Case 1:03-cv-03066-CC Document 4 Filed 11 ... - RPX Insight

US 4,994,926 C2 page

F:obayathi and Kamae. "A new nation-wide network for public facsimile communicacion" . IfR, vol . 20 . No . 4 pp. 276-231 . 1973 . Famne, Endo and Nalcabayashi, "Facsimile intelligent com-municadon system F[CS-1", Review of the Electrical Com-municadort Laboratories, vol . 29, No. 7-8, pp . 619-662, 1981 . Ejiri. "Advanced facsimile communication network", J7R, vol . 25, No. 3, 1983 . Sprint Corporation and Sprint Communications Company L.P.'s Answer to First Amended Complaint Counterclaim end Demand for Jury Trial (including allegation of inequi-table conduct) . Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial-Audiofaz IP, LLC vs Concord Technologies, Inc . Concord Technology Int .'s Answer to Complaint. Affir-

'il1^ ;ati^s ^f :rative Defenses and Counterclaim( (including inequitable conduct) . Complaint & Demand for Jury Trial-Audiofax IP. LLC vs ]fu.Com, inc. Answer and Counterclain-Audio[u 1P LLC vs 7(ax.Com, Inc A Message Handing System (or Public Networks, Toshi-hiko Nakayama. 1983, pp . 103-111. AucoFax: A Store and Forward Facsimile System Piercy M.S ., Jan. 1979, pp . 265-269. Business commwueatioas Review, I'IT Inaugurates FuPak. Nov.-Dec. 1979. PP. 29-31 . CCl'IT, Data Communication Networks Menage Handling Systems, 1985, 1-38. CCTI'I; Telemadc Services: Operations and Quality of Ser-vice, Oct 1984 . Comverse & Auom create a voice do fu messaging stre-tegic alliancrBy Brian Wiltshire. Comverse Technology, Inc .. Tn7ogue Message Management System, Dec. 1987, p. 1-5. Control Methods for Facsimile Store & Forward Commu-nicauon Services, Sadami Kuai6aca. 987-ffFF/IEICE Glo-bal Telecommunications Conference. Development of a Mula-Media MHS based on CCITI' X 400 Recmmendacons, Huvki Ohmura, 1986, pp. 30319. Development of a Public Facsimile Communication System Using Storage & Convection Techniques. T. Kaman, 1980 . Development of Facsvnile Communication System For Packet Switched Data Network. K Mahuo, Just. 1981-International Conference On Communications-Conference Record. Electrical Communication Laboratories Technical Journal . Jul . 22 . 1984 . PP . 1-19 . Electrical Communication Laboratories Technical Journal . Oct 22, 1985, pp . I-13 . Electronic Mail Standards to Gee Rubber-Smmped and Go Worldwide, Data Communications May 1983 . pp. 15168. Electronic Mail Systems, Kensuke Tomuu. 1983, pp . 28290.

37-4633 V1962 (M . 57-3805 . Y1982 (M

. 57-119337 7/1952 IN) 57-119341 7/19E2 (JP) . 57-192167 11/1952 (JP) .

. 38-133073 E119E3 (7P) 53-13E148 &19E3 (JP) . 58-176162 E/19E3 (JP) . 58-175342 10(1983 (JP) . 38187055 1111993 (M . 39-015387 1/1961 (7q . 39-27660 211994 (1% .

. 39-70732 3/1934 (JP) 59.99646 61963 (JP) . 59-117345 7/1984 (1P) . 39.196647 11/1994 (M . 39-196643 17/1983 (JP) . 59.213163 1711984 (7P) . 39.214766 11/1984 (M . 59~271964 17!1984 (1P) . 6y-46647 311985 (M . 60.93515 5/1985 (JP) .

60-119161 611983 (JP) . 60.119163 6/1983 (1P) . 66134554 7/1983 (1P) . 60.174636 7/1983 (7P) . 60.197039 1011983 (1P) .

U.S . PATENT DOCUMENTS

4.255.619 3/I93I Suto _. .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I%9i_ .a 4.7J0.7Si 7/I9S2 Sugiyama <t al . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 179/= A 4500.751 :J1985 Dorland et L. .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . 179/= DP 4.504.368 3/1985 Hasuike at aI . .. . . . . . . . ., .�. . . . . . . . 353/^_SO 4513.390 a/1935 Wafer et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . iG1/oW 4.518.939 5/1985 Yabiki et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . i53B6 3.523 .055 6/1995 Hohl et al . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., . . . . . . 179/. DP 4.573 .031 2/1936 Shirttizu _. .. ..... . . . . . . . . . . . .... . . . . . . 353x57 J.5&l .dS1 J/1996 Hastumoto .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . .. .. l"191_ a. 4.587,633 5/1936 Wing n al . . .. . .. . . . .. . . . . ., .. ... . . . 36-+/900 4.613 .907 ' 9/1956 Yoshimoto et ai . . . . . . . . . . .. ... . . . 3531439 4.614 .978 9/1936 Doscer et al . ... .. . .. . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . 3531.61 4.635 .253 1/1957 Ucui et al. _. .. .. . .. . .. . . . . . . ... .. . . . . . 30/67 4.635255 1/1987 Qarlc a al . ..... . . . . . .. . . . ... .. . .. 370/110.1 4.652 .700 7/1937 Manhcws et al . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . .. . . . . . 37989 6,652933 7/1987 Koshiishi .. . . . . .... .. ... .. . . . . . . .. . . 358n56 4,634,718 1/1937 Sueyoshi . .. . . __. ... .. ... .. . .. ... .. . . 3581257 4,6602!8 4/1987 Hashimao . .._.... .. ... . . . .. ... .. . . . . 379/91 4,667,249 5/19b7 ISanna __ ._ .. . . ..... .. .. . _. .. ..... . . 358230 4,717.780 . 12/3987 Schultz n al . _. . . . . . . . __. .. . . . . . . 709/306 4,713.877 12/198 Gordon ._ ._ ... ..... .. . . . . . . ..... . . . . . . 379193 4,745,636 5/1988 Gibbs n al . ._ . . . . . . . . .. ... .. . _. . . .. 379/93 4,763,317 811988 LeFunan et al. ._.... .. . . . . . . ..... . 370/58 4,769,719 - 9/1988 Fndo .A..... .... . ...... . . . ... 358/926 4,337,798 &1989 Cohen et al. ,...... ... . . . . . . . . . _._ 379/83 4,847,591 7/1959 Kotaci .... ... . .. . . .... ..... . . . . . .... 379/83 4,866,758 9/1989 Heinzelmanu .. . . ...... _. . . . . .... . .. 779/9a <,893,737 1/1990 Bean q al. 379/10U 4,905,277 211990 Cordon R al . 379/93 4.914586 4/1990 Swiuehatt et al . 3641200 4,918.722 411990 ITrclarn a al . ... . .. ... ..... . . 379/100 <,922,518 5/1990 Cordon et al . 379/57 4,915,955 611990 Neudocfc _.--.. . . .. ..... . . 779/100 4,941.170 7/1990 }Secbst __._------- .___ . . 379/100 4,%7288 10/1990 Mizutai et al . 358/425 3.003375 3/1991 Chanbalin et al . 379/89 5.00&926 4/1991 Miaholi _._...� . .__. . ._._. ... 379/89 5.014,700 5/1991 HarvaN a al . . . .. .... .... . ... .. 379/100 3291,702 3/1994 Gordon et u . ...... .. . . ...... .. 35&400 5.459.594 1011995 Gordon et id. . ......... .. . . . .. . . .. 3591434

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

60-2150:' 12/1955 0 P) . 61 .0137_ ; 1/1936 UP) . 61~60060 3/1956 (1P) . 61~I=5651 6/1956 (7P) . 6.-1=5651 6/1956 (JP) . 6.-57515 3/1937 (7P) .

62-132464 611937 (1P) . 63-133751 511933 (1P) .

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Case 1:03-cv-03066-CC Document 4 Filed 11/10/03 Page 1 of 157

US 4,994 .926 C2 Pa=e 3

Electronic Switching, Systems . Ryoichi Sugioka . Jul . I`75= . pp . ==5-253 . Enhanced Facsirtula Communication Network . Hiirnshi Katsuki. Jan.. 1936-pp . 30-35 . Enhanced Message Handling System for In-House Use . Facsuh0:o Hyvca. Dec . 1985 . Evolution of Integrated Digital Network and Strive inte-gration, Tatsuo Macvyuna, Sep . 1979 . Facsimile Data Converter AppGe3 to Various Data Coramu. nications Services, Masao Setoguchi . Jan . 1937, pp . 22-28 . Facsimile Mail System As Basis for Integrated Mail System . Yukio Ozawa, May 1931 pp . 1-7 . Facsimile Transmission Service-FA?C/PAK-Unkersal Compatibility Between Facsimile Machines-Interference No . 102, 468 . Fu Fever Shims, Insight Aug . 22, 1983, pp . 8-12 . FuMaster 21 Remote Operation, Faxblaseer 21 User Hand-book . Sep . 17, 1986 . FazMascrr Made Easy, Mice Donnenfidd Jun. 9. 1935 . FaxPolc Store do Forward Facsimile Transmission Service; Murawski. T.; Nov, 3, 1979 pp. 251-u1 . Flexible Facsimile Transmission, I'I'I' Domestic Transmis-sion Systems, Inc., Mar. 1980 pp. 39-42. Infortnauon'Disclosure Statement-Serial No . 192.839-Control of Electronic Information Delivery. Integrated Digital Switching System With Queing Storage Facility. Shimrtu Hanori . 1980. International Facsimile Communication over Packet Switched Network. Hiroichi Termura, 1983, pp. 239-247 . International Switching Symposium: Interconnection of the Teletex, Telex, and Other Services Sep. 24, 1981 . Japan is Malting INS a reality, Moriji Kuwabarzt, Oct. 24, 1983, pp . 64-81. Lmi s-Pumas with Voice/Data Systems, An Torino, Sep . 1984. PP. 64g-.64p. Local enveprenuei s invention weds 3 modern conve-niences-By Lmna Collier. MCI Communications Corporation, Stole and Forward Mes-sage Switching System. May 1987 . Meridian SL Information Services; Lima Lee, Tom Purdy. and tLlary Williamson: 1995 pp . 13-19. " cited by examiner

NBC Corporation . YEA.\ 2 .400 EMS . 1956 . `'EC Corporation . i\-E .-!,X 2100 EMS, Jan . 1955, pp . I-3. . `+'EC Corporation . NEAR 2100 IhIS . Jul . 1955 . pp . I-3? . Net Master. Functional Specification, Oct. 16 . 1983, pp . I-1 .3 . PS\-Based Lans : Lower Cost Par Tecmainal Connection . Henry R'urzburs and Ste : e Kelley, Feb . 1934, pp . 191-199 . Planning of a Nation-Wide Facsimile Store and Forward Network . Biesei . S ., 1931 . Resent Situation and Future Trends of Communication Processing Technologies, Elidaoh Hats . Oct. 1956 . pp . 223 -237 . RCA FaxFonvard International Facsimile Service Over-view . RCA Global Communications Inc ., Sep . 1, 1987 . RCA Tries Again Whit FaxFonvard, Information Week, Sep . ?l, 1937, P . 13 . Recent Advances in Facsimile Communications, Yasuhiro Yunazaki, 1985, pp . 118-125 . SmanerFA?C one page brochure . The Architecture of Meridian SL Integrated Services Net-works, A1 Boleda and Dave Luker 1985, pp . 26r33--PB:U LAN. The 3ht FaeYchance Facsimile Network Switch rums your facsimile network into a high volume communicator. Tcilogue Hardware Architecture, Comverse Technology. Inc . 1987 . Trilogue Message Management Systems-Comverse Tech-nology . Inc. US FuNSFA]CSYS. Voice Messaging Comes of Age in Today's Mobile Com-munications Market. Mobile Communications Business, Feb . 1988 . We're Makin, Headlines wth the Marriage of the Cen-nuy-From SpecaalFA?C Corp . While-You-Wait Fax. Newsweek The International hla.-a-zine .

US 4.99-4.926 C2

~~/,,,Col . i~ nrid ut lrasr one store and f,7nonrd facilirv d:rn"u"s rhu life r2/! is a revnnsmir call. Said Store and ~~n`<<~'d~n:ifutiriv;,'sanUUtmptrddc(h'trv,)(uftcrimilt irtrss, : ;i rcctirtd durir:q that p~irr~~d~v call to u f;~csinilr ~.r ;~dun, ert [lie s+wdlc<( telephone nrnvor4. Tile .ns:rnr of claim J/, wlirrein . if he machine to i,hidr drlicrr: is aurrnortd is bury or othrnvise unable m recrirr s transmission al the time delivery is attempted. said at host one store and fonrardfndlin" periodically i~,iria~es

nruddn ,r,a retry of ,f,"Ihrry of the facsimile nrrssa;r to die jac;imilr n,r, 43

. Toe sTsrrm o% claim 47, wherein, upon mrccessfid (7°MFl<<ion nErr rerry of a facsimile varsmission m the jacsirrrile machine. said at lease one store and fanrcrd faciliry transmits a message to the transmitting facsimile machine conli»rtirt3 delivery of rhrfacsimile message by die svsrem

The paeenrabiliry, of claim, 1-16 arid 1 3~27 is 13 Claims 17 and 279 ye cancelled .

sysrem far facilitating facsimile communications between a transmitting facsimile machine and at /tart one .0 intended receiving facsimile machine, comprising at least one store and jonvard fac;l(ry, means coupling the at least one store and forward facility to the switched telephone network for receiving transmissions from a transmitting facsimile machine. raid store and forward f¢ciliry including 25 computer means for controlling its operation and including mats storage means jot storing facsimile transmissions together with information identifying the transmitting f¢c-aimife machine and the at lease one intended receiving facsimile machine under control Of said Computer means, to said store and jonvard faclliry also melding means coupling it to the twitched telephone network for transmitting jQc-simile messages stored in the mall storage means to at feast one intended receiving facsimile machine, and wherein :aid mass storage means additionally includes mailboxes arm- 5 ciated with particular system subscribers and wherein fac-simile messages received and reared by the mass storage means intended for receiving facsimile machines associated with those subscribers are stored in the respective mailboxes. said store and forward jndl(y being responsive o to instruction received from a subscriber to transmit the facsimile messages stand in char suLreriber's mailbox to airy Particular facsimile machine designated in the inrrruc-«orts by the subscriber. whereby a subscriber who is Ira, cling or otherwise away from the feed location of his i facsimile machine mayhavefacJimilemessages intended kc receipt by hit facsimile machine collected, and retrieve them Jmm any location where arty other facsimile machine is riruared, and wherein :aid store and forward facility receives from transmitting facsimile machines facsimile messages addressed by the rrmlsmiming facJtntle machines to non-subscribers, and scorer .ruck non-rnbtcrber addressed messages in mass storage together with the respective non-subscriber addresses; and wherein said store and forward facility initiates an attempted delivery of the received messages to the respective non-subscriber address,,. 45. A system for facilitating facsimile communications between a ncnm,itttng jocsimile machine and a1 (east one intended receiving facsimile machine, comprising a pfural-iry of geographically separated store acrd forward facilities. with a plurality of subscriber facsimile machines in a particular geographic area being associated with one of said store anti jorwasdfQcilieer, meant coupling each store and forward facility to the switched telephone network for receiving transmissions fi»m arty transmitting facsimile machine that is associated with each respective store and

forward facility. each Of raid store and forward facilities

40. A system for facilitating facsimile communications between a transmitting facsimile machine and at lease oar intended receiving facsimile machine, comprising at /rare one store and forward f¢cil;ty, means couplLng the of least one store and forward facility to the switched relephorte network for receiving trnnrmisiortr jrom a transmitting facsimile machine, :aid store and jonvard faciliry including Computer meant jot controlling its operation and including mass storage means for storing facsimile tran.rmtssions together with information identifying the transmitting fog . simile machine and the at /care one intended receiving facsimile machine under control of said computer means, said store and jorward jvc;firy also including mean: cou-pling L to the switched telephone network for transmitting facsimile message, hared in the mare storage meant to ar lease one

intended receiving facsimile machine, and wherein said mars storage means additionally includes mailboxes associated with particular system subscribers and wherein facsimile messages received cord scored by the mass storage meant intended for receiving facsimile machines associated with those subscribers art reared in the respective mailboxes, wherein said store and forward facility

determines, bared on de telephone number erred by the switched telephone nenvorfc ro switch a particular calf w the . store and forwmd faciGry, ;f the Particular call is a mailbox call intended for ¢ particular system subscriber, and wherein, if said store and forward facility derermirtes a Particular cal! to be a mailbox call intended for a Particular system subscriber .raid store and jorwaid fuciliry auromari- 5 rally directs a facsimile message received during char par. ricular call to the mailbox associated with that particular system subscriber, said store and forward facility being responsive to instruction received from a subscriber to transmit the facrimile messages stored in 'hat subscriber's s mailbox to any particular facsimile machine designated in the instructions by the subscriber, whereby a subscriber who u traveling or orhenvise Q,rcy firm the fixed location Of his facsimile machine may hove facsimile messages intended for receipt by his facsimile machine collected, and ntriebve st them lean, any location when any other facsimile machine is situated. 41 . The system of claim 40, wherein said store anti forward jacifiry makes a determination, bred on the tefe-phone number used by the twitched telephone artwork ro 65 switch a particular call to the store and jonvartt facility, If the particular calf it a mailbox call or a retransmit call: and

REEXAMINATION CERTIFICATE ISSUED UNDER 35 U.S .C. 307 7?E PATEN7 IS HEREBY AMENDED AS

INDICATED BELOW Matter enclosed in heavy brackets [ ] appeared in the patent, but has been deleted and is no loner a pert of the patent ; matter printed in italics indicates addido`u made to the potent .

AS A RESULT OF REE:CANIINATfON, IT HAS BEEN DE"IERy13;1ED TH.aT :

New claims 40.110 are added and deeertnined to be pateneable .

3 a 6tdudiir,C computer means for controlling its openr+irnr and such n,,,-sr&tuibc'r addressed mtssa.;e in mass srorr,,~c including muss storage means for storing fuc.cimile !snot- tns" elli, "r midi the irvrr-subscriber address. and ~,hercirt at missions together wide information identifying dtr :r .ursndt- least one , i said story and fen,ard /iatifidrs iniria :rs art ring (rrsi"rulr machine aid the at least one uv,"rdrd recd.- rrrr.rmrd dcli:e : a,( hr recrirrd mes~n;r ro the non-mg facsimile muchine under control of said ccmput,r ,

` suGscr.her,tddrts;.

means. each of said store artd fonrard fvcilirirs also uiclm6 50 . rue ss:rm of claim 46. t0terein at least one store and ing means coupling if to the switched telephone ntnrork fur fon.nrd f�tiliry, of said pluraliry makes J determination,

dirccdy transmitting afacsimile message stored in rite muss based on dm telephone number used by tire switched rdn rmrnqe mrurts roan intended receiving facsimile muc:i :,r if phone rtemor .E to lurch a particular call to dm store anal dtr intended receiving facsimile machine is in rite pluralin~ Iu /unLurd facility, if tire particular call is a mailbox call or a of facsimile machines associated with that particular store retransmit m!!. and forward f¢cifiry, and for transmitting the stoma face 51 . Tire nsrrm of claim 45. wherein at feast one store and simile message to a particular =other of tire .muse and forward futility of said plurality determines. bared on the forward facilities when the intended receiving J'acsimilc relrpGenrniunGrnused byihesvitchedtelephone network ro mathinc is in the plurality offaesimile machines associated i i switch a partindar call to said one store and forward kith that particular another store and forward facility anal facility. if the particular call it a mailbox call intended for wherein said mass storage means of at !ears one of the store a particular svrrem subscriber. and forsvardfacilirler additionally includes mailboxes as .to- 5? . A method jot facilitating facsimile communications dated with particular system subscribers and wherein face brnvecrt a transmitting facsimile machine and at (east one simile messages received and stored by she mass storage xo intended receiving facsimile machine, comprising the seeps meant and inrertded for receiving facsimile machines also- of providing at lease ogre .more and forward facility having dated with those subscribers arc stood in the respective computer meant for controlling its operation and having mailboxes, wherein at least one store and forward facility of mass storage means for scoring facsimile messages, arsign-said plurality determines if a particular call switched to rail ing to each system subscriber of a plurality of system one store end forward facility by the witched telephone 25 subscribers a unique destination telephone number, wherein network it a mailbox call intended for a particular rystrm rite dialing o/' the unique destination telephone number of rubrcri6er, and wherein, if raid one fore and forward each system subscriber results in the related telephone call facility determines a particular tall to be a mailbox call being switched by a switched telephone network to the at intended for a particular system subscriber, .raid store and lease one more and jonvard jacifiry, coupling the at least one forward facility automatically diners a facsimle message 30 store and fonvarti facility to the switched telephone network received during that particular call to the mailbox associ- jorreceiving facsimile messages from transmirringfacsimile aced with that particular system aubsniber, .raid store and machines, dsfvdng mailboxes in the mass storage means forward facility being responsive to instrvcrinr received associated with particular system subscribers. receiving from a subscriber to tsansrrdt the jactimile messages stored outs time at the first mars and forward facility a plurality of in that subscriber's mailbox to any particular facsimile 35 telephone calls, each call ofsaid plurcliry of telephone tails machine designated in the Lertrucrivrts by the subscriber, being twitched to the store and fonvrd faciGry 6y the whereby a subscriber who it traveling or otherwise away switched telephone network as result of a senders dialing from the fixed location of his facsimile machine may bare arts of the unique destination telephone numbers, whereby facsimile messages intended for receipt 6y his facsimile each such received call results in w originating telephone machine collected and retrieve them from any location ao call connection being made, receiving during the originating where airy ashes facsimile machine is situated. telephone call connections, at the at least one store and 46. The system of claim 45, wherein at bast one store and forward facility, facsimile messages from transmitting fac-

forward facility of said plurality retakes a determination if a simile machines, recording the received messages in eke particular call switched to the store and fonrardfacility by mass storage means together with information indicating the switched relrphoni network it a mailbox call or a 45 the respective transmitting facsimile machine and retransmit call; and wherein, if said one store and forward respective intended receiving facsimile machine, transmit-facility determines that the call it a rrfruit.rmir calf, said one ring facsimile messages stored in the mars storage means to store mtd forward facility initiates an attempted delivery 6y intended receiving facsimile machines, storing facsimile at !cart one of.raid .rtore m'd jonvandfacifirie: of a facsimile messages intended for the particular system subscribers in message received during than particular call to a facsimile 50 their respective mailboxes, and in response 10 I71.ff7LCROILf machine art the switched telephone network. received from a system subscriber, transmitting via the 47. The system of claim 46 wherein, if the receiving switched telephone network facsimile messages stored in

machine to which delivery is attempted is busy or otherwise char subscriber's mailbox to a facsimile machine designated unable to receive a tnmtmission at the time delivery is by that subscriber in the instructions. artempred, at least one raid erase and forward facilities 55 53 . The method of claim 52, wherein each said unique periodically iniliater a retry of delivery of the facsimile destination telephone number is wiquely identified wish a message to the facsimile machine. facsimile mailbox of a subscriber, and wherein upon recepit 48. The system of claim 47, wherein, upon successful of a telephone call switched to the store and forwad faciiiry

completion after retry of a facsimile transmission to the by the switched telephone network addressed to a unique facsimile machine, at (east one of said more and /'onward so destination telephone number, the store and fonvarti facility facilities transmits a message to the transmitting facsimile - answers the call as a facsimile colt, withoutfurther inquir-mackine confirming delivery of the facsimile message by the ing of the sender. system 54 . A method for facilitating facsimile communications 49. The system of claim J6, wherein at (east one store and between a transmitting facsimile machine and at least one

forward facility of taid plurality xceivet from a cransmirtng 65 intended receiving fncsimi(t machine, comprising ~he seep of facsimile machine a facsimile message addressed by the providing at least one more and forward facility having transmitting facsimile machine to a non-subscriber, stores computer meant for controlling in operation and having

