address with information stored in at least one database.

23. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the call processing system causes the first carrier system to connect the call to the call processing system via a second message transmitted to the first carrier system at least partly in response to the first message.

24. The method as defined in claim 23, wherein the second message is an AIN-based message.

25. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising causing, at least in part, call frequency information associated with the caller to be updated.

26. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the facsimile is streamed from the call processing system to a user terminal, wherein at least a portion of the facsimile is received at the terminal before the call processing system receives all of the facsimile.

27. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the client is in the form of a widget and/or gadget.

28. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein the first carrier system transmits the first message at least partly in response to a condition set on a user line being satisfied.

29. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the identifier associated with the user is a user phone address and/or an account number.

30. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the facsimile is downloadable by the user from a Web site associated with the call processing system.

31. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein the condition is a busy or ring no-answer condition.

32. The method as defined in claim 30, wherein the condition is an AIN trigger.

33. A method of processing facsimiles, the method comprising:

receiving at a call processing system a first message transmitted from a first carrier system regarding a call to a phone address associated with a user while the call is in progress, the first message including an identifier associated with the user, wherein the call is a facsimile call;

using the identifier to determine if the user is authorized to receive services offered by the call processing system;

at least partly in response to determining that the user is authorized;

transmitting a second message to the first carrier system, the second message indicating that the first carrier system is to connect the call to the call processing system;

connecting to the call at the call processing system;

receiving a facsimile via the call at the call processing system; and

providing over a network information regarding the facsimile call, wherein some or all of the information is displayed in a call log visually accessible by the user.

34. The method as defined in claim 33, the method further comprising:

logging the call in a first call processing system call log;

determining if a user telecommunications client is online, and if the telecommunications client is online, causing, at least in part, the client and call log to synchronize with at least a portion of the first call processing system call log so that the call is included in a call log displayed via the client application.

35. The method as defined in claim 33, wherein the information regarding the facsimile call includes a phone address associated with the caller.

36. The method as defined in claim 33, wherein a log entry for the call includes information related to the length of the facsimile, the time of the call, and/or the caller identity.

37. The method as defined in claim 33, wherein the call log is configured to display voice call log entries and facsimile call entries, wherein a first call-type identifier is displayed in the call log in association with facsimile call entries to visually distinguish facsimile call entries from voice call entries.

38. The method as defined in claim 37, wherein the call is configured to indicate whether there is a voice message associated with a call entry.

39. The method as defined in claim 33, wherein the user phone address is used for receiving voice communications and facsimiles.

40. The method as defined in claim 33, wherein the call processing converts the facsimile from a first format to a second format previously specified by the user prior to delivering the facsimile to the user.

41. The method as defined in claim 33, wherein the first carrier system includes at least a Service Switching Point and the call processing system includes at least a Service Control Point.

42. The method as defined in claim 33, the method further comprising:

accessing from memory facsimile-related instructions previously provided at least in part by the user, including an instruction regarding one or more user specified destinations for facsimile receipt; and

transmitting the facsimile to at least one user specified destination.

43. The method as defined in claim 42, wherein the one or more user specified destinations includes an email address.

44. The method as defined in claim 42, wherein the one or more user specified destinations includes an SMS address and/or MMS address.

45. The method as defined in claim 42, wherein the facsimile accompanies the notification.

46. The method as defined in claim 33, the method further comprising obtaining information regarding the caller from at least one of the following:

a customer contact data store;

a call processing system name cache;

a CNAM (Calling Name) database;

a Line Information Database (LIDB);

and providing at least a portion of the obtained information to the user in association with information regarding the facsimile.

47. The method as defined in claim 33, the method further comprising:

determining if the user has an existing contact record for the caller; and

if the user does not have an existing contact record for the caller, creating a call record for the caller using at least a caller phone address provided by the carrier system.

48. The method as defined in claim 33, the method further comprising using a caller phone address provided by the carrier system to determine if the user has indicated whether facsimiles from the caller are not to be delivered to the user.

49. The method as defined in claim 33, the method further comprising the call processing system determining that the call is a facsimile related call by comparing the user phone address with information stored in at least one database.

50. The method as defined in claim 33, wherein the second message is an AIN-based message.

51. The method as defined in claim 33, the method further comprising causing, at least in part, call frequency information associated with the caller to be updated.

52. The method as defined in claim 33, wherein the facsimile is streamed from the call processing system to a user terminal, wherein at least a portion of the facsimile is received at the terminal before the call processing system receives all of the facsimile.

53. The method as defined in claim 33, wherein at least a portion of the call log is displayed to the user via a widget and/or gadget.

54. The method as defined in claim 33, wherein the identifier associated with the user is the user phone address and/or an account number.

55. A method of processing facsimiles, wherein a first telecommunications system monitors a condition for a user phone address, the method comprising:

receiving at a second telecommunication system an indication from the first telecommunication system that the condition has been satisfied, wherein the condition is at least partly satisfied by a first call directed to the user phone address being received at the first telecommunications system;

receiving at the second telecommunication system the caller phone address and information related to the user;

connecting to the first call at the second telecommunications system;

determining if the first call is a facsimile call;

if the first call is a facsimile call, receiving a facsimile via the call at the second telecommunication system; and

providing over a network information regarding the facsimile call, wherein some or all of the information is displayed in a call log visually accessible by the user.

56. The method as defined in claim 55, wherein a termination attempt trigger set on the user phone address is used to determine that the condition has been satisfied.

57. The method as defined in claim 55, wherein a Wireless Intelligent Network (WIN) set on the user phone address is used to determine that the condition has been satisfied.

58. The method as defined in claim 55, wherein the second telecommunication system determines the first call is a facsimile call at least in part by detecting a fax tone.

59. The method as defined in claim 55, wherein if the first call is not a facsimile call, the first telecommunication system directs the first call to a phone associated with the user.

60. The method as defined in claim 55, wherein the call log is visually accessible by the user in the form of a widget and/or gadget.