US 1,994 .926 C2

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f2c~zr,."J, ,,, h .. "d J!"OrLSImin, A

is hold' Ae 'r e message,, Ing a je, S1 leph One it... andf 3 rece c In- be IS to file i" I unry 'age, from Ilf'on, erwo,.(- f 0 -adf I cou- iP by Ike "a" ecurity code., Inaed ?cc - cc, rec eiv,,,

received Smalling f, flying . . 0 the elv,rtgjac and)ro_wc d me,"ge Only informari g . 0SAMI'l, facsimile m". Simile Mach - Jacil-

Ind,"" al I machines "YfrOm the il'21" on hem subsc,"ber e of the ully, We Plv aJT xCar's, m rec, Machi" associated ir 9 ded and 1he )?IcndFed Ing tire can, 'din? 57 j 11)7 "amber )a a

. "gJacsimil rece), er Wilh 35 b,tW - Method tended receiving fc,,,,,,

e M.,h - cc, fiollacitir" - intended III e Machine Inc a front . Ing receiv OW - . and ,,,,ln,, Intend 4, Vniften Ing in the ,a., e gja Jacsim"j, Step of defin - facsinvile I Staff,

ans recel vjf,g .~, Crim,'j, Machin, Commtuvican-,,

ayi0ciaw.f. Ing mazzharej mach"57's and - fem' to OJ`PPOvfd' 4fsi~lile "Larchine, c an . d at jeall I the If thparrid

in the , afelad - grogfoph~n' a Plural- I One 'PS 0 arjyxz",Jub moij sia Ing the Me"'j&, IC,11). try of 310'r OMPrIT1,12, he Step, based f acterm- - xcib, rage Means Spaced 1" . andfomad On the I I InIng by a s,,,, alfa, '7-QndjnCjaaj 40 ft Con",,111 - aSIO,j facill-l'-c'

phone e, f"'"ificIr ito,- 19 I'll op.,an. each h"fris 'am at ephon ng on and A,,,- Purer network to - e "Lunber Used by forward )racif, andjow, JaCibnile Staff? andja switch aparn;:W, the ~ - fly. both rd MeSs, r-v1dfi~gcfl,- a r call "Ched tele Atm. 4: mass Stara Cervir,gyro IY to of, ses. COUP& se Call Infend'df, "A itrAr, to the at ,art on - Switched Ing each

a store r 1, Machj~,,r In and . . telephone ffrfwO,*j, andlo,wo"Parecular C k ar - arsociared mtran ny J)qreft Jub,cn "111, 0 C 9 to of a Pa-7*U4,, call Ac4i' -6 )not*, Jac tin,/, '01 each 'pl,"al -

Ity. &C " er d",., 45 a Plural, - Message, store . "), vffacm)nii, pardCula, I arsignb, andjo,"'d 3, to be YpOlUe 1, th CtIng b y ofiwerm S,,b 9 to each 'Y facill durin 'rysiel, sabScrib, a mailbox ,,, edetep, - - Phone Srem , nine ntimb Scn;5e kbjCnh Z that pa 'A". m111d1d for telicoh, ep Wh, - PS a k,- ep of that pa . MCU4,P call to 44 vail, met a ne am& rein 'he diazz "ar derrinatio, tele message Incular jyxrenn e Maflbo~ Jag, received related t I er of each "S Of the uni I - jub associated Phone ' ephon, ~ajj 6 - Jystem m4bxcn que destilar,-Infe,dedfo 'CI7;5ep I her rendi,

on in the r those Ind with 0 rh ner-,,* ra eing .. . 'esoecat've PC fac,.iMil e PJaarl - one Ached Zy a S try Of Sto,

of the ap,4fo.,,,, In response , . rru r"Cular J)Wem sah"'.. e 14we at ,, Or C andfo "are a .1ific,

subjenh I'vil dfurr)", - rwatd er Ofrmnim . CtIo" e"s recei facm-re, " ." ved L1nC,A'd'ng the see, plural"ry of Marc Of the Of Ju6scrib lelepho., e ephon Slate 11dfi ' celving over flat $a er J Mailbar I'm M a Svit call, 6 - e C111r. each Call llwadlacililie, a bjc,yb . 10

Ored jorw. 56 er 1, 'A' Ile .4 e I noted at 55 re$aj, ex Switched I ..'a plaall - ry if eeft , J'a duclar'" by the - to one Of the ber, "W, f . or by elepho

of a 11ndir, dial . Switched r 1, Store and

'nrended,, an, in Cf, wh Ing one 0

e collon, ceivingf, 9 c ne numb n,jwO,4.

P,vW'd" Icird... an ". - I err f 1h as 149 at i,a,, fle e ginad, by each ' knl4ue

comlof're, in 0 e I . a' least On, IcCeivbv d. - 9 telephone call

such "'el

. vedcal"TS .1's M,awrx ",,ag can' for con, In.ff the I . at a', nng the on. - Conn

a 'co Of 60 Ormo Stn"4, ecrf~,, b pliag JIS 0 acillry having Me re Of th -0 Pei-RAo, e&78 made,

,e alelmeaft1hr isaff'sfam c Store and Jear, Ito on and If fravism'.,7 . fio e Ca"Carm,

~Ifchrd t 1. one Sea acil, de alo the Storage I, ... Fwardf...j . c1la". IngfacJimiltm, h . 0 ephon, a, jorw essa eachf," . Sages jr. ,on network f Ird facil - ges

, ,I'- on assoclarearjo . Imz

. le C Ines",ca

each IMI . Ifing 0, cc Ify to fit I nalicarit, Cs"nifir - Message fratimn

rdlits in e 9 the " Inc , iffed)5'm system ubcfb, I'Mile cf g facsimile I hin', me, fended anstnitri offelher h -Mac n it info P1 65 sima, rece"vin9fac,- -ag facsbyril, rMati" uralify Of ~rsisning , exx U"Ile Mach . machine I'd A'VxteM snbj,,,~, 0 receivim Cgessfordr - - Inc, and it,,, 'he Is 9 facjim 14 the

Ile M,,hj Ile Mach' Mass Storee me mIrralefac-es ar 1nes if th ans to n as intended

~~I,.:~r ,r ~"cCivrif 'n:6~iiqlucrbr riSr "o r,)

terrifies i,t~~u~ur~~R.�,~

-1.Q~l~CI

foi~cie/ ~/pile li ass o" ft e ESrn11 r~Fdr `r f":r~rs .

aiilr j~cr7rtt : ( oc: lrr v:eaI . rav, turr~Jtr ~ . ^c(rrdin "~'%i err r. .~=.~.ILnr~ Y f rr.�_, Ila

age rs. ~o~ 5~,.~ rrrcr~ri.~~~sL ."

. �~.'/ " U:~ c~ ~ur ,

~_oc'. R cry?y ahoc ~rss so

~ ~~~re d mAhir 3 an ,%rco ``r wiry °ans o ulI ia:iey 6U.

~oi : .irc . "esiemir ca.(( ~ °n

.~.,~ . . ..11 ~nrr'y~«. :~.xa.rmurrtc7ci.,ilr n~ ~°.Sfaerrirri/r Panrc;r! ~Q st°~'' urtC "`~frr.-1Ti~NrrrG'vrufY

rprscG~ii 910th, i`rtca3e whrclr(~ mrrra,Srfn.~t~r6=r~L~~ . . L~ mrrirri~Vlc(~`ritrriir, State 7 co Jrd °-~ be , /uc.rl. .; ; . and f ~^''aid I~c?+n'8< a nre rsJccrr-file

;~::r,;t . ~,~ ?~ :'`Jriry . ~Va~$l~crtmilr~much ~ac~rine uird

m:utrcar~ort.r

message, d ` r fhe¢r nn~`~'ti+os

ix t ~~o! V33 Q~~cori ~ ~ ~ .,'ar o i~.~J~ra.iw ~~2~�

,sFo~ l~ryu` sr inc

.,/bn l s ~' ~hrfr , r rmaehh ~rir dpi; ed ~~° acrd ri ; or

ar~tiorr( �rQ~nQlor�,Q~ 3~ °oded nre:ta ndrd ,~~ef . ~ fit

./onrarJ ~~ Y ~n3 J C.r~ia! rr

~r r~7 ar~I'%n^ .huQ~~ra J7i :"esear S3iared y.rfhih~°lrheuQ9~~efr~m~he?ie~a(vafir. ~ ~~c

. ~ r~b:»s as nvy>rs, ["l nrq �russsoP«rrr

+n~nveert Method

,lor f o~~ ad r1e~I ~ i~ ~'rrolcr~~~~^e`°'ir,t L c~rcsrn~iesnr.socr'ar J~~an~'^~iri ~ lei.,

'+ore,;rRVO ~J~°r° artJ

°eP~ "rdir3 a~~ a~JGcrrhr~i/ernri e Ma c&. "~ c ~("i~+r"n~vc

"5i~r ~ ~acr I'M a ~1r~Mrraare~rQ ~3 ~~r~rf r ah~d ~~~ QIIa~ Sit,

S ogaPhrc Cl+.rali "raeh<ne, no q,rd ~r corians ransiaeini~ elxtire 10 3 tru~rnride ~^asr srn. q~facjliir

n~ "rlor ~ o~Rrol/n8It, p artVn each ac heSrr pj ~~ `QOred ,;r ~chi,ie, ,srdachrre Q~~ ~ art ~d~ arociQ rid

S fi~%~rcrQ~B°~".cfao F~ ~ <tsa~.~d~ Pine Mfr s opQ~~ l h ch neJ Q e ~trs J ~~°3

~ Q~~ir o finr s~ ~ednecsSQ i^3

nc ja:rliry~ sfrr r Wso a ~'~nsln~i~telep~ e rre ~ch J~ 8~ s lacsim~lec~iv~d ~h~l

c d w~ih the J~~d 'ecerv~rt~d ~ceivrR~r

- re ph e U(e~~.r e4rrrrh

eg hos o e!4 nd f °ffac-~ no °JQO b ~ ~~es f he &r~

~h r°Irhe '~c~.' °~ .""M.

°c`I ~3' destine

Y on, Snin a c'

,n� o h sk1f, in

e to ~~d~ r o~ he d aJinQ L3 ?ere ~ rr-d ~^°7bo.P rr�Q P °lsroRas~~~°r~~artd ot~~ ~~ ~ ~

and, ecl, air

~C f t er Ju ~t'S facsrnqQ° ~~ d I~ r 'qcludsTB 6h ~ JGci ~.iaJ o lt'~Puqylry of to ar Ir ~ eiBJ'n"+4he r°nb ti ~"Jthe ~ nin . ~r

d°dfarr !r 8 Over °v°r ~yrte .rto sto d ~ at one Opt, and nd by , . a K nee ~m a e q~ -TPrc,iv, and,/

,� Q~<< <PAa ~ ~ ~~ 1PJ+o~e Pe of cell

o r naQ d ~~li~Q~ as one ~ ~? o'f landjrrnhe arf B aced In Axe

b w~ 6 serf rr~,~mu~

'n~a~ar0~Qn"niyer,~~~1"'So+r~ruo dr~ep~h neuf ~f o~d mn~B~Iac,~~"es,Iccrr�file m~la~il~rte~PJ°f+rcei 'u'r~hx

~° rt8~++o

renaekr

~ 8 ~ ~rrB++m ' each

cow ~~9kd ~~ at*

40 6Y WitaiU+~ ,r P«r add ted i�e r~ ~

Sex 3'cru,~ ?~ ~bY nQ°�R8 or ~o !l e n t e

the jQB~J~mr~frht,rro,~ ~S~t1~Ph~~°n deiirg Call

rtI4Il2 Sf(iV, ~y OIart

ILi/It 1f0~ ~ SC~7btl~~Q7JJlOrq~~~ drank

~~ °an a's ~ storoB ~

fteaft irn;,8la dlorp.Q~ fQCall,

Made ascribe, . ~~ 'tc<i~""d ~nsf~n~~ fac liter Quo' L+rirasNrtr O ~a`~ J~ iler~,~~ine~ c~~ brn.~,en

Iran, Jor fQCi! 'saga ro flee erp ~Q~°i^P~d ,bs . dj+v ~oerir~ a+nu7r her nfIn'?

h~r~~ s~f~Blec: fa~e,,R ~ ~r ,oi'»rF ~d °5

8ro d g!! P~Sfac~fo~ ~ ~~~c °Q Co "M lean unrc arc oird ~rae6i ^rachin, °Phic a+ali c M ins

and fo~~ fccri~~~~ faes+nu7e mo '+asr ero

d u,ro,~~. far con~rof~aced l an "a ayd fo n'P+trir6 the r cxr

~~ w~s J~P4~i P ialr'yro Q~~Spf ly ~f ~~ ~'re

are id ~ Q<d r~"ded

Jo ~hfe~y faci~N o*~ ~ abases

h'"' ~nglec °'+d "~ehi s'~mil are le Sfvrri ~uc exx 011f

°wPlin °~QSe

rr~Lrriled J M! f~dr'~~~arrJ6c G ~t r~ ~ror~her T of he In", ~ ~s~~nile

as ro~ ~nni+rin87toe4~~° ~~~ ~ro,r

~bsc ber ~'° ° frtrlI~: br adirtaQ ~d ~h ° Into' ~d are Iaci chjQ~~v7esv8es ,,

wetly `nch s,~~~uliry olfocr In ~ l in t B J ended c! 8 rhe With she Q d J3 d ~i! me co,*, c+ad

ur8 ~f~~ojt~;,u°et~~hr~ B ia +n+r~3~fs~~R~srrr~sajo~~~

tlr lxr, D t, ,r,~ er� < N an i+ared

hY ~1~,~' J ~++af ~ urynBlocri~ j 'reci~rd ~~clo-d. Jucrrirule »~ n'arr f~o~d n'a~mn°r

the in~~ d ',arin8

In the ' S8, ~�hrerei

"~Cons. ~chlrte ~ ~d ~ facrLnrl ecei~d he ~a d "Tih ~6 r d d rc 'ndrd ,rc°8a Iac ~�, 7Ie~ ~ eP0 ~ ~°In

°~QrNt plop ~~7 Me /a

a ~a c�

betoQ r ca

Qn~wher

Iquely

~enn~y'°d wih',r e~ ~°c-Q~ wirl~h ~~deIaf~PJSom o~~J~°m

.rran ~ f ~ ~~~M ry0 a rho s ~/fph PaB 6 ° rd ° ~jon,Jayiv rtq~fon~~ a,y»' ch~e laciliy

~frhepQ~°,~4/ol~oh~~~hodtrlAho e~ nzne

US -1,994.9_6 C. 9

V paruCtdm'sysfrm Subscriber. and ,fire<(ing 6e « :rt!rr ,in:/ fon.rtnd frciliry, in response to tire dc:rnrtinin; nJ'u uculnr call to be a muilbu.r cc/! Lv ."ndrd %nr s pcrc~:iL ;r sZstrm siiLscribrr, u fi+csimile mrsta3e rea"ived <Lunn,, purtiCUfvr call to ;lie mailbn.c associated with that paric:dar system subtcrii"tr, and irtdudurq the Sttp of smriir, (rsdrtilr messages imrndrd fOr those purlcu(nr system tuhsc"ibcrs in their respective mailboxes, anJ(unher indnding :ha , Icp. in response to instructions rrcehed from a r:trem subrcr:ber, of transmitting facsimile messages srored'R that subscriber's mailbox to a facsimile machine Jrri;rra ;,"d G;r that subscriber in tire insiructio,s.

62. A method in accordance with claim SS, 60 or 6/ . including the step of retaining facsimile message. in the mass storage means for a Predetermined time pi nod aF,er .ruccessfid delivery of the facsimile messages to intended receiving facsimile machines, and. fit response to insrnic-rians received firm either the transmitting or receiving facsimile machines with respect to a particular facsimile message, the seep of renartsmirring that parricularfacsimile message to additanal facsimile machines.

63. A system for facilitating facsimile communications between a transmitting facsimile machine and at lease one intended receiving facsimile machirte, comprising at lease one store and forward facility, memrr coupling the at [east one .neon and janvard facility to the switched telephone network for receiving transmissions from n rrart,rmiainq facsimile machine, said store and forward facility including computer means for con rolling its operation and incfudu,v mars storage means far storing facsimile transmissions together with irtjom+ation identifying the trarcsmirring fac-simile machine and the at /east one intended receiving facsimile machine under control of raid compiler meant, said store and forward facility also including means cou-pling it to the switched telephone network for transmitting facsimile messages reared in the mats storage means to at (sort arts intended receiving facsimile machine, and wherein said mass storage means additionally includes mailboxes associated with particular system subscribers and wherein facsimile messages received and stored by the mass manage means intended for receiving jacrimile =Chime, associated with chose subscribers art atoned in the respective mailboxes, wherein said at least one store and forward facility determines if the telephone number sued by the .twitched telephone network to switch a particular calf to she store andjorward jaeiliry it a mailbox destination number or a telephone line destination number, and wherein, if said at (east one store and forward facility determines chat the switched number is a telephone line destination nuntber, raid store and forward facility dials the telephone line destination number and initiates an attempted delivery of a facsimile message received durng chat particular ca!( to a facsimile machine on the switched telephone network said store and forward facility being responsive to instruction received from a subscriber to transmit the facsimile met-sages mated is that subscribers mailbox to arty particular facsimile machine designated in the instruction by the subscriber, whereby a subscriber who is traveling or other-wire away from the fixed location of his facsimile machine may have facsimile messages intended for rtceipt by his facsimile machine collected, and retrieve them from any location where any ocher facsimile machine is smeared.

64 . A system for facilitating facsimile commurticarions between a transmitting facsimile machine and at least one intended receiving facsimile machine, comprising a plural-ity of geographically separated stare and forward facilities. with a plurality of subscriber facsimile machines in a

1v pur^i;J ; ;r .~t ;r~rpirit urea 6cur~ u.r.cud<Rtd with 0'r." a( said srnre ;nru'ioncurd f ialirier. mains cmipling each store ,md J~or.�anl I.:tiGry m die s-~ itched telephone network for rrc.irc :~ ;r, :-srv;s:ion; from any rrun;tnu;tn~ /ucsim:lr

5 vrud:inr d:.rr is associated ~ridi tack especa,e store and J;;nr,tri facility. rack of said store and for-vard facilities including computer meansfi:ir controlling its operation and including mass s:oraqr means for storing facsimile front. missions together with information idewifying the transmit .

iu :infnesimilr machine aid the at frost one intended receive iir ; facsimile machine under control of said computer means. each of said store anJ fononrdf¢uGties also includ-ing m:airs co«e7ing it [o she switched telephone network for dirtctf" r transmitting a facsimile message stored in the mass

i i srora3r arcaurs to an intended receiving facsimile machine if the intended receiving facsimile machine is in the plurality of facsimile machines associated with char particular store acid forward jaciliry, and for transmitting the stored fac-simile message to a particular another of the store and

.o forward facilities when the intended mceiving facsimile machine it in the plurality of facsimile machines associated wirh tlwr particular another store and forward facility, and wherein said mass .manage means aloe (east one of the store and forward facilities additionally includes mailboxes asso-

=5 citified with particular system subscribers and wherein fac-simile messages received and stand by the mass storage means and irtrended for receiving facsimile machines arso-ciared with chore subscribers arc ,reared in the respective mailboxes. w .°errir, at least one store andfo,warajacility of

la said plurality ofston and forward jacifirie: determines if ehe telephone number used by the switched telephone network to switch a particular call to one . ojihe said store and forward facilities is a mailbox destination number or a telephone line destination number, and wherein, if said one snore and

75 forward facility determines that the switched number is a telephone line destination number, said one store and for-ward facility dials the telephone fine destination number and initiates an attempted delivery of a facsimile message received during that particular cal! to a facsimile machine

+o art the switched telephone network raid store and forward facility being responsive to iresnuctions received jrvm a subscriber to transmit the farsunile messages .reared in char subscriber's mailbox to arty particular facsimile =chime designated in the instructions by the subscriber, whereby a

45 subscriber who is traveling or otherwise away from the fire-,+ location of his facsimile rMCkine may have facsimile mes-sages intended for receipt by his facsimile machine collected and retrieve them from any location when any other fac-simile machine is situated.

So 65. A method for facilitating fac:irtrife communicariorts between a transmitting facsimile machine and at (cast one intended rcceivingfatsimi[emachint, comprising eke step of providing ¢t (tart one store and forward facility having computer means for controlling ice operation and having

55 mars stomge means for storing facsimile messages. cou-pling she err (serer one store and forward facility to the svirched telephone network for receiving facsimile mes-sages from transmitting facsimile machines, recording received facsimile messages in the mass storage means

60 together with irtjormatian indicating the transmitting fac-simile machine and the intended receiving facsimile machine, and transmitring,(acsirrtile messages stored in f ire mass storage means to intended receiving facsimile machines, and including the step that if ax intended rrceiv-

65 irtg facsimile machine is ' busy or otherwise unavailable 10 receive err the time the err fear one store and forward faci(irv auemts contact to transmit a facsimile message, of periodi-

US -4 .99-1.92-6 C2

d 12 rnlly rcrrvurg to transmit e facsimile nrcssu ";r r,, ri,r nr<"ss.i ;r r" hr rrnrt,"irqn' focsrvnilr muc!urte confim,in ., mtcndrd rtcrivin.4 fitcsim(r machine. and tire st :p . ucf "n doli~rrv r~/ d:r trunsmissirn ru rife LunrJrd rtctiviq+ successful completion of ,t facsimile trarvrti;sinn to un sirrtifr m.ti!!:nr. m;,( fi,rtl,er irrh,Jin? the step of rttairtin~ irt(en<(iJ rCCCirrn ; facsimile machine', of 7ruC:~qi~;in~ n f..rcP: ::dr rriMtyts m the mri: ;rora~~i means f7r a Prr(/" message 1n the transmitting facsimile machine coqrinrtDr,' 5 rrnrtined amt period ajicr success,-:d dtlirer) of the fuc~ delivery of the transmission m drc intended receiving jjtc . siortilr messages to intended receiving facsimile machines . simile machine. and further including the step of tsrnblisG- . . . id. in response to Lnstnrcrions received from either fire mg a linked queue ire the mass storage means spooluiq all rransmittin~ or receiving machines with respect to a par. a:orrd fxcsimilr messages Lrtendrdfor a particular recriv- dc:Jur facsimile message, rite step of rerr;.n:mitring drat ing facsimile machine, mid transmitting all the

spooled io paricular facsimile message to additional intended rccriv~ /7crimilr messages intended for (Far paricuLrr receiving iny facsimile machines . facsimile machine upon successjiJly making contact ~~idh tire 6 .4. .1 method for facilitating fJCSmilr communications intended receiving facsimile machine . Grn, ren a transmitting facsimile machine acrd at least one 66. ,4 method for facilitating facsimile rommuni,crio;is urrcr,drA receiving facsimile machine . comprising the raps between a transmitting facsimile machine and at !cast one Is of providing a plurality of store and %oncaro facilities ¢: intended rcceirinqfacsimile machine. comprising the step of geo;ropluaa(Ip spaced locations each having computer providing at least one stare and forward facility laving means forcenrrolfingitsoperationandhavin3mas.rsrorage computer menus for controlling ire operation and having means for storing facsimile messages. coupliqn each store mass storage means for tearing facsimile messages, tou- and fon, ard facility to the switched telephone network for p(irtg the at /tart one store and forward facility to the .o Goth receiving from and transmitting to a Plurality of fac-swirched telephone network for receiving facsimile mes- simile machines associated with each store and forward sager from transmitting facsimile machines, recording facility facsimile messages, recording in the mast storage received facsimile messages in the mass storage meant means each facsimile message transmitted from an nssoci-tagether with information indicating the transmitting f¢c- oted facsimile machine together with information indicating simile machine and the intended receiving facsimile 33 the transmuting facsimile machine and the intended rectiv-machine, and transmitting facsimile messages stored in the inq facsimile machine, and transmitting facsimile messages mass storage means to intended receiving facsimile stored in the mass storage means to intended receiving machines, and including the step that if an intended receiv- facsimile machines if those intended receiving facsimile ing machine is bury or otherwise unavailable to receive at machines are associated with the store and fcnvcrd jcci.'i'7 the time the ¢t least one start and forward jacl((ry attempts 70 which received the facsimile message from a transmitting contact to transmit a facsimile message, of periadicfa(y facsimile machine, or to another of the plurality ofsron and retrying to transmit the facsimile message to the intended forward foc(l;ries ifrhe intended rcceivinq facsimile machine receiving facsimile machine, and the step, upon successfiel is associated with the another store and forward facility, completion ofa facsimile transmission to an intended receiv- including the step that if art intended receiving facsimile i^8 facsimile machine, of transmitting a message to the 75 machine is bury or otherwise "available to receive at the transmitting facsimile machine confirming delivery of the time a :tore and forward fec(l;ry attempts contact to transmit transmission to the intended receiving facsimile machine, a facsimile message, of periodically retrying to transmit the and farther including the step, upon being urtsx,ctessfii( in facsimile message to the intended receiving facsimile making a transmission to an intended receiving facsimile machine, and including the step, upon succertfu! completion machine, of transmitting a message to the transmitting ao of a facsimile transmission to w intended receiving fac-fatsimi(e machine indicating that the message has been simile machine of transmitting a message to the transmir-erttendinto themass storage means atrhestore andfonvard tingfacsimile machine,either directly orthrough another facility, and at (cart also indicating in the message the store and forward facility associated with that particular moron for a delay in successfully dertm,(tting the message transmitting facsimile machine, confirndrtg deliver of the to the intended receiving facsimile machine, as transmission to the intended receiving facsimile mach :rtr,. 67. A method for facilitating facsimile communications and further including the step ojestabli.rhirtg a linked queue between a rmnsmitting facsimile machine and at (east one in each mass storage means spooling all stored facsimile intended nctivirtg facrimile machine, comprising eke step of messages intended for e particular receiving facsimile providing at leatf one stop and forward facility having machine, mid transmitting all the spoofed facsimile mes-computer memo fps controlling its operation and having 50 sages intended for that particular receiving facsimile mass storage means for tearing facsimile messages. coy- machine upon ruccessfuly making contact with the intended pfing the at !cart one store and forward facility to the receiving facsimile machine. switched telephone network for receiving facsimile mes- 69. A method for facilitating facsimile communications ,rages from transmitting facsimile machines, recording between a transmitting facsimile machine and at least arse received facsimile mesra8ts (n the mass storage means 55 intended receiving facsimile machine, comprising eke steps together with information indicating the transmitting jac- of providing a p(uvrliry of stare and forward facilities at simile machine and the intended receiving facsimile geographically spaced locations each having computer machine, and tranrmitrirtg facsimile messages stored in the means for controlling its operation and having mars storage mass storage meant to intended receiving facsimile means for storing facsimile messages, coupling each store machines, and including the step that if an intended receiv- 60 and forwrd facility to the witched telephone network for ing facsimile machine is busy or otherwise unavailable to born receiving from end trwsmirring to a plurality of fac-recrive at the time the at (cart one store and jorsvardfa<iliry simile machines associated with each store and forward attempts contact to transmit a facsimile message, of pen- facility facsimile messages, recording in the mass storage odica(!y retrying to transmit the facsimile message to the means each facsimile message transmitted from an ostoci-intended receiving facsimile machine, and the step, upon 65 aced facsimile machine together with information indicating succestfid completion of a facsimile transmission to an the transmuting jnrcimilt machine and the intended rcctiv-inlended receiving facsimile machine, of transmitting a ing facsimile machine, and transmuting facsimile messages

C2 ile """,mission

-1 -,jou Of , flacsIm of 0

ssj~,j machine.

of ram .. ... . le ,,hire . tire "I I

-ving fa,"all M".hj" C1.1 P "c5so "0 fill, Mll i "'n, ,

, -r, , 'i", s"

i,r J,d rcce, esimile . . - . , ,,~ . file Jr 11 1 . ') the 310 arricular "it life

Va"SlUrEll.i: fa rec C, "

. , 11, 1 d for a P a,ren e Iter, -

mission 10 he r~ ,I'll We md, hwe. essage ana 1~ I e 5 , , ; .

,I'll ery 01 life er ' 'CIE, 11 & irllrl~l

C ., nz I 1 1, received by a I andP~~ IN achime .1

rom a ir Z ll~ , I

... I ~, " In mail f"'imile dive 'C", I 'hal fact ddj;iC

of a facs", d , qv daerm a', a, file sayne fit it ",ittnel I Elf qtteue for ofi,m", to I- . . . C Im -""S .

'ar~ ? 3z . I ile es3age

It intended r,1111117 r it f,CLI L ded 10 0 of the message 'a a recc e in r e ass; 5 CCIF apper' (I delivered as Part .flat, machine an ile 1111"ne' is being des? It one Vi ile messasit n icr,l r1l, 5 cidar flies" unicczriOM3

74 . A method for facilil's" It c ine n 11? . I hot Pon' 'le Comm

5,illins files, sin se.rl ra".1", . Callon ll,tr I I it"10,1111i; facszml i at leas? On'

Cram e C 'S .,,I,od for , chi" Can b'(We life -cc "' - d mile ma ving facs"' . , and fon,ar fact 11z' tire r ""smanng fac"

comprising file Steps ded reCEI aj Star machine, at ,n :e,,

'idin. a piurali[Y lo,alEons each ;,BEng Camp bend EfOrt 11 jacsimlie ro s:oragl~ , d Meet' It's , riry of store and fill"O'd f"'callmllesner Of P aced and having 15 1 ra~ ch having

.geographically SP - Operation cc . . pli,g CaCh stole ,, idill g " P " locations ea a,$ storage

meat's for C ... rolling Its , I far of P h,cajlv Spaced . and having . lo"j,ile moss' Vs . e,,Irk vograp . .'s P"atton . each Siam

'neasis for slonng ' I e swilched telephone 9 trolling I es COUP11"s

fanva,d facility to I I . I to a pinrafiry of fac- meansfiror con . It me5SELg - .... ork, for and d t,"Smt Ling aid fonvard far staring facs,ml - hed telephone means .1 . 101 he 'Ore 1,raiiry Of PC-both necfmms from " . d with each . "" ,ass storage d janvard J'ac' try 'mirring 10 a 17, and forward achine, assoclare , ,Cording In the It :I' an . . from and (Mil .

h each Store simile M, . I, message , tramsnitzedftom an tearing both., receiving -iated wit . he mass storage facility Pf" - He message ind machines asso, recording in assocl-means eacl, fiscson, th information IV- SIMI e 'it messages, a,,sinined fro'

facsimile machine logether.wl and the intended Me facility fill . 1, message r .

h i fornication indicating ,red . .1, machine . Ile messages each f(ICS'n' other -91 1 ded recet"' illinsfacs'n" i,,i,g facstris, Means . .1 "achine 109 . and the Won ,he 'ra"Sm hine. and trans intended receiving ateldfitt fit machine . 1 -1, MC350903 . le mac facssm,

ins jaclunt ass storage means to cSimile 15 Smilling fac'"m LIMA ng Stand! in he M. if those intended

receiving fa the from lachine~ and 7= to intend . ed recil."'

fle d forward facility ingjac,imile m into . .3 fiaclil,, 'no it th, store Ort transmitting mass Storage . dcd M4:"Vt ,,,rd facility "'j ile 3 ate ille riss if from a S,Onrd in the if those out

Chinos a and . -le machines fort and for milling ' '

i e CSI p1,ralirY0fJ`OM JaCSIML ted with the 5 from a trans which rec ve I or It I,,,Chime himes are at .,if, m,,33age

I'll, If store and

in,, or 20 a acsimile ceivinglacsun' .1 . -0 mac .,ed the fiscs' her of the Plura I I e inten e Ed fact IN' ' hich neco' r to afro" i,gfacs' "I"Mach"'t rwardfiacilines I I " 31 and fo.rw4 . i . -1, machine, 0 jed recrit

m u a . I , an Ving facs,ml f f1csomil ritard facility, . to it . in into led rece, . at the .1 . .,,if the into" re and for . .1

,wctd t 1 0 receive in . other sea .,ins facsim" e is a ins the Sit I liable r for,vard f0c, h th includ r a e i3d is contact so traniMit is associated w1f

e an ded rec"'recei" at the machine is re P if the that if an inlen

a Cliff to frans"m unaVoilable 10

facsimile 3 5 including

. the Step therivis, is Comfort fO tn"ns'"ll

time asto icall retry's. machine Is busy Or 0 zirdfacifiry affemp ryff; to tra,,smit the

a 31 je ssage. 0 P' ,Lomded rece "v'"COMpleriOn a Store andfor", -odicallY met e 10 the successful time Of Pen . ving f

. -1, message, h ,,,,dcd rel - f"C'fe"nialen acs, I es . so ;tEp, upon ded mece"r'nil fac' facsimile to f e C, succe,441 camp vici ins 1 12 ".Chime. an 'S ission, 10 On intern the fuil .,fit message the step, up message 10 jacst of a

Jac'i fit I irring a or through

am . other and including .

to an "maerlded receiving foet'

-si -le Lie file, 0 1 in, either direclil tar 10 machine' - mile erainsmisjui ,

n message 10 'he transm" Mi M fing a h another

mile d wich Ihaz Pon'C" of a facsL of transmi d-rcjfy or thimilig . lar ring cili assoc"'"' delivM Of 'he . ilg machine, . .. either 1 . d 'ilh that por"C', to .d fo a Sim . ife mochin~ S re ~hjrl CO.

'firill machine' ling Jbics", iffy associate CSj ac vittis firtc."n" rd delivery of 'he 17W"M,Znng ied recet L, message and jorwa fact chri,uti confir"ums . -je machine,

Sion 10 lenj Ion receipt of a facsiIT

Store . Ue ma I -vig facs1ml .

t e S up hine, Of immediately 45 rra~,irringfacsun' - ended We' a an addinfOrEad Cl Ins slimile mac

to an intend . ed Ission to the Ins that who] c-c tMasmit receiving Its

full I -to "nessage ludi's the step lar .1 . a, off 0 the facsirels. the MCSSE`3

, is being and junher Inc - ,.tied for a Pam :z forward fac' "Y mile message in . led is rece;v by a Vore -,h that panicsda~r affemprivis hine of he same nine ficsi~ hine e Is receiving mac mass storage means, . If, caun,,ificarions WE simile Mac in COMMI'nic 0 Si ild enwas and at least on,

hill thorcfac"i"y IS the addino ep rticular

recorded in the Ritasing It"C"IM! method far fact . ile rmarchusit f 50 w . C Ine, ue a a 75, A ransminingfiricsIml _ , comprising, the SfeP.O iacsirillile essagg I CO arnica-

between a I .,.-to lell in - iliry havzmg fac"i a I too or

. factE nd forward fist; immedi I five unicarions fen C. at It me Store 0 rartion and having n .

ne . c Lie least one in r controlling I- -r - .1, messages . cou, lion W, I If a iii :a C d at CO uter E , sforing fac-'Im" 3cilily 10 he elho or Ue C ine . r step Of

S 77 . s in , If and forward f, Mile mes- 51 air 5 fle hine, Camp Nry having star a', store -,i's jacst berweeM . . acst CT I

I e at It I rk for rectil ,coding d Colvin ne SIC ope having " me 0 . .1, machines, Intent 0 on

itc: r 11 iffing fac"', mOSS storage mcfs provi i's at COLE, IN in the illing jac- qr C0111 I'S - messages .

me fa'strME . I .fy to the $a es fit , as" the prans" cornpuler ' ear"S for Sion forward files I

ceive 2C3 It . on i'dicall"s facsimile S storage in d facsimile mes-

,,set or it an the intended rece"maig,al in the 60 "ass least on, Store an iving to pling he a rece -I, messages S, t h c rof,,,ork for chilies, assigning machine g JECSUM facsimile ,Red reRP an - jOcsintile Met Simile Living

om subscribers and tranmutrIn . nded rec wl ailmil"'t the dialing so Into sages from tr f a plumlily of Sys, machine- mt,nded recolv' 'ber 0 herein Storage "tons if "bscrt number w 'ass d including the Step half an I unavailable to Ch system telephone Lumber of 1L`ch,,SY,S,',,',

machines, an or otherwise ea, . jor,ardfacility, a ,,q,, de'rill4no -on telephone IT

ins facsimile machine is busy e Store and - 65 unique destiman ,he related 'EflePhorle CO

e the a, leas' an _ It message. of Pen of the .

receive as the I'm 0 transmit a ffc5un' message 'a the subscrTber results in

contact ' , he filicsimil" ,a fran3m, h-~, land the step' "Pon

ridicallY re"Y"'S . le WC I acsiml

US 4,994.92-0 C2 20

urin file originating telephone call cani~cc:Ln+s. inri^n :r~J ire tirinf tcsimiit

m,xhin<t rrn~rp~':tin ; :lie step of

rtctivin~~ d y .' al d~c nr East one store ad forward facifin'. /r"~tuni/t pro% i,li~r ; «r Itus : c ~+r wart anjl 1%'nLnnl

%acilir,+ hn~'in,

<ra "cs from a vaumiiurtg f ~csimift machines rec. r~'i~r, i.'ir,F idtr i ":n'+ns J'-r ronvoflG+7 <:s ~~p~'r~~ri!'^ (2»d ha vhrv

rrt~ . S l rt"ccired facsimile Messages

in the mass s .'oru;r n::ars mass s :~: ~r ;~ '~~~''~'~' 1'~r 'tom?" (nitnnik ~~'ssd~rs. cou-

rog<<i,rr ~" i :h inf"~~nrinn iudi~aging the irm,srrtirdrt ; J~~~~ 5 pliny the au lea st ~~~~ t~ure a+~ f Jbn~urd facility w The

simile macfune and the intended rcceivin; facsimile s,,irchcd jrlt,hont nen,ark for recrrnn; facsimile mei~

machine. artd transmitting facsimile mestagrs Stored in

the sages from troll, facsimile machines, recording

mass storage means w inrrnded receiving facrimik rcarIeJ facsimile ~~?issa;er in 'lie mass storage. means

infencnrien indicnring die transmitting Jac-

mtuhirtrs, and including dot step that fan intended recriv- together I~~i :h nttndrd tccavirtg facsimile

ing fetsimilr machine is busy or orhrrwile u^J°°°'aGfe m 10 simile machine and the i

receive at :lit rime the at (cast one stare and fonvar~! Ja«<irv receiving facsimile

auempt .c con~au ~o transmit a facsimile messa.ie. Of pert- machine . and vansnurur; facsimile m<ssnqrs

reared in the

odicalty rev~~in3 to [ran5mi( tht facsimile message to die

mars ster<:~e meting to intended

in~endrd receiving facsimile machine . and the seep, upa~ machines . and includin ; the Step that if,, intended

receiv-

tuctessf~d completion of a facsimile transmission to art

ing jacsinulr mnchi.,r is bur or othen~isr unuvailaolt to

irtrertled receiving facsimile machine, of transmitting a ~5 receive at the rime the or !cost one store

andJonvard fanliry

message to tAe transmitting fac¢imile machine confirming

artempts conic m Transmit a facsimife Message. of peri-

d<livery of+ht Transmission to the intended receiving fat- odically nerving to transmit the fatsimife message to [he

simile machine . and further including the step. upon being iniendrd receiving facsimile machine,

and the step . upon

unsucttss(ul in Making a Transmission. to art intended suctetsfi~l completion of a facsimile transmission

fo a+~

nicer facsimile machine. of transmitting a message to .n

intended receiving facsimile machine of transmitting a

the transmitting facsimile Machine indicating char the mes- Message to she transmitting facsimile

machine confirming

sage hat 6ern entered into the mast storage means at she delivery of the rransrnissioti to The

intended receiving fac-

siort and forwardfac~l+N" and CC least alto indicating in the simile machine. and further including

the steps of determin "

message the mason for a delay in successfully nwsrnudng ing by a stare and fan~ard fac~liry" based on she telephone

the Message to the intended receiving facsimile machine . 25 number used by the switched

telephone network to swath a

81 . A method for facilitating facsimile communications particular toll to the at !care one tore and

forward facilip~.

berwern a vartsmitRng facsimile machine and at least one if the panicu(ar call is a Mailbox call intended for

intended receiving facsimile machine, comprising the step of particular rystam subscriber, and dinning

by a 111" c^'-'

providing m least one Start and forward facility hn " ,^^g fo iurd fact (iry, in response to the denrmining of a

computer means jar controlling its operation and having 30 ricular cal( to 6t a mailbox coil intended for a particular

mass Storage meant for storing facsimile meuager, cou- system subscriber, a facsimile message

received during that

pling the at least one scan aid forward facility ro the particular calf to the Mailbox 2ssaciared

with chat particular

twitched telephone network for receiving facsimile mss- system subscriber, and incfuding the step, upon

bring unsuc-

sagts from transmitting facsimile machines, recording cessfiJ in mt+kirt8 a Transmission, to an intended receiving

received facsimile messages in the mass storage means 35 facsimile machine, of rransmirtixg a message co the trans-

togerher wish information indicating the trartrmitrirtg fag- evincing facsimile machine indicating

char the Message has

simile machine and the intended receiving facsimile been entered taco the mane storage means at the store and

machine, and transmitting facsimile messages stored in cite fonrard fnciliry, and of !case also indicating

in the message

mass storage means to intended receiving facsimile the reason for a delay n suceessJufly varumi+dng the

machines, and including the step that iJa+n intended receiv- ao message to she intended receiving

facsimile machine .

;nq facsimile machine is bury or otherwise unm'ailable t0 83. A method for facilitating

facsimile communications

receive at the time the at least one store anQ forward facility between a tr'm+:mitting facsimile

machine and a+ least one

attempts contact to t'vnsmlt s futs~~° message. °f pin

intended reteivingfacsimila machine, comprising the step of

odicalh retrying to transinsit ~ ~~ile message to the providing at lease one .nave and jan~'ad

facility having

intended nceivin8 faes+~ut~ machine, and the seep, upon 45 computer means for controlling its operation

anti ha~i-^3

. successful Completion of a facsimile transmission to art mass storage means for storing

facllmile messages, cou-

intexded receiving facsimile macltine, of rro^sf^+Rirtg a

plirtg The or least one store and forward facility m the

mcssagr to the +rans^am"8 f~~le machine confirming svirched telephone network

for receiving facsimile mcs-

delivery of the Transmission to the intended receiving fag-

sager from Transmitting facsimile machines. assigning to

simile machine, ,anti fru!itier including the steps of receiving, so each system subscriber

of a plurality of system subscribers

Of G .fiOrt P7IdJv~'~lQ~rtry'~m a Transmitting facsimile a unique destination telephone

number, wherein the dialing

addressed by the transmitting of the unique destination telephone

number of each system Machine, afacsvnife message facsimile machine to a non-subsc^ber,

searing such non- subscriber results in the related telephone calf being

subscriber addressed message in mass storage together with switched by a swathed rel,Ph°^°

network to the at least one

she respective non-subscriber addr~sr" °^d initiating by n 55 ton

and forward facility, receiving over time at the first

sears and forward facility art attempted delivery of the Store andforwardfaciliryap7umtiryoJtelephartrealls,each

received message to eke respective non-subscriber address, cal! of said plurality of ielepliona ~a«+

being switched ~o she

and further including The step, sport being unsuccessful in store anti forward facility by the switch,

refephane network

making a tmrtsmi+rion, to an inrended receiving facsimile

as result of a tontine dialing one of the unique destination

machine . of transmitting a Message to the tran.cmi«ing so telephone numbers, whereby

cock Such received colt results

facsimile machine indicating that the message has been in an originating telephone call

conn~etian being ~r~

entered into the moss trorage means at eke wore and forward receiving during the originating telephone

cull connections,

facility. mid at feast also indicating in The message the at the at lease one store and forward facility, facsimile

,w,, for a delay in ructttsjuilY transmitting the message messages from transmitting facsimile

machines. recording

To the intended ieceinving facsimile machine. 65 received facsimile messages in the mass Storage means

82 . A method for facilitating facsimile Communications rogethcr with infommtion indicating the

transmitting fac-

6rfween a transmitting facsimile machine and at least one simile machine and ~hr intendrd

receivinv f~~~'^"~'

US 4,994,9:6 C3 26 ' '

( "si~ c5 . cnuPlin^y cr.[i : t~qrc rtted !.L'sinnld n¢rchPrc m.:fdiCr "nd~

nif7rtndtian indicalmg

d~r v:v~5rm ; :m :i jucsimilt mi~cliinr and dlc

intended receiv .

S7IIIIC m! S irt~'QIIS fa7 . , r

fOllalls

fact w d~c s~"'i~ihrd ~tfcphortr ~~~n " . . rl f~~r

11 ' ,; ~.Simil: Prtc~d«, It~ u,,, vans1 niuin;

J~~~t~mile mtssa;ts

w �j fon .n d j +Y

iartd wiJi rnch sw.c and f.mrnr,~

,:rn:d in d: .' mass s;"ragr n,raiZr m uvrndrd reca .~nS

recei ving from I)if I~dnSrttl[firt,C, fia 11 plun

:li :y ~~~:~~c~'

simile "IC rnhuzts iJ thr~5r intrndrd

receiving Jacsimilt (ucilirv fact bc~h recc~ .S f

hi+iis ossOC meSSa es. as5i, ",mg !o :arh S?'s :tnr s:d: . : f.tcsirnilt

a turaliry of system subscribers n uniqi<c ~trsn-

,, ;lines ire ~LfsucEumd'"~idi tile store and fan+ardfact

raliryoftrorcanJ facility fi~~si^°ilr S

number, .herein the dialing of tht un'y°` which received ~~~r facsimile

al (~'a~~ a 'rans~niuing

machine scriber of P

nnriort telephone r f°~>imilrmactunr,vrrcanolhtrofrHrp~u

te7e hone number of ends s/S~em s~~~'~~^~`'

lie related telepGOnr tall being s~crcchrd by a J~nrard fncili :irs if file

~n+ended rctavin,4 facsimile machine

des~inario~+ P

nnetwork to onz of ~Ht srort and Jbnrard i0 is associdrcd wide

tire anodrtr store and forward Jaciliry.

results « ~ s,vi~ched telephone

p the plurality of store and fnn~ard fxc

:lidrs . including fl, seep thrr if an iRt!rtdrd

receiving fncsimilt

Yin over ?line at one or more of the r+o"e mrdl~n°enl

machine is Essy or otf,envue unavailnb7r to receive a~

facilities f

facilities a plurality of telephone

calls. evch nail of said nmr "1itJrearnlfon°a^~faciliryar+emp~sconracrmvansmrr

facsimift

fiat ing facsimile rcce~ $

of telephone calls bring rvitcAed to

ane of d~r store a facsimile n:eisagt, of periodically Miry ~o transmit the

or,vnrd facility by tile switched

telephone ncn~ork as :5 J~+cs~milr message to die wended receiv

plurality

resole of a senders dialing one of file unique

d.fstinq :i0~~ machine. and including die seep. upon successful

completion

tefe hone numbers. whereby tack such received cal( resoles

of a facsimile transmission to an

founded receiving fac

and j o,-ward

in an originating telephone call connection being mode . simile machine. of transmitting

a rrtusage m the transmtr-

during the originating telephone calf corv~rcriai~s,

ring facsimile machine, ticker directly Or ""

delivery

another

rece iving at One or more of t~

store anti forward facilities. facsimile .o ware and fan~a~d

facility associated j d m~wirh char particular

meJSagesfrvmrrarcsmirtingjocsimilemacRines.recordingin transmitting facsimile

Machine, coning delivery of the

the mass storage M~~T s~h facsimile message trartsmi«ed

transmission to the founded receivirt3 facsimile

Machine .

frvrri an associated facsimile machine

together will, infor- anti furrhtr including the steps of eceiving, at. one or MOM

rnation indicating the iransrrti~rin8 facsimile

machine and sroro and forward facilieies,

from transmittng facsimile

the intended receiving facsimile machine, anti

cransri+ittin8 =5 +^nchines, facsimile Messages addressed by transmitting

rogethtr

~~S[rrzilr messages store in the mars storage

means to fa~s~mift machines to non-n'bscribers,

storing such no", 7,

receiving facsimile rnachinet if those intended subscriber addressed

meJSnges in Mass rforage together

receiving facsimile Machines err associated with

he store with the respective non-subscriber oddrase~

" and inirsarin3

~�d forward facility which received the facsimile

message by at lease one wore and forward facility Q+' aj'tmpir~

(rum u transmitting Iacsimile machine, or ~o

worker of the 1o delivery o~ tit nceivta messages to the respective non'

plurality of sore and for+vard facilities if the inrsnded subscriber addresses,

and fencer including the step, upon

receiving facsimile machine it associated �'«h

she another being unsuccessful in making a transmission to

an intended

rton and forward fa~Iiry, includin8 the step 1110' if an

receiving facrimife machine, of trensmi~°n8 a'"es'~B°

intended receiving J~similo machine is

busy Or othenvise the transmitting facsimile

machine. either directly

unavailablrtarcceivsarrhetimeasto'~andfonvardfacifiry 35

throughanorherrtorea+~dfo^"a^3~ariliryatsx~°~edwith

arrempu contact to trans tra+mnit a facsimile

massage . of P°^' hot particular rransmirtv~8

facsimile machi^e " vndicating

and ac !cast

odically retrying to rronsmit the facsimile

message to she drat the message has been entered into

the mass storage

intended receiving jacrimilt machine, and including

the means at one of eke store and forward facilities'

step. upon successful completion oJa facsimiit

rrianm+ission also indicating the reason for a delay ~

s~nss~ul~Y fronts,

an intended rtceiving facsimile machine, of

tranimuRrtg +0 mining the message to the intended receiving facsimile

a message to the t~a^s~iteng fataimils Machine, either machine.

dincrly or through another norr a+~d f°^"°^ifaciliry Oslo'

91 . A method for facili~in8 (acsin+ilr Communications

dated with that Porn" trm~s^um^8 f°~s°'°le

machine . between a transmitting facsimile rrmelW~t and °< <e°V

-sing ~ �

ePJothet confirm+n8 delivery f i~ inciudin the Step, iproviding

ntended tied receiving facsimile machine, Camp"

rm~smk

.re receiving csvnilemachine. a n df " nh

to the intended 8Pas o ap lu rali tyo

fstore and forward fa elide ~er

up on beingwsuc~ es sf~'1 i n maldn8aad'~T mi s sion ro ~geographically spaced Io cari onssa each tin8conW

i intended receiving uaimilemachine. of transmitting a m eansf°r controlling ino per

notion ndhaving ~^°ss storage

message tothetraRS 'itdng fa facsimi Machine, le

either mesas for storing ~~'"iltme ssa8et.

coupling each mored

ir ectfY or through anoth err roreand

f°rward facil itya ~sa-and forwar d facility torhcs

++uchcdre lcphone network for

da closed with thatp em~'i °r~~i~8facsimile m ac hine ,

soboth re cei v ingfrom ~ ~' ~ imngtoaplurality oJjac"

in dica dnS that (he mess age has been entered into

the mass airrtilem Machine, ocnoted with ea chs

toreandf °^`'a'd

trora gt means ato ne oft hestore and fo^"°^~Jac

ili ries,and facilityfa crimi(e ~rte ssayes.re co rdin gin t s to 3~

arfe usralsoindicating the m a sonfor a delay

in succe ssfull ymeans each csimite message s^~' ne dfn°m°^°

'fsoci-

transr nic cingthe message tothei rtrouted re ceiving fa csim ile acedfa csimile machine

t agrr herwithinj ormanoniad icarin8m

ac hin e.

55 thet'a`srru~8faesimile mac h+ "e°^dt~~ r~^ded

iv-yp, qme method ciliringfacsimile

communications ingfa csimile machine. antirran s'^~m^8t°

esv~ulem essa8es

between atransmitting . fa csimfacsimile machine and ae l easto One

stated in the most .,forage meant~oi rttsnd~d re ceiving

i nrendrd receiving facs^'i(eMachine,

comprising the seeps fa csimile Machines ifthoseoften ded re ceiving Ja cs imi7eof

p ro vidingap~ ur ~uliry °Jstone and Jo^"a'd f°c il

iriesatmachines anass aci ars d~~ with ewartantijo^`'°rd

Jiortand ruli ryof

raciliryeogroP

hicaf lyryacedlocations each

having computer sowAichreceived thefa facsimile message

fro^~at~" ~irtin 8

I� means trol ling itsoperation and having hav ing mast storage csimilemachine, or so an oth er ofth e p

means for storing f ~s"^i(eme ssages,

coupling each sore forwardfa ti lid es ifrhti n~endedrrceivirtgJa ctimi(s mac

hineand

forward facility tother witthedte telephone

network forisassociated with he another store a^dJ

both fro

including the seep that if an intended 2ceiving j

a cil iry.

mand transr . . .. nqt oastore anti

plurality f of fac-

forward f

simile machines acsoaar

onvard 65 rime Machine

a Machine is

store busy or

orhdfar+~'a^erw~se

ur'a''°i(ablt to receive a, (he

cd with etch

facility faesimife messages, recording in

she moss storage ifaciiiry attempts

contact to transmit

eachacsimile message tronsl^iued learn a^

Q'soci- a facsimile message. of periodically ferrying

to tru+umir the

US a.994,926 C. 27

facsimile message m the intended rrccivur, jnc ::wdk machine. and including tire seep. upon, succcssJu! compfcrL~ri of a facsimile vnnsmission m air inrenJrJ rrcci~in ; ffir-sirni(r madam, of transnutdirq a mrssa;r m Mr inursr .ru-ting facsimile machine, either directly or dirou;p airotLcr 5 store and fanvnrd facility associated with that particular transmitting facsimile machine. confirming delivery of tire transmission m tart intended receiving facsimile machine . artdfirther including eke steps of drttrminiqg by a ware and Janrurd fncilirv, bated ore the telephone number used by tire it) n.irched rdrp6onc nrnvork to switch a partiaJar calf m at (ease one wore and fonvard faciliry, if the particular cal! is a mailbox tall intended for a particular system subscnber. and direcring by a score and fonvard fndliry, ire response rr. the determining of a particular tall to be n mailbox call i> intended for a particular system subscriber, a facsimile message nceived during that particular tall to tire mailbox nssociared with shat particular system subscriber, and fiin rFtr including the step, upon being unsuccessful in making a transmission to an intended receiving facsimile machine. .0 of transmitting a message to eke transmitting facsimile machine, either dirtcrfy or through another store anti for-ward facility associated with that particular transmitting facsimile machine, indicating that the message has been entered info the mast storage means at one of the store and .5 fonvar+ifati(iries, and at least also indicating the reason for a delay in successfully transmitting the message to she intended receiving facsimile machine.

92. A ~ne:hod in ac.untv:cr with c,'aL% 99 or 20 a, inculdirtg eke seep of providing the stole and forward facili- 70 tier with means for receiving broadcast instructions from a user at a transmitting facsimile machine anti auociating chore broadcast instructions with a facsimile message received from the transmitting facsimile machine anti seared in the mass storage means, and including the step of Js rrmvmitting the trond facsimile message to a plurality of mceiving jacsimife machines in accordance with the brood-cast in.rrrucNons. either directly or through additional store andforward faci(itiet associated with particular ones of the pfurvliry of intended receiving facsimile machines. as

93. A method for facilitating facsimile communications between a transmitting facsimile machine and at (east one intended ieetivirtg facsimile machine, comprising the step of providing at lean one stun and forward facility having computer memo for controlling iv operation and having 45 mart storage memo far rearing facsimile messages, cou-pling the at 4art one store and forward facility to the ,Twitched telephone network for receiving facsimile mes-sages from rrmumimng facsimile machines, assigning to each system subscriber of a plurality of rytrem subscribers SC a unique destination telephone number, wherein the dialing of the algae destination telephone number of each system subscriber malts in eke related telephone calf being switched by a switched telephone network to the at (care one wore and forward facility, receiving aver rime at the first 57 store and forward facility a plurality of telephone calls, each ca[! ofsaid plumliry of telephone calls being switched to the riore and forwartifacifiry by the switched telephone network as result of a senders dialing one o/'the unique destination telephone numbers. whereby each such received calf results 6c in art originating telephone call connection being made, receiving during the originating telephone cal! connections, at eke at lease one store anti forward facility. facsimile messages from trw,mdrting facsimile machines, recording received facsimile messages in the mass storage means 6: together with information indicating the transmitting fac-similt machine and the intended receiving facsimile

-)g machine. ,end tranvrtit:irrg facsimile messages stored in tire muss sroraCr means to intended receiving facsimile mndru¢"s. and including tire step that if art intended rccriv~ irt; facsind(r machine is busy or aditn.ise unalnilaLle :n receive au tire time the at least one start nnJ fonvard Jucilirv at:crnprs contact m transmit a facsimile message. of prri-odicnlly rern~ing m transmit d¢ facsimile me: sage !o die inrrndrd receiving facsimile machine. and the seep, upon surcrssfid completion of a facsimile transmission to an intended recririnq facsimile machine. of transmi:.ing u message to tire transmitting facsimile machine confirming d:lirr~ of tire transmission m tire inierrded receiving face simile machine. and fi~rther including the seep of storing in tire mass storage means relevant charging parameters including number of pages, destination and special system %rarare options provided for each facsimile message sent by n subscriber and received by a subscriber from a non-subscriber. and generating charging summaries for sub-scribers periodically from the reared charging parameters.

94 . .l method for facilitating facsimile communications benvren a transmitting facsimile machine and at least one intended receiving facsimile machine, comprising the step of providing at least one stun and jorwant facility having computer means for cortrrolling its operation and having mass sromge means far storing facsimile messages, cou-pling the at least one store and fonvard facility to the switched telephone nenvork for receiving facsimile mes-sages from transmuting facsimile machines, recording received facsimile messages :n one mass slop L'6c . . .' . .:u together with information indicating the transmitting fac-simile machine and the intended receiving facsimile machine, anti transmitting facsimile messages hand in the mass storage means to intended receiving facsimile machines, aid including the step that if an intended rcceiv-irtg facsimile machine is busy or otherwise unavailable to nceive at the time the at least one stop and forward facility attempts contact to transmit a facsimile message, of peri-odically retrying to transmit the facsimile message to the intended receiving facsimile machine, and the seep, upon successful completion of a facsimile transmission to an intended receiving facsimile machine, of transmitting a message to the transmitting facsimile machine confirming delivery of eke transmiuion to the intended receiving fac-simile machine, anti further including the steps of receiving, at a store and forward jxilitx flan a transmirting facsi:. : :e machine, a facsimile message addressed by the transmitting facsimile machine to a non-subscriber, tearing such non-subscriber addressed message in mats rtomge together wish the respective non-subscriber address, and initiating by a store and forward facility an anemptrd delivery of the received message to the respective non-subscriber address. and further including the step of storing in the mare storage means relevant charging parameters including number of pager, destination and special system jearure options pro-vided for each facsimile message sent by a subscriber and received by a subscriber from a non-subscriber, and gener-ating charqrtg summaries for subscribers periodicaly from the stored charging parameter:.

95 . A method far facilitating facsimile communications between a transmitting facsimile machine anti at text one intended receiving facsimile machine, comprising the step of providing at (tart one store and forward facility having computer means for controlling its operation and having mars storage means for storing facsimile messages, cou-pling the at !cart one store and forward facility to the switched telephone network for receiving facsimile mes-sages from transmitting facsimile machines. recording

US -1 .99-1,926 C2

rccehrd facsimile mrstqqet?n the muss sm~uge mrnns from a rrunnnirtul ; frctimilr3mudune. or to nnodrer of the together with infbrmaden indicatirry fire trnnsnutrin " Iha plur,rlirv of store and /onL,trd facilities if the intended simile machine and tire intended receiving Jn.simdr ncci1 ing f,z,~urti(r Machine is associated ~virh the another machine. and iramsmirinq ftcsimilL' mesa'nqrs stercd in it,,, r:;,r, and fun~~ur<! fati(in ". inducting the step that i( nn mess storage means to intended receiving fis;imile c inrrrtd,d recrhing %,orsimilr mac6inr is busv or othrn.isr machLres.andincluding rite step that ifmrintended recrh- wmruifablcroreceive anl,rtime astore andfbnvardfadliry irtg facsimile machine is bury or odunvise umaroifcble m attempts contact to transmit a facsimile message, of pert . receive or the rime tire at least one store andfoncnrd/aciGrv odicn!!v rerryinq to transmit the facsimile message m the attempts contact m transmit n facsimile message, at ; crib intended rrcehing fac,;imilr machine, and including the adically retrying to transmit the facsimile message to tire w seep . upon ruccrsgid completion of a facsimile transmission intended receiving facsimile machine. and the seep, upon to an intended receiviriS facsimile machine. of transmirting succeaSfiJ completion of a facsimile transmission to an U message to the transmitting facsimile machine, either intended receiving facsimile machine. of transmitting a directly or through another store and foamed facility ¢rro . message to the transmitting facsimile machine con firmurq dated ~ridi that purtiadar transmitting facsimile machine. delivery of the transmission to the intended receiving fac- is confirming delivery of rite transmission to the intended simile machine, and further including the steps of drrrnnir,~ receiving facsimile machine. and/urtlrrr including the seep irtg by a store and forward fac;liry, based on the telephone of searing in the mass storage means rrlevonr charging number used by the switched relrphone nenvork to switch a parameters including number of pages. destination and particular call to the at lease aye store and jonvord fatil;ry, special system feature options provided for each facsimile if the particular call is a mailbox cal! intended for a .o message .rear by a subscriber and received by a subscriber particular system subscriber, and directing by a store and from a non-subscriber, and generating charging summaries forward facility, in response to the determining of a par for subscribers periodically from the stored charging titular call to be a mailbox call intended jar a partiaifar parameters. system subscriber, a facsimile message received during that 97. A method jar facilitinq facsimile communications parricu(arcal! to the mailbox associated with that panicufar .5 between a transmitting facsimile machine and at lease one system subscriber, and further including the step of ,rtorin3 intended receiving facsimile machine, comprising the traps in the mare storage means relevant charging parameters of providing a plurality of store and forward facilities at including number of pages, destination mid special system geographically spaced locations each having computer feature options providedforeachfacsimilemessaeesent 6v meanrF;rcaanv!lirtgi:soperariors anc'hxring ,r,; :aye a subscriber and received by a subscriber from a non- ;o means for storing facsimile messages, coupling each stun subscriber, and generating charging summaries for sub- and forward facility to the switched telephone network, for scribers periodically from the wand charging parameters. both receiving from and transmitting to Q plurality ojfac- A6. A method for faci/ieng facsimile communications simile machines associated with each store and forward between a transmitting facsimile machine and at (east ant facility facsimile messages. recording in the mass storage intended receiving facsimile machine, comprising the seeps 75 means each facsimile message transmitted from an assaci-af providing a plurality of store and forward facilities at ared facsimile machine together with information indicating geographically spaced locations each leaving computer the transmitting facsimile machine and the intended receiv-mtani forcontro(ling its operation and having mass storage irtg facsimile machine, and transmitting facsimile messages means for rearing facsimile messages, coupling tack store stored in the mass storage means to intended receiving and forwanf facility to the switched telephone network for 40 facsimile machines if those intended receiving facsimile both receiving from and trcnrmirting to a plurality of fac- machines are associated with the store and fvnwrd facility simile machines associated with each store and forward which received the facsimile message from a transmitting facility facsimile messages, assigning to each system sub- facsimile machine, or to another ofthe plurality ofsrorr and scriber ojaplurality ojrytremsubscribers aunique desrt- forwa'dfacilirietijtheintended neeiringjacsimilemachine nation telephone number, wherein the dialing of the Unique as Ls associated with the another store wed forward faci!i.^, : destination telephone monber of each system subscriber including the :tap that if an intended receiving facsimile rcJU(u in the relived telephone tall being switched by a machine it busy or orhenvise unavailable to receive at the witched telephone network to anti of the store and forward time a sear and jorwartt facility attempts contact to transmit facilities of the plurality of store anti forward facilities, a facsimile message, of periodically retrying to transmit the receiving over time at one or more of the store and forward so facsimile message to the intended receiving facsimile facilities a plurality of telephone culls, each call of said machine, and including the seep, upon successful completion plurality of telephone calls being switched to one of the store of a facsimile trarcrmission to art intended receiving fac-and forward facility by the switched telephone nrmork as simile machine, of transmitting a message to the tmnimit-nsu(t of a senders dialing one of the unique destination ring facsimile machine . either directly or through another telephone numbers, whereby each such received cal! results SS store and forward facility associated with that particular in on originating telephone ca!/ connection being mode, transmitting facsimile machine. confirming delivery of the receiving during the originating telephone call connections, transmission to the intended receiving facsimile machine, at ant or min of [he store and forward jatilitier, facsimile and father including the reps of receiving, at ant or more mertagesfivmtran,nnirtingfacrimilemaekirtes,recording in store and forward facilities, from transmitting facsimile the may storage means each jac:imile message transmitted 60 machines, facsimile messages addressed by van.murring from an associated facsimile machine together with fnfor- facsimile machines to non-subscribers, storing such rton-marion indicating the transmitting facsimile machine and subscriber addressed messages in mass storage together the intended receiving a facsimile machine. and transmitting with the respective non-subscriber addresses. and initiating facsimile messages reared in the mass storage means to by at least anti store and forward facility an attempted intended receiving facsimile machines if those intended ss delivery of the received messages 1o the respective non-receiving facsimile machines are associated with the store subscriber addresses. and further including the seep of and forward facility which received the facsimile message storing in rhr mars storage meant relevant charging param-

US 4.994.926 C2 3?

31 ci~al a urdt+u . drsinndun telephone nwnl~rr,

w)rcrtin the dinlin ;

ri~"rt including number o1 P Sts. drsrLrarion anJ 5p<

system feature upno,js provided Jar each fncsimd: mcss~ ,=' ~7 'hi unique dratimmon icltplim+t

numbcr of each syrttrn

i the related tcftPi�."ne call being

sent by R subscriber and received by a

subxrifxr Jean a subsi,ihrr rcsulls n

.eon-ruhsrribcr. mid grrrrrnring clmrning swrun:ri . :s /:. : r s .ritn, .d Ire ~~ n,~(trhrd telephone

ncnrerk n: the at (cast on<

subsuibtrs periodically fro n he stored rhr. :gur; i tmre and Jbn~a~~l fad(iry, rtceivnry over dine at the first

rturc ~~nd~on.nrd facility a pfurnliry of :elrpiione cells. each

parameters . 9.4 . A method for foci(<dng

faaimile comrnumcnriens caf! of said plurafiry of telephone calls being swathed to the

between a transmitting facsimile machine and at /cost one store nndfa'++ard fndfiry 6y the switched

telephone network

Intended receiving facsimile machirtr, Comprising the steps as result of a senders dialing one of ~~~e ~~~~i9°e

destination

of providing a Plurality of swrc and forward fadfid :s at i0 telephone nulrbcrs,

whereby each suds received calf rcsu6s

geographically spaced locations each haling compurtr in an originating telephone call connection being made .

means for controlling it optrauort and having mass sic, receiving during the originating

telephone call connections,

means for staring facsimifr messages . coupling each "ore at the at least am sore and fo~~'ard

facility. facsimile

itched telephone network for mtsrn.qrs fro", trartsmilrirtg facsimile machines . recording

and forward facility to the sw both receiving from and transmitring re

a p<«ralin' Of I~C- L> received facsi~rtile messages ur ~hr mass storage means

simile machines associated with each store aid fonLard together ~~" id~ infnrmadon indicating the transmittirt ; far

fa~;(iry facsimile messages . recording in the mass sroragr simile machine and the intended receiving facsimile

means each facsimile message trant+nitted from an associ- machine, and rrartsm~tfing facsimile messages

wand in the

aged facsimile machine together with information indicating mats storage means to intended receiving facsimile

the transmuting fatsimile machine and the intended receiv- .0 machines, and irrcludin$ the step

than if °^ intended rtttiv-

ing (atsimilt machine, and jra+~.md¢ing facsimile meJrages u,g facsimile machine is bury or

orherwise unavailable to

seared in the mass storage means to intended receiving receive at the time the at lease one more

and~orwmd Ia~rf'ry

facsimile Machines ~f chose intended receiving facsimile attempts can, acr ~o transmit a

facsimile message, of pert'

machines are associated with the store andJor+vard facility odically retrying to transmit the facsimile

message to the and the step, apart

which received the facsimile message from a vunsmudng .5 intended receiving facsimile machine,

facsimile machine, or to another of the plurality of store and succtssfu( completion of a facsimile rm"smissiort

farwardjacilidesifrheintended receivinqfacsimifemachine intended receiving facsimile machine of transmitting a

facsimile machine conjrming

is associated with the another store and forward faciliq". message to the transmitting

including the step root if an intended rrce:ving fccjbnife delivery of the tron.smirsiort to the intended

receiving fat -

machine is bury or Otherwise unavailable to receive archer )a simile machine, and further including

the step, upon nctipr

rime a store and forward facility attempts contact 10 m+xsmir of a facsimile message from a

transmitting facsimile

a facshxile message. of PeriodicaRy retrying to transmit she machine, of immediately attempting delivery

of tkefacSimi~°

facsimile message to the intended receiving facsimile message to an intended stowing machine at the same time

machine, and including. the step, upon successful completion

the message i3 being recorded in the mars storage means .

of a factimilt trartmssion ~a an intended receiving fag- 75 100. A method for facilitating facsimile communications

simile machine, of transmitting a message to the rran .mdt- between a trarzsmitting facsimile

machine and at least one

~ ;�y facsimils machine, either directly or through another intended receivin8 fatsn^'1° machine ,

comprising the step of

wart and Ja^"a^t facility associated with char

particular providing at least ant mart and forward facility Raving

rryrsmirting facsimile machine confirming delivery of the computer mesa for controlling its operation and having

transmission to the intended receiving facsimile machine , ao mass storage means for storing

facsimile messages, call,

furthsr including the steps of determining by Q store and p7ing the at least one store and

jorwad facility to 'he

forward facility, bared on the telephai^s nw+bo aced by rAe s»~irched t telephone nern'or kfo r recsirin gJHs mes-

switched telephone network to switch a particular cal( so at saga from travmirring facsimile

machines, recording

lea+t one store and fo^v~+'d J°tiliry, if the particular call is stewed facsimile rrmxsages in the mass storage means

mailbox cal! intended j° r a?°m~°r system subscribe, as together with information indicating the ~T^~i~'^g +°r

end directing by a store °ndf°'~^~~iliq, in response to simile machine and the inrmded receiving facsimile

the determining of a particular can to be a ma ifboz ca(! machine, and trnnnnirtixg Jocsimils

messages reared in the

intended for a particular JY.tr°^ subscriber a facsimile mars storage means to intended

receiving facsimile

message received during that particular call to the mailbox machines, and including the step tha+

if an intended receiv-

arsocated with that particular system subscriber, and So ins facsimile machine is busy or ochenvise +navai7able to

including the step of ocarina in the mars storage means

receive at the time the

at feast ores scan and forrvrd fac~firy

relevant charging parcmerers including numlxr of pages, artrmptr contact to transmit a facsimile

message, ojp~~-

desrinarion area special system feature opROns provided for odically retrying +o transmit the

facsimile message to the

each facsimile message rsnt by a subscriber and stewed by intended receiving facsimile

machine, and the step. upon

a tuburiber from anon-s. ubscriber, and genrrarirtg chars- 55 successful Completion

of a facsimiit vaumission so, ~

ins tummnries for rvbscrbers periodica!!y fron+ ~he stored intended receiving facsimile machine. of trmsT^ia^8 a

cing parpmsnrt message to the nuntrnirting facsimile

machine confrms^8

gq. A method for facilitating factimils communicariorts delivery of the transmission to she

intended receiving fao-

between a trm~smitd^S faai~rtile machine and at lease one simile machine, and furthsr

including the steps of receiving,

intended receiving/acsimi7e machine, camp ins the seep of bo at a scam anti forward facility, /tom a trnnmnitring facsimile

providing m feast one :ton and fonva,d facility having machine, a facsimile message addressed

by the rransmi+ring

,orrtpuur mans for controlling its operation and having facsimile, machine to a non-subscriber,

storing such non-

mass storage m~ ~j for searing Jacr~^i~e messages, cou- subscriber addressed message

in mass storage together wick

plirtg the at fears one trope and /onvald facility ~o the the respective wn-subscriber address,

and irtiriaring by a

switched telephone network for receiving facsimile mes- 65 scam and forward facility an attempted

delivery of the

sages front tro^j^'itrtng facsimile machines. aaligning 10 received message to the respective non-subscriber address .

ubscriber of a plurality of system subscribers and further including the step. apart receipt of a

facsimile

US 4.994 .926 C2 33

message /iom a vansmi«ing facsirnilr machine . of inunrdi~ nrcly attempting delivery of the facsimile mes.ru ;r to an intended receiving machine at the same time tire .nrr;u;r is being recorded in fire mass storage means.

101 . A method for facilitating facsimile commjmirariwis brnvrrrt ¢ transmitting facsimile machine and at least one intended rectiving facsimile machine. comprising the step of providing at least one store and fonvard facility having computer means for controlling its operation nnJ having mass storage means for scoring facsimile messages . cou-plirtg the at least one store and fonvard facility to tier witched telephone nenvork for receiving facsimile mes-sages from transmitting facsimile machines. recording received facsimile messages in the mass storage means together wide information indicating the transmitting jUC-simile machine and the intended receiving facsimile machine, and transmitting facsimile messages stored in the mass storage means to intended receiving facsimile machines, and including the seep that if an intended receiv-ing facsimile machine is busy or otherwise unavailable to receive at the time the at (east one store and forward facility attempts contact to transmit a facsimile message, of Peri-odically tarrying to transmit the facsimile message to the intended receiving facsimile machine, and the step, upon successfiJ completion of a facsimile transmission to an intended receiving facsimile machine, of transmitting a message to the transmitting facsimile machine confirming delivery of eke transmission to the intended receiving fac-simile machine. and further including the steps of dcuermin-ing by a store m`d jonvmd facility, bares on eke telephone number used by the twitched telephone network to switch a particular call to eke at lease ant store and forward facility, if the particular cod e a mailbox tall intended for a particular system subscriber and directing by a store and jorwartt facility, in response to the determining of a par . Mcular call to be a mailbox call intended for a particular system nbrcriber, a facsimile message received during that particular cd( to the mailbox atsxiared with thatparticular System subscriber anti further including the step, upon receipt of a facsimile message from a transmitting facsimile machine, of immediarely attempting delivery of Joe facsimile message to an intended receiving machine at the tame rime the message is being recorded in the mass storage means.

102. A mehodJbr jeei7iradn ; facsimile communications between a maumirtind feerin,1(e machine mid at laser one intended ierrivirtg JBour,ils machine, eempr;,f;rtg eke steps of providing a plurality of store mid forward facilities at geogmphical(y spaced locations each having computer memo for canrrol(ina ire operation mid having mass storage means far marina facsimile messages, coupling each store and forward facility to the switched telephone network for both receiving from anti trvnmdtring to a plurality of fac-timile machines associated with rack store and forward jatiliy facsimile massager, assigning to each system sub-scriber of a plurality of system subscribers a unique desri-nation telephone number, wherein the dialing of the unique destination telephone number of each system subscriber results in the related telephone cal( being switched by a switched telephone network to one of the start and forward facilities of the plurality of store and forward facilities, receiving over rtmt at one or more of the more and forward facilities a plurality of telephone milt, each cal( of said plurality of telephone calls being switched to one of the store anti jorwa,d facility by the switched telephone network as rcrult of a tenders dialing one of the unique destination telephone numbers, whereby rack such received cal( results in an originating telephone call connection being made,

means. 103 . A method for jaeilifing facsimile communications

between a rransmirring facsimile machine and m (east one 35 intended receiving facsimile machine. comprising the steps

of providing a Plurality of store and forward facilities at geographically spaced locations each having computer means for controlling its operation and having mars storage means for storing facsimile messages. coupling each jtorc

ao and forward facility to the switched telephone network for both receiving linen end transmitting to a plurality al facsimile machines associated with cock store anti fonwrd jaeiliry fucrimile messages. recording in the moos storage meats each facsimile message transmitted from an mJOCi-

43 aredfacrimilt machine together with information indicating the transmitting facsimile machine mid the intended nteiv- vrg jaetimile machine, and rmnsmitring jatsimile messages stored in the mass storage means to inrmded receiving facsimile machines if those intended receiving facrimAe

SO machines art associated with the trove and forward facility which received eke facsimile message from a transmuting facsimile machine, or to another of the pfumliry of.rrore and forward facilities ijtRe intended receiving jaesimi(t machine is associated with the another store anti forward facility,

35 including the step that if art intended receiving facsimile machine is busy or otherwise unavailable to receive at the rime a .store and jonvardjatiliry attempts contact to transmit a facsimile message, ojperiodically retrying to transmit the facsimile message to eke intended receiving facsimile

so machine, and including the sup, apse successful completion - of a facsimile transmission to an intended receiving fac-

simile machine, of transmitting a menage to the transmitring facsimile machine, either directly or though another stare anti for+vartt facility associated with that particular

65 transmitting facsimile machine, confirming delivery of the transmission to the intended receiving facsimile machine, anti fiuher including du steps of receiving. at ant or more

3-1 recririqy ,luring the originating releplronr call rnnnrctinns, at one or rrrorr of tire score and fnrnard`acifirirs, facsimile messages from trnnsnuuing fucsimilr machines. recording in tile mass smr,:ce means each facsimile me.rsa ;,r trunsmitrrd

5 from on associated facsimile machine mgr:firr uuh incur. rrtariorl indicating file transmitting facsimile machine and toe intended receiving facsimile machine. and transmitting facsimile messages stored in the mitts storage means to intended receiving facsimile machines i( thaw intended

io receiving facsimile machines are associated wide the start and jon~nrd J'aciliry rvhich received the facsimile message from a transmuting facsimile machine, or to another of the Plurality of store and fnnvard facilities if the intended receit Lng facsimile machine is associated with the another

IS start and joncard facility, including the tarp time if an intended receiving facsimile machine is busy or orhenvirr unavailable to recei veat the time a start and forward facility attempts coarser to transmit a facsimile message, of peri-odically retrying to transmit the facsimile message to the

'_0 intended receiving facsimile machine, and including the step, upon ruccesrful completion of a facsimile transmission to an intended receiving facsimile machine, ojtransmirring a message to the transmitting facsimile machine, either directly or through another store and forward facility atso-

::s crated with that partituar transmitting facsimile machine, confirming delivery of the transmission to the intended receivirtq facsimile machine, and further including the trap, upon receipt of a facsimile message from a transmitting facsimile machine. of immediately attempting delivery of the

30 facsimile message to an intended receiving machine at the .tame rime the message is being recorded in the mars storage

US =t,99.1,9?6 C3

3 machine. af~csindr message addressed by tire vansmiroqq scriber of a plurolirv of sysns subscribers a unique desri- facsimilr machine m a non-subscriber, storing such non- nrtuon telephone lumber. wherein the dialing of the unique tubscrihrruJdresreJmessagtinmass storage togahermrh dr.rtirtarion telephone number of each rvttem subscriber the respective non-subscriber address . and 6utiuring by a ~~esidts in the related telephone call being switched by a store nn .! forward facility an aramprrd delivery o~ 'the 5 switched telephone nrn.ork to one of the store wd forward received message to the respective" non-subscriber address, facilities of the plurality of store and forward facilities. and further including the step that when an additional receiving over time at one or more of the store and forward facsimile message intended for a particular receiving fac- facilities a plurality of telephone cal/s. each tall of raid simile machine is received by a .store and forward facility plura7iryoftelephone calls being nvuchedtooneofthestore while that facility is in communication with char particular to and fonv¢rd facility by the switched telephone network as facsimile machine. rite additional facsimile message is result of a senders dialing one of the unique destination immediately appended to a message queue for the particular telephone numbers, whereby each such received calf results facsimile machine and delivered as part of the tommunita- in an originating telephone call connection bring Made, port with that panicular facsimile machine, rtceivin ; during the originating telephone calf connections, /07. A method for facilitating facsimile communications 15 at oar or more of the store and forward jaciliries, facsimile between ¢ transmitting facsimile machine and at least oar messages from transmitting facsimile machines, recanting in intended receiving facsimile machine, comprising the step of eke mass storage means tack facsimile message transmitted providing at least one store and forward facility having from an auociared facsimile machine together with infon computer means jar controlling its operation and having mariort indicating rhe rr7wmirtrtq facrimils machine and the mars storage meant jar rearing facsimile messages, cou- 20 intended receiving facsimile machine, and transmitting fac. plirtq the at !cart one store and forward facility to eke simile messages stored in the Mass storage means to twitched telephone network for receiving facsimile roes- intended receiving facsimile machines if those intended rages from transmuting facsimile Machines, recording receiving fmcsimife machines an associated with the store received facsimile messages in the mars storage means and forward facility which received the jaerimile message together with information indicating the transmitting fag . 25 fsvm a transmuting facsimile machine, or to another of the simile machine and the intended receiving facsimile Plurality of store and forward fatifider if the intended machine, m`d rranrmitrirtg facsimile messages .reared in eke receiving facsimile machine is associated with the another mast Storage meant to intended receiving facsimile store and forward facility, including the step that if an machines. and including the step that if an intended nceiv- intended receiving jacsimi.?e machine :; bury cr ;, :he : i :i,r ins facsimile machine is busy or otherwise wavailable to 30 unavailable toreceive atthrtime astore and(onvmdfaci(iry receive at the time eke at learn ant store and jorwant jaciliry attempts contact to transmit a facsimile message. of peri-attemprs canton to transmit a facsimile menage, of pen- odicalfY RrryinB to trm~smir the facsimile menage to the aditally rcrryirtg to transmit the facsimile me:saqr to the intended receiving facsimile machine, and including. the intended receiving fvcaimile machine, and the step, upon step, upon successfW completion of a jaerimi(e nensmission auteertfu( completion of a facsimile transmission to an 75 to an intended receiving facsimile maeldnt, of trmumirting intended receiving facsimile machine, of nunsmitrirtg a a message to the transmitting facsimile machine, either message to the transmitting facsimile �,aChine confurrtirtg directly or through anorFtr store m'd forward fae;lfy auo. delivery of the rranrmisrion to the intended receiving fac- ciatrd with that particular transmitting facsimile machine, simile machine, and furthw including die steps of dttermin- confirming delivery of de trmsmutrion to the intended ins by a store and forwmd f6c;liry, baud on the telephone 40 receiving facsimile machine, and further including the step number used by she twitched telephone network to twitch a that when an additional facsimile message intended for a particular call to the at lean ant store and forward facility, parria,(ar receiving jacJimife machine is received by a store if the particular call U a mailbox cal! intended for a and forward feciliry while that fatiliry v in earrvnurtearton particvlm rytum subscriber mrd directing by a store and with that particular jaesun+Te machine. the additiorol fac-forward jmcilitK in response fo 1Fe determining of a pan 45 simile message is immediately oppendid to a menage guar: ticylar call to be a mailbox call intended for a particular for the particn/arjacaimile mathint mid delivered u part of system subscriber a fatrimife menage nerved during that the communication with that particular fae,irindle machine. parritulartdlmrhemailbox associated with thatparricular 709. A method for facififing facsimile communications rystern subscriber and further including dm step that when benvem a trmnmrsrtL,g foerimik machine and at host one an additional facsimile message intended for a particular so intended receiving fucrim;lr machine, comprising the steps receiving facsimile machine is received by a store and of providing a p(uruGry of store ad forward facilities of jorwa'd jaciliry while Jour jaciliry is in communication with geographically ,rpeced locations rack having computer that particular facsimile machine, de additions! facsimile memo for controlling its opemrion and having rnasi,rtomge message is immediately appended to a menage queue for means for scoring fccsin,i(e meuagex coupling each store the pardcubrjatrimile machine and delivered m part of the SS and forward foci/iy to the switched telephone network for communication with that particular fae:imi(e machine. both receiving from and mmmdtring to a plurality ojjac- /O8. A method for fatiliting facsimile communications simile machine associated with each store end forward between a rranrmicring facsimile machine and at (cart one facifiry facsimile messages, recording to the mast storage intended receiving facsimile mvchine, comprising the reps memos each facsimile mesragt maumirted fawn an atrxi-aj providing a PI-42171Y of store and forward facilities at so aced facsimile machine together with infornradort indicating geographically .spaced locations each having computer the transmitting facsimile machine and the intended Irceiv-meanrforconrrol(ing its operation andhaving mass storage ing facsimile machine, and mzramirting jatsimife messages means for storing facsimile message; coupling each store reared in the may storage means to intended receiving and forward faciliry to the ,twitched telephone network for facsimile machines if those intended receiving facsimile both receiving from and trwenitrtng to a plurality of fac- 65 machines am associated with the store and forward faciliry .simile machines auxiated with each store and forward which received the facsimile message from a transmitting facility facsimile messages, assigning to each system sub- facsimile machine. or to another of theplumliryofsroreand

US 4,994,91-6 C2 39

Jom ardfacilitirs if the intended receiving facsimile machwc is associated wide the another store and fonvard facility, including die step that if an intended receiving facsimile machine is bue'v or nrhrnvise unavailable to receive at the rime a more and Jorward/hdfin " attempts concoct m transmir a facsimile message . of periodically retrying to transmit the facsimile message to the intended receiving facsimile machine . and including the step, upon sNCCessfiJ completion of a facsimile transmission to an intended receiving fac . simile machine, of transmitting a message to the transmit- I ring facsimile machine. either directly or through another sore and fonvarti facility associated with that particular transmitting facsimile machine, confirming delivery of cite transmission to the intended receiving facsimile machine. midfiahrr including the steps of receiving, at one or more store and forward facilities, firm transmitting facsimile machines. facsimile messages addressed by transmitting facsimile machines to non-subscribers, storing such non-subscriber addressed messages in mass storage together with the respective non-subscriber addresser, and initiating by at /cart one store and forward facility an attempted delivery of the received messages to the respective non-subscriber addresses, and further including the step that when an additional facsimile message intended jot a pmt-icular receiving jacrimile machine is received by a store and forward facility while that facility it in communication with that particular facsimile machine, the additional facsimile message is immediately appended to a message queue for the parricularfacsimile machine and delivered as pan of the communication with that particular facsimile mac5ir.-

l10. A method for faciliting facsimile communications between a transmitting facsimile machine and at least one intended receiving facsimile machine, comprising the steps of providing a plurality of store and forward facilities at geographically spaced locations each having computer cocoa for controlling its operation cold having mass storage means for storing facsimile messages, coupling each store anti forward facility to the .twitched telephone network for both receiving from and transmitting to a plurality of fac-:imile machines associated with each store and forward facility facsimile messages, recording in the mass storage means each jacsimi(e message transmitted from an assxi- ~ w ~

JO ntrd facsimile machine rogrthrr,cidrinfnrmunon indicating the transmitting facsimile machine and the intended rcceiv-ing firsimilc machine . and vmumiuing facsimile messages scored in the mass rrora3r means to intended receiving Jacaimilr machines if chose irorertdtd receiving facsimile machines are associated with the store and(onvard facility which received the facsimile message from a transmitting facsimile madam. or to another ojthr plurality oftron and forward facilities if the intended rcttiving facsimile machine is associated with the another store and forward facility, including the step that if an intended receiving facsimile machine it bury or otherwise unavailable to receive of the time a store and fonward(nti(iry attempts contact to transmit a facsimile message. of periodically retrying to transmit the

5 facsimile message to the intended receiving facsimile machine. and including the step, upon successful completion of n facsimile transmission to an intended receiving fac-simile machine . of transmitting a message to the trartsmit-tirtg facsimile machine, either directly or through another

o store and forward facility associated with that particular transmitting facsimile machine, confirming delivery of the transmission to the intended receiving facsimile machine, andfunher including the steps of determining by a store and forward facility, based o ., the telephoine number used by the

:5 switched telephone network to switch a particular calf to at least one store and fonvarti facility, if tRe particular call is a mailbox cal( intended for a particular system subscriber, and directing by a store and forward facility, in response to the determining of a particular call to be a mailbox calf

7o in tenAed joy aperricular ryarem subscriber, a facsimile mes-sage received during that particular call to the mailbox assocared with tMr particular system subscriber, acrd funkier including the step that when art addiriond fatiimile message intended for a particular receiving facsimile machine is

75 received by a store and forwa7d fariliry while that facility in in communication with dear particular jactunilt machine, the additional facsimile message it immediately appended to a message queue for the particular facsimile machine and delivered as part of the communication with that particular

40 facsimile machine .

(To be scanned in place of tab)

EXHIBIT / ATTACHMENT

Background o! the Invention

The electronic transmission of documents by way of fac-simile (fax) systems employing public and private switched telephone networks has become both commonplace and, often, an essential component in many business activities . In such a setting, it is vary common for the fax terminals (fax machines) to be kept quite busy during a major fraction of the business day . Moreover, where sender end recipient erg in different time zones, the *business day* can approach 24 hours, particularly in international activities . It is common . . Lot tax users to 'broadcast' documents to s number of differ-ent recipients, that la, amend the semi message to several dif-ferent fax machines . It is also true that the contents of same Lard documents arm of such a sensitive natures that the oriql.iator cr addLesuaa mould like to have s measure of con-trol over who might see those documents as they move from the receiving machine to the hands of the actual addressee .

These circumstances present a number of practical prob-lems !or a fax user . In ardor to make a successful fax crane-mission it is necessary that the receiving machine be availa-ble at the time that the transmitting machine attempts to con-tact it . It the receiving machine la already in us* handling another message, the transmitter wail receive a 'buoy' signal . The originator's only recourse is to continue initiating tale-phone calls until contact can be established . This is a 'his or miss- process at base and can be very wasteful of chi orig-inating operator's time .

Some, rather expensive, fax machines have digital memo-ries which v111 allow then to memorize the document to be transmitted end to be proqraane d to make multiple radials in an effort to establish contact in an automatic way . However, this is limited co only one or two documents end, more impor-tantly, it sees up the transmitting machine until the effort la successful or abandoned . This is hardly en acceptable solution if that machine has other documents to amend or receive .

PARAO]3I9 .J

1329852 Facsimile Telecommunications System and Method

Field of the Invention

The field of this invention is telecommunications systems used in connection with facsimile transmissions . More specif-ically, chin invention relates to a system and method for enhancing ease of facsimile transmissions and providing fea-tures relative to facsimile transmissions not heretofore available .

13298? There are other conditions +hi=1 can result in a failure

to transmit even though a telephone =onneccion has bean estab-lished . Perhaps the moat common o! these is the absence of paper in the receiving machine . In each situations, repeated attempts co 'radial' will lead co repeated toll charges with each attempt, with no actual success until the receiving machine in serviced (whizh may be ecme time if the machine is operating unattended because is is nighttime half-way around the world) .

Busy machines which are destined to receive messages are affected by the converse problem . Since they and the prospec-tive transmitting machines must engage In (perhaps, automated) -telephone tag-, they are used vary inefficiently . Khan a transmitting machine gets a busy al;nal, even it it automati-cally radials, is can only guess at -when the receiving machine will be available . Thus, the receiving machine will likely remain idle for soma traction of the times until such an attempt is made .

The practice of broadcasting documents to a number of addressees obviously compounds these problems and adds still others of its own . Even 1! one dogs not encounter busy slq-nala or impaired machines, convenient broadcasting demands an expensive memory-type fax machine on the transmitting end . Such machines road in the document ones and thin proceed to automatically dial the various recipient machines . This pro-cess ties up the sending machine and its telephone line and makes them unavailable far incoming calls . This, of course, exacerbates chi busy signal problem for those unite trying co contact the sending machine .

The security of sensitive documents is still another problem . Ones contact is established between two fax machines, the transmission of the document proceeds automati-cally, irrespective o! who may be standing by the receiving machine at the time . In a bury Office, the contents o! these documents erg accessible to the tax operator and anyone else who happens co be in the vicinity .

It is also common for Individuals to wish to deliver fax documents to s recipient who is not currently available through a known machine (*q . a parson on a business trip) . This is a very inconvenient situation in rhea it requires that the paper documents be held until the traveler phones In from a remote machine . IC further requires that there be someone available at that time who has knowledge of and access to the documents intended for the recipient .

Still another concern is adequate accounting control over the billing of calls . Typically, many businesses wish to be

13? 985 2 able co crack the costs of both fax machine use and the asso-ciated telephone charges . While telephone charges can be ascribed from telephone company records, in the prevent envi-conmenc chase must be related to records of the number of pages transmitted per call and so forth, separately maintained by the fax machine or its attendants .

Summary of the Invention

the objects of chin invention are to address these many shortcomings of present tax systems and to provide an inte-grated system for their Solution . Furthermore, the intention is to achieve this in a way which is fundamentally compatible with existing fax terminal machines . The basic approach is to provide special computer-bead fax Storms And Forward tsei!i-ciea (5APF~e) as an integral pert of s switched telephone net-work system . All tax transmissions entered into the noeuork are routed to such a facility, typically geographically near chi originating machines, where they are temporarily scored or 'spooled' by the computer in a mass storage buffer, wash as a magnetic disk .

The fax message from the originating machine is intended for e. destination machine, which may or may not be in a posi-tion to immediately answer the sell . If the destination machine is within the service region o! that SAFF, the system then proceeds to to cell the destination tax machine . IL the destination machine la within the service area of a different SAFF, the system forwards chi fax document data co that facility by long-distance lines, in which case this sec-ond facility attempts to sell the destination machine . in either case, i! contest is established and the message is delivered immediately, the system directs a printed report back to the originating fax machines confirming delivery co the destination machine, and other pertinent data .

It, on the other hand, the delivery cannot be completed immediately dug to s busy signal, a machine fault (*q, receiv-inq machine out o! paper) ac any other mason, the spooled document is saved and the aysew sakes periodic attempts co contact the destination machine and complete chi transmission .

In the meantime, the system sonda a printed report back to the originating machines acknowledging rhea the message has been entered Into the system, indicating the reason the deliv-ery is being delayed, stating the protocol the system will take to deliver the message, and providing a reference number or 'Message Code* which identifies the message and may he used at a lacer time to trace chi status of the document .

i3-9.sa52 Placing the delivering spooling system geographically near the destination machine has the advantage of more econom-ical use of any long-distance linen chat may be involved . These linen are used only co move the message from the origi-nator co tie spooling system in the 7leinicy o! the destina-tion, which is virtually certain to be successful on the first cry . Subsequent attempts co contact the destination machine ten be handled mare or lean locally and need not tie up the bulk of the long-distance facilities .

2f the delayed delivery is ultimately successful, the system will send a printed delivery report to the originating machine . On the ocher hand, if the delivery attempt protocol has gone through its wholes cycle without success, a report will be sent to the originator indicating that the delivery procedure has tailed and requesting instructions as to how to proceed beg . try again, redirect the message to an alternate number, or delete the message, .

An important feature of the system is shat it recognizes ell of the documents that are spooled in chi system at a given times for a given destination machine . These erg identified and linked together to torte a message

queue for that machine . In this way, ones contact is established, all of the welting messages can be 'dumped' to that machines in a continuous batch . Furthermore, it now messages arrive vhila that dump is occurring, they are simply appended to the end of the active queue and are transmitted when their turn comes . This hr.e r6? advantage of greatly enhancing the utilization efficiency of a bony dertination machines .

Since ell outgoing fax documents erg temporarily stared at the facility near the originating machine, it is also prac-tical to provide for automatic broadcasting o! documents to multiply destinations . Lists of 'broadcast groups' o! phone numbers can be programed into the facility by users, or a list o! destination phones numbers entered "by hand' at the time of a tall . The SAFF can thin broadcast the message to every machine o! the selected 31st . ?his la a great advantage to broadest users in that they need only tie up their machines for one outgoing transmission, the one to the SaFF . The S11" copies the "snags to all of the destination machines as outlined above . In the meantime, the originating machine is available for receiving or transmitting other documents .

Similarly, since the documents are stored near the origi-nator, the system can permit messages which haves already been sent to be copied to other destinations after the face, with-out the necessity of reaendinq the message to the S;LFF . Like wie*, since the messages era also spooled in a facility near the destination, the System also provides the recipient with

13298? the option of forwarding or redirecting documents to still other seaeinacions, as if the recipient were the originator . The system can also accept and score messages destined for a fictitious destination or 'nail Box' . Thus, individuals who are traveling can, ac their convenience, dial into the system and pick up arty waiting documents .

Closely akin co these features is the ability to have the originator of a transmission include the requirement that the recipient provide a security coda, such as a PIN number, in order co release the document from the spool co the deaeina-cion machine . In this case, the SAFF sends a written report to the destination machine advising chat a secure message is waiting !or a particular recipient end the fax identification of the originating machines . The recipient moat then call in to the SAFF and key in the security codes to initiate the delivery of the document . Sine the document is spooled, the delivery easily may be delayed until the recipient is availa-ble to supply the code .

Finally, since the documents and their delivery are both under the control 02 the telephone system, as a special serv-ice the telephone sell accounting system can provide both time and charges for the telephone services rendered and tax intor- ., merlon, such as pages transmitted, sorted according to the originator's clients . This can greatly facilitate the fax user who wishes to do cost accounting or to bill clients for coats incurred .

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other objects and advantages o! the present invention will be apparent from the following Detailed Description of the preferred embodiments thereof and from the attached Draw-inqs of which :

Fig . 1 illustrates the inter-relationships o! the princi-pal elements of a connection between two SAFFs .

!1q . T shows a sore detailed view of the various systems within a single S11dl, each as those shown.in Figure 1 .

Fig . 3 illustrates the major components of the Originate Function in the SAFFS shown in figures I and 2 .

Fig . 4 illustrates the major components of the Answer Function in the SAFFe shown in Figures 1 and 2 .

Figs . 5a and b show a flow chart describing the general processing steps required to handle a fax or void message

1329852 incoming to the Originate Function of a SAFF, as described particularly if, Figures 2 and 3 .

Figs . 6a and b show a flow chart describing the general processing stage required to handle the delivery of a fax mes-sage incoming co the Mover Function of a SAFF, as described particularly in Figures 2 and 4 .

Fig . 7 shows a flow chart of the general protesting steps required co handle a service request in the General Service unit of a SAFF, as described particularly in Figure 2 .

Detailed Description

Introduction

The preferred embodiment of this invention is a mules-function, interactive facsimile transmission system which is integrated into a switched telephone distribution network, where *network, is talon broadly to mean the entire system required to complete a communication from an originator co an ansverer . This embodiment provides a eoaprehonsive com-puterized !ax message management system based on automated fax Store And Forward Facilities (5111!) embedded in the network . This system requires no modifications to existing facsimile machines, but rather, relies on the network to provide the enhanced services .

The system contains several components which actually transmit chi fax massages and related information, provide written fax reports to amts about the status of messages within the system, allow user intervention in the sequence of automatic actions o! the system . provide an accounting of earwigs rendered !or both the customer and the telephone com-pany, and control end supervise all of chose activities .

In the preferred esbodlmaint, it is presumed that the SAFT's arm placed at the interface between the local telephone delivery system end the long-distance delivery system, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2 . In this setting, the S1Vr sya-toa can be controlled and its services altered by either one . However, it is obvious that awful systems can be constructed where the S11r! exists as close to the user as a component of his or her own in-house telephone system (such as a PBX or Cenerax) or as remotely as a single, independent, stand-along SAIF serving a vide geographical aria . It is also obvious that commercially viably systems can be constructed whim pro-vide subsets of the features o[ the preferred embodiment . The choice of site/control meting and service features might be driven by any number of economic, market, or legal

considerations, which would militate coward offering the sys-tem at an alternate location in the network, or in a -stripped down' form .

1329352

'CO more clearly understand the present invention, it is useful to consider the manner in whLCh a fax transmission occurs in the traditional setting . Here the communication between two machines is initiated when the destination machine answers a telephone call directly from the originating machine . Typically, there is an exchange of digital data identifying the sending and receiving machines to each ocher and establishing the fax moan or format to b* used . If this exchange is satisfactory, than the actual image transmission takes place . Otherwise, the call la terminated, usually with soma loan of written diagnostic to the respective users .

Message Interception

In the present Invention, all fax transmissions initiated by a subscriber to the !ax management system arm first inter-cepted by an 'originator* SAll ; chat la, the SAFF which directly services the originating fax machine . Figure I shown two exemplary SAFTa 8 and 18, with interconnections between the S"FS and with subscriber fax machines being diaqraaaeatieally indicated . Thus in Figure 1, the 5J1iF A includes an originate function 9 coupled over telephone lines 4 to originating fax machines 1 . Likwia9, the SA.FF 18 includes an oriyina4e !unction 22 coupled over t*lephon* lima 26 to originating fax machines 30 . Each of the SAFFs 8 and 18 also Includes respective answer function blocks 12 and 19 respectively connected over telephone lima 6, 24 to tax machines J, 28 . Each of the SAM 8, 18 also includes service interfaces 10, 21 coupled via telephone lima S, 25 to telephonos 2, 29 . The function and purpose of the service interfaces is more fully explained hereafter, and they are under control o! status end control blocks 11 and 21 .

AeeOsa to the system o! Figure 1 can be obtained much the aaM as access to a specific long-distance company's network . That is, subscribers such as 1 in Figure 1 can dial a unique access code at the time a call is initiated, or a telephone line dedicated to a fax ter=minal may be permanently routed to the SAFF system, in this case the SAFF B of Figure 1 . Either way, one accesses SAFF Directed Lines 4 end the SAFF B itself in the process of dialing the destination fax machine .

The SAFE B then answers chi phony in place of the desti-nation machine, such as one of 28 shown in Figure 1 as atr-vieed by SAFF 18 . For the momma, this SAFF 8 near the Origi-nator becomes the proxy for the destination mechln* 28 . While

13298a? noting the actual destination telephony number, the SAFE 8 engages the originating machine in the same digital dialogue that would have occurred if a direct connection to the desti-nation machine had actually barn made . Thus, it echoes back the destination telephone number, co identity the intended destination machine, and agrees to accept the fax format requested by the originating machine .

This causes the originating machine I to respond by transmitting the fax document image data . The originating machine's identification, the destination machine's telephone number, chi tax format, and chi document images date are all stored on a mesa storage device 67 din Piqu=e 3), such as a computer magnetic disk unit . Furthermore, a unique elphemeric Message Cods is assigned to the black of data to identify it while is is resident in the SAP! system . This Message Coda is related co the file names for chi stored data .

Deliver*(

AC this point the SA?T 8 initiates two actions . The first Is to generate an *Acceptance Record* of the transaction to this point . This record, in one tots or another, will be returned to the originator at will be described below . The second step la to begin to deliver the !ax message to the des-tination machine 28 .

The details o! the delivery process depend to some degree on the geographic location of the destination within the net-work . A single SAFP can . in principle, service a broad geo-graphical area . However, in the preferred embodiment, commu-nications beyond a certain limiting distance Involve et least two SAFFs, one 8 near the originator 1 and the other, a *des-tination SAFF-f 19 near the recipient 28 of the document . The choler o! one, two, or more SArrs is determined by network economics, or other considerations, and is not essential to the invention.

For the sake o! this discussion, we will define a "local* message to imply rhea the originating and the destination machines are serviced by the as" 51Fr . (Although, this does not preclude the possibility chat the two machines are same considerable distend apart and connected by a toll tell .) On the other hand, we will define a "long-distance' message to mean that the originating and destination fax machines are serviced by different SAFPS and, thus, one SA!'F must exchange data with the other, perhaps through intermediaries . Simi-larly, the term 'neat' used in connection with a SAFP refers to being within the service era of that 5AFF "

13298aZ Each SAFF B, 18 has two Clearly defined roles : the

'Originate Function' 9 . 22 for handling data with an originat-ing machine, and the *Answer Function' L9, L2 for handling data with a destination machine . Tie details of these two subsystems are illustrated in figures 7 and t respectively . In the local message modem, the connection between the Origi-nate Function, such as 9, and the Mme Function, oath as 12, is linked within the single SAFF 8 by way of a Local Call Loop-back connection 13, between the two Functions . In the long-distance mode, the Originate Function 9 0! SAFE B, near the originator, is linked to chi Answer Function 19 of another SAFF 18, near the destination, by long-dlaeanet lines, oath as 14, or 16 for SAFF 1B . Thus, processing a long-distance mes-sage involves the coma basic steps as a local matssags, except that the activity to shared interactively between at bast two different SAFTs .

Originate Function

With thin understanding of 511t? Junctions, the following detailed discussion will illustrate the operation of the sys-tem in the long-distance Case, sine It is the sore complex, and therefore provides a more comprehensive example . Figures 1, Z, 3, and L all show elements of the SAiT system in varying degrees of detail end all will be referred to in the follow-ing . It will be noted that some critical elements are shown in more than ona of the Figures.

As an example, it is assumed that one of the subscribers 1 attached to 511FP 8 wishes to send a tax mosssaqe to one of the subscribers 29 attached to S11YP 18 . The subscriber 1 places the call to the destination machine 28 which is routed over SA!! Directed Lines 4 to the Originate Function 9 of SAFT 8 . These signals originate within the SHPT system end they are picked up by the On-nit Interface 64 which is pare of the originate Function, as shown in Figure 3 . This Interface signals the Originate Host Computer 70 of the incoming tall end the Not respond* by directing the incoming data to a mass Storage Unit 67 where it is stored in s file 68 .

During this storage process the Host direct* two other activities . It creates a tell status record tiles 69 (Figure 3) in mass storage, recording chi time and date of the origination, the telephone number of chi calling machine, the telephone number o! the destination machine, any security or other special services requested, various housekeeping infor-mation, and it assigns the Message Cods numbest which locates not only the status file but also the fax data file associated with it . The Host also passes the destination machine's tele-phone number to the outbound Control unit 74 which proceeds co

13298x2 connect the originating SAFF 8 with the nearest available SAFE l8 to the destination through a long-distance interface 75 over long-distance circuits 79 (14 in Figure 1) . In the pro-cess of establishing this connection, the Outbound Control unit employs en algorithm which examines the number and kind of available stunk resources and chooses the moat efficient combination of these Lines for the teak required .

Answer Function

The originating SAFP 8 than proceeds to transmit the originator and destination telephony numbers, the stored fax image, the Message Codes, and other housekeeping data to the destination SAPF 18 . Them data are acne by the moat expedi-ent mechanism offered by the long-distance service . For exam-ple, if this service employs digital communications, the fax data may will be transmitted at a significantly bigher rate then it yea originally received into the system .

The fax data is received by the Long-distance interface 95 (Figure 4) in the Answer Function 19 of the destination SALT . This unit signals the Answer Host Computer 95 of .the incoming date . The Host thin routes these daCa to its Mess Storage facility 87 . (It should be noted !or later reference chat the originator SAPP and the destination SJ1fi now both have a copy o! theme date .) The Not notes whether other mes-sage* are pending for the destination machine and either opens a Delivery Queue file 88, or appends the new message to the existing Queue lily .

The Host also records the arrival time and other perti-nent information about the fax message in s Call Status films 90 In Mass Storage unit 87, and ands a status update back to the originating SAY? 8 by way o! the Status and Con-trol Interface 84, and the System Status and Control Unit 11 via Long-distance Trunks 15 .

It thin signals the Local Interface 83 co dial the desti-nation machine's (B1 In Figure 4) telephone number on ordinary outgoing local lima 24, 92 . It the destination fax's lines is available, the destination Su! now becomes the proxy for the originating !a: machine and engages the destination machine in the necessary preliminary digital dialogue .

IL this is successful, the document image, including the source and destination identification information, the Message Codes, end the entry and delivery timers, is played bask from storage and delivered co the destination . A 'DSliv*ry Record' is then created by the Answer Hose 85 which indicates the dace and time of delivery, and any other pertinent data . The

13293a? Delivery Record is sent back co the originating SAFF 8, again by vat of the Status and Control Interface Bi, and the System Status and Control Unit 11, via Long-distance Trunks 15 . The originator SAFE 8 then appends this information to the Accep-tance Record co form a complete 'Transaction File' . The orig-inating SAFE 8 then sends this file, as a delivery receipt or report, back co the originating machine 1, 60, as a tax document .

If the destination machine's line is busy, or the contact tails for soma other reason, the destination SAtF's Host Com-puter 85 will sneer a sequence whereby is will attempt to con-tact the destination machines and transmit the document on e predetermined schedule for a specific period of time or number of tries . AS this sequence is entered, a 'Retry Record, is generated documenting the situation end the system's response to it . This record contains the reason that the delivery was delayed and it indicates which protocol the system will use to attempt to deliver the mwasaq* . This is transmitted back to the originating SAFF 8, as described above, and appended to the previously described Acceptance Record to tore a Transac-tion rile which is thin sent as a tax message bask to the originator . The assigned Message Cods is a part of every transaction report and may be used ac any time to trace the status o! undelivered documents, as will be described shortly .

If the retry effort is ultimately successful, a Delivery Record is appended to the Transaction File which is coat back to the originating machines . I! the effort !ails after reach-ing the predetermined limit, this la also recorded, appended, and sent beck to the originator . In this caste, the originator is given the option of dialing back into the system within a certain length of times (typically several hours) and Lnstruct-inq the destination SA!! as to how to dispose of the document (eq . repast retry sequence, forward to a different telephone number, or delete the matraege) .

This process is handled by using an ordinary touchcon* phony to dial a multipurpose (perhaps, toll free) fax system 'Service Number'; which will be referred to here and in !scar sections . This might be a unique number !or every SAFT, or Lc sight be a standardized number common to sent' localities, except perhaps !or area codes, such as is SSS-1212 for calling 'InLotaaCion " . This Service Number is assumed by the General Service Control units (10 in Figure 1, 50 In Figure 2) of the SJ1PT to which the call is directed . This unit contains an automated voice response system that presents a menu of the available services and prompts the user to select the desired choices by pressing particular numbers on the toueheon* key-pad . In an advanced embodiment, a cemQutar-based voice

13298a? recognition system replaces the key_aC and accepts verbal com-mands in a conversational way .

The General Service Control unit SO can communicate with icy own System Status and Control unit Ll, and through that unit, any other ouch unit 11, 20 via Long-distance Trunks 15 . Through chase connections, both inquiries relating to messages in the system and instructions as co their disposition may be addressed to the entire SAFF system .

Having selected the *failed-connection message disposi-tion* choice, the user is prompted :o key in chi Message Coda . The system verbally repeats the code and the delivery discrep-ancy for verification, end than presents a menu o! disposition options for chi user to select with the keypad .

IC the user dome not take advantage o! this 'what to do now* opportunity within the time limit, the message Is retransmitted back to the originator with 4 report . It is thin erased from both the originator and destination SAFF files attar a suitable delay (typically six hours) . It the originator wishes co reaend the message during this 'grace' period, it may be recovered end resent to the original dascl-naclon or forwarded to another destination(s), as will be described later .

In each o! the various cases where the SAFla automati-cally direct fax r .iieqe status reports (such as, the Accep-tance, Delivery, of Retry rc=ords above), the system can ha programmed to accumulate records from all calls over a period of times (eq . an hour) at the originator 511r1 end deliver them as a single :ax document at the end of the period or upon request by the originator . This has the advantage of reducing the number of report calls and the subsequent burden on the originating tax machine . The originator Sue will enter a retry sequence i! it lends the originator's lines busy or the machine unavailable when Lt attempts to deliver reports . This is a persistent sequence which it will continue trying for direct contact at intervals of an hour or so for a considera-ble Length of ti~ (eq . 72 hours) . It also places a copy of the report in the originator's Mail Box (described below) so that the originator may recover it in DoevHn 5111T delivery attempts .

It should alto be noted that the originator his the option o1 dialing the Service Number at any times end inquiring about chi status of a glum message . Here again, the voice response system prompts, presents menus, and uses the Message Codes to locate and report on the currant location and condi-tion of the message . A written record can be directed co the originating or destination fax machine, it desired .

i3zss5z Mother feature of the system is that the act of accept-ing end storing an incoming Message at the originator SAFF, and

t ha act of dialing and forwarding that message to the des-tination by the destination SaFF, can overlap in time . That is , i! the originator SAFE has linen available, once the ini-tial connection dialogue between the originator and the SAFF is complete, the SAFE may immediately makes its first attempt co contact the destination SAF! and, thus, the destination machine, while is is beginning to spool the document . If this immediate contact is successful, thin the message is passed from the originator SAt! 8 to the destination SaFP 18 to the destination machine 29 directly frog the Originate Host Computer's memory 70 while the two SAtFS are still in the process o[ spooling the document to disk . This is facilitated by a -write-through pipeline* whereby the Originate Hose 70 passes the incoming tax data through directly to the Outbound Control unit 74 at the same times it is being written to mass storage . It la held in a temporary memory, buffer in the Out-bound unit until it is slur whether or not an immediate con-nection to the destination machine is possible . AC that point the temporary butler fax dace is either acne end thin deleted, or merely deleted . The nit affect is that the spooling pro-cesr only adds a few seconds delay in the message delivery over the traditional direct machine-to-machine contact when she destination machine la readily avallablet .

On the other i&d .ia, if lime are limited, the originating SAPP can choose to delay until suitably lime are available . This has the advantage of improving communications resource management and enhancing the efficiency of the telephone system's lines usage ova= the direct contact schem* . The foregoing describes the basis fax Slur message han-dling systems and from this discussion several advantages should be apparent . The originating machine always functions as if It makes contact and delivers documents on the first try, thin immediately freeing the machine and the attendant personnel for sending or receiving other transmissions . Like-wise, the telephone system only handles one call across ice local and long-distances lime from the originating machine co the destination SAtT, since the state et the destination machine has no impact on the call . This significantly improves the efficiency o! lines usage when messages are addressed to busy fax terminals .

Although some additional calls are needed to deliver the various reports, these require very. little long-distance time, as they are transmitted over the circuits as highly compressed coded messages . It is the nearby originating SAFP that trans-lates sham into 'plain language* for fax delivery as a local

13?985? 10413 $ago AS pointed out nHttaqu can *0 gained 07 camp :LLAq aule :p :0 :*;e :_s and aoltvSelnq vim In Cu :k 41 4 a :aq1Q ell . ( : 81au :d be rtr_~d that t~0 cQ1~~.Q-1 at ;orocca to an c : :qla~ :o : is 4 r_e ;Q :aa1v, pnclaa eoaw,n in* OrLq :na :o farc: :an ire :n, Ana�,: fune :ian a . : .".~ Originate SAFE . The O : :Q :aa :o lunc: :an f a4lly ~~~_ 4 :a :4a c .1414 :IFe ::a and paa,e t ct0a ;1=145n cAf W c& : Call Laep-a4ek l7 175 :e f : ;UrQ ]1 ea e.14 Aaa" : f~ire: :aa :T e" ' 've - :f 43 an c : inar-f fax "454q. .

As pa ;n:eG cut, 4 :L fax messages a: ; K ;4G Z* 4 pAZ:ici :ae co :opnane QLtic ate a,?aa1*C by the Answer fane: :an a : Cho Cat : :n4cLan SAt', a C0ca :l4d la figure 1 . The Most Computer AS c=nc :allinq this lune :ion eeni :a :v Cho Lnc= : .". ; �ssaqaa and Links 4 :l unGo :l "14c6G modt4qqs for " Q :von Csl*pHane nw-Ooc into a message G11"err Quou* C :1a It . The c:apueer also cctipLlu 4 cona :an : :y updated, 0:36:V4 cA :Ak1aq o : the file namoo o ; Cho messages wlc :nq for each fax mAcnleo .

Canu,uonc ;r, vh4n they Carl be dolIL"o-ld . Call queue toe dQl1vo:/ established contact WL : , ending Cho .oncleo quou unlnto; :upceG eraaaa:as cr4nA11ls4Lan is In pcoq queue .

100244904 4 ::1rw at a raze faster than at whatever reran, C1or are held :e A" Soon as C1" destination SAfF 1 Cho Cof:1na : :an aee..:ne, LC D4,

0 a! messages In a sLeql~ . u~~nni4 :ly Con . Messages :1a : a:: :v~ vf11 :4 tee revs are appended Cc CA,@ end at tat

CA &eG :a :an Co c`"a

'. :a :C :"ca:9a . cna Gz : ; "'" C : 97t :u disc ; :avtc a Co : a n~s:qc a : 4CGL :_an4 : :c~f and aev4au qes ~n :aa are aeacc :Sea ~iav .

Message Queuing

This Sc1aiw e;LainaCU Cho 'Cr:al and e:car " dial and coCLal attempts Chat result C ::s 4 number of LnG;qneenc lneealnq calls ceErcirq is an uneoo:lsaa:W Way for CM jin-gle destination line . cc can significantly enhance en. * ; ;i . time-r of tat destination fax EAeMln48 end %S* lane-ca:anee end lx4l eolepnone Circuits eannqee$d to 4 busy ~~~.;jne .

When the queue exceeds a certain liaiilnq size, Cho Gaa-cln,aelon 5J1IT viii p4:tadie4ily Insert and send 4 "qu,u, ROparn " ( u 4 :&: GoewnOnc) co cam easeina:tan uelino snev :nq List at the wi :inq Messages . This Liae shawl CA* eeiqLn4e-lnq machine Identification, Chi ciso ene4reQ in ca CAS aeiqind-eoe 3J1tT, eno numbs : Of Pages in the document, end the appMa_ Loato time that cat message vii : 0e Colive;od bases on icy Pasl:lan in the queue .

132sa52 The user can advance a particular message to the head of

the queue by calling the fax Service Number and supplying the desired message number, by Using chi voice response menus . Shy General Service unit SO directs these instruction to the System Status end Control Unit 11, which in turn directs them co the Answer Function Hose 85 through its Status and Control Interface 84 .

Alternately, the originator can designate a priority level to a given fax message at the time Lt is dialed in (eq . by using a different assess cods) . In this case, the destina-tion SAFP will insert higher priority messages ahead of lover priority messages in the queue as they are received . The originator would normally pay a premium price for this serv-ice .

Mother originator option is the times of delivery . If desired, the originator car specify the times of day which the message should be delivered . In this eases the message is for-warded to the destination SAFE directly, but is not entered into the queue until chi specified time . This can be used in combination with an assigned high priority to insert the mas-sage at the head of the queue at the appointed time .

When messages are finally delivered to the destination machines they arm not Immediately erased from the spool file 88 at the destination SAFF. Rather, they arm maintained in e 'Delivered Message" directory 90 !or a period o! time (typi-cally six hours) . A future offered by this action is the opportunity !or the subscribing recipient of a message to make additional copra, redirect, or forward copies of selected messages to other destinations . This is accomplished by call-ing the Service Number and selecting the appropriate choices from the voice response anus .

Security and Mall Boxes

it is not uncommon !or documents of a sensitive nature to be sent by facsimile from place to place . This is often a problem, especially in a busy office or where a machine is nominally unattended during the transmission, in that the originator has no control aver who may be standing by the machine when the document prints out, or who may leaf through a steak of taxes piled up In a hopper right after lunch .

This is a problem which others have attempted to deal with in a variety of ways . Far example, Bond, U.S . Pats . 3,594,495 and 3,641,432, discloses a 'radio facsimile postal system* which features the direct delivery of documents to specific addressees by facsimile vie communications

132982 satellites . In chin system, intended as a replacement for or supplement to the ordinary 'papa=' postal system, fox messages were directed from special public fax terminals operated by the post office co a central satellite earth-station . Hers the messages rare sorted according co their geographical daa-tinacion for concentration and uplinkinq co a satellite ser-vicing chat arse . The satellite than broadcasts all of the uplinked messages back to earth .

I1 principle, anyone with a radio receiver in the satellite's service aria could access any of the massages, so Bond built in a -privacy code, which operated with the receiver to allow chi message to print out only on the desired machine . In reality, this privacy codes vas nothing sore than an addressing signal which enables the selected fax receiving system . Thus, Bond's system Is merely a restricted version of the services presently provided to fax users by the telephone networks . His privacy cods function is the same as a tele-phone number : it selects which o[ a plurality of fax machines will actually receive the message . Unfortunately, his approach beds to exactly chi security dilemma facing tele-phone fax users .

Chapman, U .S . Pat . 4,106,060. has approached the problem in a somewhat different way . He too discloses a taeaimile-bead mail system . However, in his system, the mes-sages are directed by whatever means to s 'paper' post office near the addressee, rather than the addressee's homes or place of business . This post office thin makes a paper Copy of the the tax message, places Se La an envelope, and delivers it to chi addresses as ordinary mail . This is a reasonably effec-tive solution to the security problem, but it can only be relied upon to provide *next day' delivery, and there are a number o1 other, competing alternatives for document delivery service on that times scab .

In the present invention the security problem is addressed by a control variation o! the destination SAF! queu-ing system . messages which the originator wishes to designate as secure arm temporarily directed to a auxiliary storage rile 54, 89 in the Answer Function o! the destination SAtF called a 'hail Box* . Instead o! being delivered to the destination machine, a report is sent to that machine indicating chat e secure message is waiting !or a particular addresses . Option-ally, a voice message may be directed to a designated tele-phone number by the General Service Control S0 .

This feature works In the following way . Each individual SAF! is assigned tea own unique telephone exchange code or codes (typically indicated by the first three digits of e seven digit local number) . Thus, the SAF! appears to the

13?933 ? world as is it were a distinct telephone exchanqa(e), separate from all ocher exchanges in that area cods region . All subscriber's to a given SAFF are assigned chair fax telephone numbers with that exchange prefix . Subscribing individuals wishing Mail Boxes (typically associated with s *default* fax machine) are issued 'fictitious' telephone numbers which actu-ally terminate in fax Mail Boxes, rather than in en actual telephone line .

Mail sox numbers ere published so that correspondents may use them . In addition, sash individual is also given a mares security soda or PIN number which will access his or her box . The hose computer managing the SAFP maintains a lies that relates each fictitious number with the individual's names, the security coda, and the real telephone number of the default destination machine . This default machine is the one to which messages end reports will normally be sine, when appropriate .

M originator wishing to send a secure Message merely dials chi (fictitious) Mail Box telephone number at the time the document is sent . The system directs chi message to the Nail Box file 89 in the destination SAFT associated with that number, and the Answer Host 85 sends a *Message Waiting* report to the default destination fax "chino through the Local Interface 83 . It more than one message is in the Mail Box queue, thin this report lists them all .

In order to get the !ax document actually aunt to the destination, the security codes moat be scent beak to the desti-nation SAFF . Typically, this would be dons by the addresses dialing his or her own Mail Bo: number . Sine this call orig-inates iron a 'normal' telephone 34 over Ordinary Local Lines 40, rather than the tax's SAF! Directed Lime 38, the sell is directed to the Off-net Incoming Screener 40 In the (destina-tion) SAtF which functions in conjunction with a mailbox serv-ice control 49 . This unit roeoqnizes that the ell is not a fax transmission and thus treats it as a voice service request . A voles response system then prompts the caller to key in the security code . Whoa the correct cods, is supplied, chi SAl! system announces the number o! messages waiting and, if desired, the message codes of each . Mall Box contents arm maintained in a queue 89 rust as are "regular* spool files . Thus, the user is also given the opportunity to reorder the messages within a lull Box Delivery queue, through the System Status and Control units 11, 20 in the same way as other mes-sages .

The system finally permits the addressee co make a selec-tion a[ messages for immediate release, and provides an oppor-tunity to 'redirect' them to a fax machines J other than the default machine over ordinary local lines 39 . The Sari then

132 9852 releases the selected documents and moves them to the head of the appropriate destination Delivery Queue 88 tot immediate delivery .

When messages are accepted into the SAFF system and arrive ac a moil box, The Answer Function o1 the destination SAFP issues a *Posting Report' which is directed back to the Originator in the manner described for other reports . The report is similar to a Delivery Report, except that it indi-cates that the massage has bean received by the mail box . When the Mail Box Queue is actually reed by the addressee the Destination SAFF mode an actual Delivery Report co the Origi-nator indicating the dace and time of delivery and so forth .

Another advantage of the Mail Sax system is that it can provide a convenient way for individuals who are away from their *home' machine co still haves access to their documents . Such individuals may call in to their Mail Box number to hear from the voice response unit whether they have any messages waiting . By use o! the redirection feature, messages sine co a 'f ax Mail Box can be accessed by an individual with the eaeu-riiy cods from any telephone with a fax machine .

Por .example, a person on a business trip can have all his or her fax documents directed to their Mail Box . Upon arriv-ing at s hotel that has a !ax machine, the traveler places a call co the Mail Box and supplies the information out-lined above, including the tel*phono number o[ the hotel tax machine . The SAF! then calls the hotel machine and dumps the queue of waiting documents .

Broadcasting

The queuing, Mail Boxes, and security cods erg all derivative benefits of the spooling of messages at the desti-nation S"!. There is a counterpart advantage to the origina-tor SJ11! " s spooling as well . Since the originator SALT main-tains a copy of each message, that copy can be used to broad-east messages to multiple destinations .

This can be initiated in a number of ways . For example, the user eon dial in a code prefix indicating shat a list of destination numbers la to follow . The numbers are thin entered and finally another codes is entered to signal 'end of list" . The Originate Host 70 recognizes these inputs and attaches them to the message which follows . As an alterna-tive, the user can score different numbered broadcast eels-phone lima in the Originate SAF! mass storage files 69 (entered mush as described above) end invoke chum pimply 6y dialing a two or three digit 'short-cut' code . In either

13?935? cane, from there the tax transmission to the Originator SAFF proceeds normally .

Upon reception of the list and the document, the oriqina-coc SAFF proceeds co open as many local loop-back or long-distance lines as it can co deliver the broadcast message to the various destinations . essentially simultaneously . Although the originator is billed for making a number of dif-ferent calls, in fact the originating machine is only tied up for the time required to make one call . Furthermore, the toll power of chi delivery system is asserted for teach destination machine, including reporting, radials, queuing, and so forth .

A feature related to broadcasting is the redirection of messages by the originator . Since fax mossaq*s arm spooled at the originator SAFF and held for a period of ti" oven after delivery (typically six hours), the originator can dial the Service Number any times during this period end direct a copy of the spooled message to be aunt to other destination machines .

Communications with Non-subscribers

Thus fare the discussion has presumed that both the oriq-inntor and answerer very subscribers to the SAFF aysaqro . re . is quite reasonable to assume that subscribers will wish to sand or receive tax messages with non-subscribers, as yell . Whiles the services provided by the SAFF are more limited in such cases, nevertheless, the system both anticipate and .enhances communications with non-subscribers for the benefit of the subscribers .

When a subscriber originates a call to a non-subscriber the delivery process in almost identical to subscriber-to-subscriber calls . The tax data is forwarded to the Answer Function o! the appropriate destination SAFT and delivery is pursued, all in~tho usual way . !or the benefit of the subscribing originator, the message is stored in the usual way at the destination SAIt until delivery is completed . If multiple SJ1l!-processed massages arrive before the delivery is complete, a temporary Delivery pueue will be created and used as required . However, since the non-aubscrlhec will have no account in the system, attempts to use the Service Number to manipulate the queue, forward messages, make multiple copies, and use the other special services available to a subscribing snswerer, will be unsuccessful .

Cells originated by a non-subscriber directed to a sub-scribing answarsr moves by a somewhat different mechanism . As noted, each SAFF appears to the world as a distinct telephone

13?.98 5 9 exchange and all subscriber's co a qi7en SAFF are assigned their fax telephone numbers with that exchange prefix . Conae-quencly, all calls directed to a SAPF subscriber eventually end up ac chi subscriber's SAFF, whether they originated from within the SAFF system network or not . Messages originating 'off-ntevork' can arrive by any route . For exempla, they may be truly local Calls, or they may be long-distance calls which arrive over any available long-distance network .

In any came, messages originating from a non-aubecriber 33 are delivered to the answering fax machine's SAFF by chi local lines 39 provided by the local telephone company . Tray are answered by the 5111t's Off-net Intoning Sereoner 49, which, upon noting that they are fax tYanasia-aiona, directs the calls to the Originate Function 9 0! that SAFP . From that point, chi call La treated as 1[ Lt wore a local tax call and is is passed ova= to the Answer Function 12 vie the Local Call Loop-back 13 !or delivery to the subscriber .

In this situation an Acceptance Record will be returned to the originating machines, but no further originator services are provided . On the other hand, the answering subscriber has the full range of Answer Function available.

Charges and Detailed Billing

Normally, the Originate Function of the originator SAFF has ultimate responsibility for the management o! outgoing messages . It initiates ell connections to the Answer tune-tiona a[ the various SAM with which it must communicate . it ia~tho nods to which all reports concerning message status and disposition must flow . It interrogates Answer SAM when extraordinary updates are required . Consequently, the Origi-nate function is also the lotus o! charging date .

The telephone company presumably charges for all of the various services provided by this system . The method, algo-rithm, and rats are determined by actual costs end applicable regulations . Typically, the user would be billed for tele-phone connect alms, toll charges, extraordinary services, such as those provided by calling the Service Number, the amount of mess storage space consumed as s function o! Gimme, and so forth .

One of the user services for which a special charge might be made is a subscriber's customer specific billing System . In this option the user can 'flag* each tax transmission with a keyed-in prefix which contains a user customer, client, or project number . This number is steed as s key field in the

13?93 :i2

franaaccion File for chat call . Thus, when the telephone bill is prepared, the billing computer Can 3-.rt the subscriber's bill on this field and present the user wich a list of all tax messages, total usage time, number of pales, and related charges, all grouped by the subscriber's own customers, cli-enea, or projects . Furthermore, it can accept the subscriber ' s particular algorithm for b :llinq calls to custom-ers or clients and generate a column showing what the aub-accihor will bill for the service (as a separate matter from what the SAFF system and the telephone company have billed the subscriber) . 'this can be o! great assistance in attributing coats and billing customers for services rendered .

software control

In the preferred embodiment, each of the principal units of the SAFF such as described in Figures 2,3, end L La con-trolled by its own computer processing unit or unite . These unite are interrupt-drivon computers which are connected together by the System Status and Control unit 11 . This unit is en electronic switch yard for control communications between the Originate, Answer, and other units within a glum SAFT, as well as the chi other 5111is in the system through the control long-distance trunks 13 " While there are sent' tasks which the various certr^1 processors moat perform to handle fax operations, the primary ones are intercepting incoming calls, either for !ax forwarding or eeraiee requests, and delivering the fax messages to their destinations . The gen-eral software organization of these principal activities is shown- in Fig . 5 . 6, and 7 . It should be noted that these fig-ures rg simplified end intended to be generally descriptive . For example, some procedures illustrated here as sequential (for the rakes of simplicity) can actually be performed concur-rently . Likewise, not every function o! the system la repre-sented in detail . Generally speaking, similar results also can be obtained with a number o! other obvious arrangements of the functional blocks .

Broadly sp*akinq, fax messages addressed to the Originate Function of a SAFi arises either through the special SAFF Directed Local Lime 4 (Figures 2 and 3) as a result of direst connection or dialing a special access cods, oz they aria from Ordinary Local Lime (off-not lines) ]9, 40, 63 . Those which arrive via off-nit lines are processed firm by the Off-not Sersener 48, which may dimes elms to either the Orig-inate Function 9 or to !tail Box Service 49 . Figure S, there-fore combines all three of these related functions .

At chi outset one of the two incoming call interfaces 64 and 65 signals the Host Computer 70 that it is beginning to

process a call ac 100 in Figure Sa . These unite have chair own buffer capability and can tolerate some delay before the Host responds . Ultimately the Most must decide whether it is responding co en on-not or off-net call 101 . Lt is in an off-net call there are two possibilities (excluding wrong num-bers) 102 : is may either be a fax call, in which ease is is from a non-subscriber to a subscriber, or it is a mail box service call . If it is a fax call than the billing for serv-ices must be directed to the subscribing destination addresses 112 . From chat point it is handled like an on-net call as will be described shortly .

It is is nor a tax call thin it is presumed to be a mail box service call 10J, and chi caller is presented with the voles response menu 104 for such service . The user responds to those prompts with a touehtan* keypad, or verbally, 105 and a decision ladder, shown succinctly as 107 selects the desired implementation routines 10B, 109 . 110 (for brevity only three typical choices erg shown, and thin element is actually a loop which will permit multiple commands) . TAB chosen routing passes parameters to a command parsor 121 (Figure 5b) which prepares an command statement which is thin scene 122 to the System Status end Control unit 11, through the interface, 72 . This command will be passed to the Answer Hose 85 through its interlace 84 for actual action on the Mall Box Queue 99 . It the service require a response to the caller the transmission path is reversed . When chi operation is completed 12] the call is terminated .

It on the other hand, the original call is found at 101 to be an on-nit call, billing is generally directed at the originator 113 and the Host 70 begins the opening digital dla-loque 114 wish the calling machine, eating in place of the destination machine . This dialogue includes gathering and storing the fax identifications, originating and destination telephone numbers and so forth 116 . The Host opens a Transac-tion File end links it to a data file 117 !or the expected data, end then atoms ell of the call and tile information 118 keyed to the Message Codes . The destination telephone number and other information arm passed almost immediately 119 to the outbound Controller 74, which thin opens a temporary buffet to hold the fax message in caa& immediate contest can be estab-lished, end it attempts to establish rhea contest through the destination SAFF .

In pursuing this contact, the Outbound Controller 74 examines the status of available trunks . IL trunks are avail-able, it will immediately attempt co connect wish the destina-tion SAFF, otherwise is will defer the call until a trunk is available . In the evens of a broadcast message, the Outbound Controller mill select the number of trunks to us*

1329352

.Lmultanaoualy based on the percentage o : the trunks already in use, in order to avoid tying up ell of the SAFF'a outgoing capacity with a single message cask . Other considerations can affect cheep usage choices depending on the details of the setting of the system .

The Host than enters a loop which gets the incoming fax data 125 (Figure Sb) from the On-net 64 or Off-not 65 Interface's buffer and stores each byte in the fax data file 125 while sending another copy 127 to chi Outbound controller 73 until the incoming date is complete 128 . The Host then chocks 129 wish the Outbound controller to see it It vas suc-cessful in making immediate connection with the destination machine . If It was successful and a satisfactory transfer occurred, chin a Delivery Report is aunt beck 132 to the orig-inating machine before it Leaves the line . Otherwise, an Acceptance Report is cant 1]1, and in either caste the outcome is reported 13) to the Transaction File end the call is tormi-neted 134 .

A complementary set of activities occurs In the Answer Function of the destination SALT as described in Figure 6& and D . Here an incoming call is-detected 136 by the Inbound Con-trol 92 (Figure 4) . The Answer Host Computer BS Chin opens s new fax data end Transaction file for the message 1! there is no current queue for that destination machine, or It prepares to append the data to an existing queue 137 . The various call and file parameters ere linked and stormed 138 and the call parameters arm passed through 139 to the Local Interface 83, which then decides 141 whether the tall is addressed to a 'real* fax number, or a fictitious number terminating In a mall box. I! the number is real the Local Interface attempts to contact the destination machine !or immediate .dolivery .

The Host thin enters a Loop where it gets the incoming data 147, atoms it 148 in the fax Delivery Queue, and passes is through 149 to the Local interface buffer . When the Host determines that the fax transfer is complete 150, it thin chicks 152 (Figure 6b) to see L! the Local Interface has bean abler to make immediate delivery . I! it has, chi Host initi-ates the transmission of the Delivery Report 167 back through its Status end Control Interface 04 to the System Control and Status unit 11, which in turn updates the Transaction Pile and sends ii beak to the originator SAFr over Trunk 15 . It is this communication which ultimately results In the immediate Delivery Report described previously . ?he transaction in then terminated 169 .

If immediate connect is not established a Retry Report is sent 153 back through the System Status and Control unit and the Ratty sequence begins . The Retry criteria ten be varied

I 39. 98a2 ,St, bath in plats and with the SAFF setting . For example, if the SAFF is integrated into a local exchange, the SHPT can actually monitor the desired line and simply wait for it to become available . In other settings it will be necessary for the SAFF to actually radial ac prescribed intervals . In any case attempts to connect are madam 155 and if they are not suc-cessful 156 a counter or timer is chocked 159 to set if the retry limit has been exceeded . It nor, the process is rapeseed and if so, a Failed Delivery Report 160 is sent beak through the system and the effort terminated 170 .

If the retry effort is successful the Delivery Queue is retrieved 158 end message by message 167 the queue is dumped, with a pause 163 attar each message to confirm receipt, and e Delivery Report 164 and to chick for end of queue 163 . IL a message falls during the queue dump the retry sequence at 154 is resumed se the failure point and the process repeated to a conclusion . When the leas message has been received sae:sCae-torily, the transaction is terminated 168 .

I! Lt la determined at 141 (Figure 6e) that this is a mail boa call, a loop is entered which gets the fax dais 142 and stoma It lt] In the appropriate Mail Box Queue . When the end of message is detected 144, a Posting Report 143 is sent beak through the system and a Message Waiting Report 146 is sent forward through the system to the default destination machines .

General Service calls always arrive on Ordinary Local Lines 5 . Upon detection and answering 172, the vales response menu is_ proeented 173 to the user . As with the !tail Box Serv-ice, the user keys in responses or gives then orally 174 and a decision ladder 175 identifies the desired service routine such as 177, 179, or 179 . Here again only a tov o! the possi-ble choices have been shown for oaks of illustration and loop-inq for multiple aervieo requests is provided . Th* selected service routing qentretes command parameters which are parsed 181 as systu eomands and sent 192 to the Systan Status and Control unit 11 !or execution . Upon completion of all requests the ell is terminated 183 .

that has been doacribed erg the presently preferred embodiments of a system and method for providing a comprehen-sive Interactive facsimile message management system embedded in a switched telephone network . IC should bo apparent chat many modifications to the system and the method are possible without departing from the true spirit and eeop* of the invention .

13298x2

CLAIMS 1 . A system for facilitating facsimile communications

between a transmitting facsimile machine and at least one intended receiving facsimile machine, comprising at least one score and forward facility, means coupling the at least one store and forward facility co the switched telephone network for receiving transmissions from a transmitting facsimile machine, said store and forward facility including computer memo for controlling its operation and including moos storage moans for storing facsimile transmissions together with Infor-mation identifying the transmitting facsimilo machine and the at least one intended receiving facsimile machine under con-trol of said computer means, said story and forward facility also including mane coupling it to the switched telephone network for transmitting facsimile messages stared in the mass storage moans to at least one intended receiving facsimile machines .

Z .' The system of claim 1 wherein said computer means is programmed such shat it the at least one intended receiving facsimile machine la buoy or otherwise unable to receive a transmission et chi time the store and forward facility attempts to transmit a facsimile message stored in the sate storage moans, the store and forward facility periodically retries transmitting the facsimile message to the at boat ono intended receiving facsimile machines .

3 . The system of claim 2 wherein said computer means is additionally programmed to establish a linked queue in said moos ator6ge means spooling all stored facsimile messages intended !or a particular receiving facsimile machine, and transmitting all the spooled facsimile messages intended for that particular receiving facsimile machine upon successfully making contact with the intended receiving facsimile machine .

4 . The system of claim 1 wherein acid computer means of sold at least one story and forward facility is programmed, upon successful completion of a facsimile transmission to an intended receiving facsimile machine, to transit a messaqo to the transmitting facsimile machine confirming delivery o! the transmission to the intended reetiving Cscslalle machine .

S . The system of claim 2 wherein said computer miens o! sold at least one store and forward facility is programed, upon being unsuccessful In making s transmission to an intended receiving facsimile machine, to transmit s message to the transmitting facsimile machine indicating shat the message has been entered into the mesa storage means at the store end forward facility, and at lease also Indicating the reason for

13?99a2

a delay in transmitting the message c2 the intended receiving facsimile machine .

6 . The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one store and forward facility includes means for receiving broadcast instructions from a user ac a transmitting facsimile machine and associating shoes broadcast instructions with a facsimile message received from the transmitting facsimile machine and stored in the mass storage magna, and for transmitting the stored facsimile message to a plurality of receiving facsimile machines in accordance with the broadcast instructions .

7 . A system In accordance with claim 1 wherein said mane storage means additionally includes mailboxes associated with particular system subscribers end wherein facsimile mes-sages received and stored by the sass storage "arks and intended for receiving facsimile machines associated with those subscribers are atcrod in the respective mailboxes, said store and toward facility being responsive to instructions received trop a subscriber to transmit the facsimile messages stored in chat subscriber's mailbox to any particular feeala-Lle machine designated in .the instructions by the subscriber, whereby a subscriber who is traveling or oth*rwise away from the fixed location of his facsimile machine spy have facsimile messages intended for receipt by his facsimile machine col-lected, and retrieve them :tom any location where any other facsimile machines is situated .

9 . A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said computer means of said at lest one score and forward facility is programmed to retain a facsimile message in the mass stor-age mans for a predetermined time period even after success-ful transmission o! the facsimile message to an intended receiving laesimil* machine, and wherein the storms and forward facility is responsive to instructions received from either originating or receiving subscribers to retransmit the laesis-ile message to another intended receiving facsimile machin* .

9 . A systems in accordance with claim 1 for use in sys-tem operation vh*rvin individual aubserib*ra may be provided with unique PIN numbers, wherein individual subscriber PIN numbers erg stormed in the sass storage means, and wherein the atom and toward facility recognizes an incominq facsimile message that is security coded by a transmitting facsimile machines, and wherein the security coded facsimile message is amine to an Intended ree*ivinq facsimile machine only upon receipt from the intended receiving facsimile machines of the appropriate subscriber PIN number .

10 . a system in accordance with claim 9 where said com-puter mane la programmed each that, upon receipt by the acorn

15 . A method in accordance with claim 11 Including the step, upon being unsuccessful in making a transmission to en

i Intended receiving facsimile machine, of translating a "a- sage to the transmitting facsimile machine indicating that the message has been entered Into the mass storage mans at the storms end forward facility, and at lest also Indicating In chi message the reason for a delay In successfully crenssit- einq the message to the intended receiving facsimile machine .

1319352 and forward facility of a security Coded facsimile message from a transmitting EaceLmLle machine, chi atom and forward :acilLCy sends a transmission to an Ln undeC cscaivinq facain-Lls machine LndicacLnq that the store and forward facility is holding a eecurLey coded facsimile message , whereby a aub-3criber at the intended receiving facsimile machine is prompted co Lnpue co the score and forward facility his PIN in order to nave the facsimile message transmitted to chi intended receiving facsimile machine .

11 . A method for facilitating facsimile communications between a transmitting facsimile machine and ac least one intended receiving facsimile machine, comprising chi sups of providing ac least one store and forward facility having computer moans for controlling its operation and having maws storage means for storing facsimile messages, coupling the at least one score and forward facility to the switched telephone network for receiving facsimile messages from transmitting facsimile machines, recording received facsimile messages in the maws storage mane together with information indicating chi transmitting facsimile machines and the intended receiving facsimile machine, and transmitting taesisile messages stored in the maws storage means to intended receiving facsimile machines .

i 12 . A method in accordance with claim 11 Including the stop chat i! an Intended receiving facsimile Machine La busy or otherwise unavailable to receive at the time the at last any store and forward facility attempts contact to transmit a facsimile message, o! periodically retrying to transmit the facsimile message to the Intended receiving facsimile machine .

l] . w method in accordance with claim u including the step of establishing a linked queu* In the mass storage mean* spooling all Lc3rW facsimile messages intended for a particular receiving facsimile machine, and transmitting all the

i spooled facsimile messages intended !or that particular receiving facsimile machine upon successfully making contact with the intended receiving facsimile machine .

14 . A method in accordance wish alma 1l Including the step, upon successful completion of a facsimile transmission to en intended receiving facsimile machine, o! transmitting a message to the transmitting facsimile machine confirming delivery of the transmission to the intended receiving !seals= Lie machine .

13298? A method in accordance with claim 11 including the stop of providing the ac Lease ono store and forward facility with means for receiving broadcast instructions from a user ac a transmitting facsimile machine end associating those broad-cast instructions with a facsimile message received from the transmitting facsimile machine and stored in the mass storage

means, and including the step of transmitting the stored fac-simile massage co a plurality of receiving facsimile machines in accordance with the broadcast instructions .

17 . A method in accordance with claim 11 including the step of defining mailboxes in the mass storage means associ-ated with particular system subscribers, and including the step of storing facsimile messages intended !or those particu-lar system subscribers in their respective mailboxes, end fur-ther including the step, in response co instructions received from a System subscriber, of transmitting facsimile messages atoned in that subscriber's mailbox to a facsimile machine designated by that subscriber In the instructions .

18 . A method in accordance vit:i claim 11 including the stop of retaining facsimile messages In chi amass storaq* means for a predetermined times period attar successful delivery of the facsimile massages to intended receiving facsimile machines, and, in response to instructions received from either the transmitting or receiving facsimile machines with respect to a particular facsimile message, the stop of retranasietiny that particular facsimile message to additional intended receiving facsimile machines .

t nu 19 . 11,neehod In accordance with claim 11 including the

stop of providing subscribers with unique individual PIN num-bers, storing the individual PIN numbers in the mass storage means, recognizing an incoming facsimile message from a crane-mittlnq facsimile machine which has been security coded,

. transmitting to the intended receiving facaii4ile machine for the a*eurity coded message a message Indicating that the store and Lorverd facility is holding a security coded message, and transmitting to the intended receiving facsimile machine the security coded message only alter receipt by the store end forward facility from the intended receiving facsimile machine o! the unique PIN number of a subscriber associated with that intended receiving facsimile machine .

10 " A method fox facilitating facsimile comunications between a transmitting facsimile machine and at least one intended receiving facsimile machine, comprising the steps o! providing a plurality of store end forward facilities at geo-graphically spaced locations each having computer miens for controlling its operation and having meat storage mans for storing facsimile messages, coupling each store and toward

A -29-

i32 935 2 facility to the switched telephone network far both receiving from and transmitting to a plurality of facsimile machines associated with each store and forward facility facsimile ses-aaqae, recording in the mane storage means each facsimile mea-aaqe transmitted from an associated facsimile machine together with in_'ocmaeion indicating the transmitting facsimile machine and the intended receiving facsimile machine, and transmitting facsimile messages stored in the mass storage manna to intended receiving facsimile machines it those intended receiving facsimile machines are associated with the store and

forward facility which received the facsimile message from a transmitting facsimile machine, or co another of the plurality of store and forward facilities if the intended receiving fac-simile machine is associated with the another store and for-ward facility .

21- A method in accordance with claim ZO Including the stop that 1! an intended receiving facsimile machine is busy or otherwise unavailable to receive at the time a store and toward facility attempts contact to transmit a facsimile mes-sage, or periodically retrying to transmit chi facsimile "a-sag* to the intended receiving facsimile machine .

22- A method in accordance with claim 21 including the step o[ establishing a linked queuo in each mass storage means spooling all stormed facsimile messages Intended for a particu-lar receiving facsimile machine, end transmitting X11 the spooled facsimile message* intended for that particular

r. receiving facsimile machines upon ~uecesaiully making contact with the intended receiving Laeaimil* machine .

21 . A method in accordance with claim 22 including the atop, upon successful completion of a facsimile transmission to an intended receiving facsimile machine, of transmitting a Message to the transmitting facsimile machine, either directly or through another store and forward facility associated with that particular transmitting facsimile machine, confirming delivery of the transmission to the intended receiving laeaim-Lle machine .

24 . A method in accordance with claim 21 including the step, upon being unsuccessful in making a transmission to art intended receiving facsimile machine, of transmitting a mos-aaqe is the transmitting facsimile machine, either directly or through another store and forward facility associated with that particular transmitting facsimile machine, indicating that the message has boon entered into the mass storage mane at one of the store and forward facilities, and at base also indicating the reason for a delay in successfully transmitting the message to the Intended receiving facsimile machines .

i 13?98a2

25 . A method in accordance with claim 24 including the step of providing the store end forward facilities with means for receiving broadcast instructions from a user at a trans-mitting facsimile machine and associating those broadcast instructions with a facsimile message received from the crana-mitcing facsimile machine and stared in the mean storage means, and including the step of transmitting the scored fac-simile message to a plurality of receiving facsimile machines in accordance with the broadcast instructions, either directly or through additional store and forward facilities associated with particular ones of the plurality of intended receiving facsimile machines .

" A method In accordance with claim ZS including she stop of defining mailboxes in the mass storage systems of each store and forward facility asaoeia eW with particular system subscribers associated with particular store and forward facilities, and including the step o! storing facsimile =as-sages intended for chose particular system subscribers in their respective mailboxes, and further including the step, in response to instructions received from a system subscriber, of transmitting facsimile messages stored in that subscriber's mailbox to a facsimile machine designated by that subscriber in the instructions .

27 . A method in accordance with claim 26 Including the stop o! retaining facsimile messages in the use storage mans for a predetermined time period alter successful delivery of the facsimile massages to intended receiving facsimile machines, and, in response to instructions received from either the transmitting or receiving facsimile machines with respect to a particular facsimile message, the stomp of retranamletinq'thst particular laesimilo messaq* to additional intended receiving facsimile machines .

" A method in accordance with claim 27 including the step of providing subscribers with unique individual PIN num-bers, storing the individual Pin number In the mass storage moons of a store and forward facility associated with a par-ticular subscriber, recognizing an incoming facsimile message from a transmitting facsimile machine which has boon soeurity coded, transmitting to the intended receiving facsimile machine for the security coded message a message indicating shat the store and forward facility is holding a security coded message, and transmitting to the intended receiving fac-simile machine the security coded message only alter receipt by the store and forward facility from the intended receiving facsimile machines of the unique PIN number of a subscriber associated with shat intended receiving facsimile machine .

137.9852

29 . A system in accordance with claim I wherein said computes means la programmed co store in the mess storage means relevant charging parameters including number of pages, destination and special system feature options provided for each facsimile message sane by a subscriber and received by a subscriber from a non-subscriber, and to generate charging summaries for subscribers periodically from the stored charg-ing parameters .

10 . p method in accordance with claims 11 oz 30 includ-ing the atop of storing in the mass storage mans relevant charging parameters including number of pages, destination and special system [carom options provided for each facsimile message aunt by a subscriber and received by a subscriber from e non-subscriber, and generating charging runstiries for sub-scribers periodically from the stored charging parameters .

11 . A method in accordance with claims 11 or 30 lnelud- Lnq the step, upon receipt o! a facsimile message from a transmitting facsimile machine, of immediately attempting delivery o! the facsimile message to an intended receiving machine et the ram tLme the message is being recorded in the mass storage suns .

" A method in accordance with claims 11 or 10 includ- i lnq the step theme when an additional facsimile message -

r. intended for a particular receiving facsimile machine is received by a story and forward facility while that facility is in communication with chat particular facsimile machine, the additional facsimile message it immediately appended to a message queue for the particular facsimile machine and delivered as part of the communication with that particular tacaim- ilo machine .

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iwrauIctatua ou C.+.o. PRarun Ornct

0.. .~.H~u w :~

(51) 2NTL.CL . H04N-001/32 : H04N-001/44 ; H04N-001/21 : H04M-011/00

(is) (CA) CANADIAN PATENT (iz)

(54) Facsimile Telecommunications System and Method

(72) Cordon, Richard J . , U .S .A . Kennedy, James R . , U .S .A,

(73) Audiofax, Inc . , U .S .A .

(30) (US) U.S .A . 248,798 1988/09/22

Related U.S. Applilcation Data (61) Cantmuuion of $er. No . 654.181 . Feb. 12 . 1991 . a6sn "

Boned. which u a conunurtion-in "pan of Scr. No. 148,798, Sep. 22 1988. Pas. No. 4.994.92Q

!ac CI .1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . HOlN I/00 US. n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 338/400 ;353/407 ;

358/179; 738/02: 738/x04; 3S8/WS; SSB/"34; 338/433; 738/410-, 379/100; 370/61

Field of Search . . . . ... . .. . . . . . 738/x00, 101, 402, 403, 358/404, 45. 407. 434, 433, 436, 436, 439. 474,

379/100. 109: 370/61 ; H04N 1/00 Refmaea Chad

U.S . PATENT DOCUMENTS 3 .594.495 7/1971 Band . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .. . . . . . . . . 7I0/11 3.641 ."31 2/1911 Bond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 723/! 3,728.486 s/1997 Knits .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ... . . . . . . 179/6 C 3.920.8% 11/1975 Bishop . . .. .. .. . .. ... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 75!/17 7,993,!62 !1/1976 Katr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 356/161 .1 3 ."S . 106 1!/1976 Wernr.al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .. . . . . . . . 178/6 .! 1,03! .671 11/1977 Cnger . . .. .. .. . .. ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 33!/237 s,091,t=I S/197A WiCergren . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .. . .. . J56/2E0

(List continued on next page .)

0276!01 9/19!7 European Par. OR. . . . . . . . . .... 379/IIs 0402109 IL1990 European Pat. OR. . 0089167 7i(911 Japan . .. .. . . . . _ . . . . . . .. . .. .. ..... .. . .. . JSI/tl " 37.763) 1/1953 Jqem .

77-73075 7/1982 Jape . (Lisp continued on next page.)

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

I7T. "Data Communication Networks: Manse cc M CLis& !D Dnwly SMw

L~ ~1f C. p n

United States Patent Gordon et al .

(541 FACSOWILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM ANDMETHOD

(l3] Inventors : Richard J. Gordon, Los Angeles . Calif . ; ,lames R . Kennedy, Tucson, Ans .

(731 Assignee : Audlofu, Inc, Marietta. Ga .

[21J Appl . No . : 933,1JJ

[221 Filed : Oet ; 1992

[iii Patent Number: S,lYl,.3vA 1451 Date of Patent: Mar. 1, 1994

Handling Systems", Recommendations X.400-X.430 . Vol. Vlll . 1961 . CCITi, "Telematie Services: Operatoins end Quality

ILut continued on next page .)

Prtinary Examiner-Edward L. Cola. Sr . Assistant Examiner-Jerome Grant, [I Attorney, A;mc or Firm-Louis T . Isa(

[57j ABSTRACT A system and method has one or more store and for-ward facilities, (SAFF) each associated wish a plurality of subscriber faeomile muhinn. The SAFF include a computer for controlling operations and mesa data stor-aQe equipment. A subscriber to the system delivcn an outgo inj facsimile message to we SAFF with which n is associated. which records the fu mauve, washer with data u co originating facsimile machine and desti. nation fanimile machine. The SAFF thin delivm she facsimile mettle [o the intended receiver facsimile machine. either directly or through another SAFF . If unsuccessful on m initial attempt, the SAFF periodi-eally retries to send she facsimile message. The system also provides fpooling of all facsimile mains for an intended receiver machine, which are all spooled upon connection with the receiver machines Subscriber mail. boxes tie provided as put of the mesa rtorue, which can be aeeeanM by a subscriber to have her messages delivered co any facsimile machine 6e designates. Se. cure lac3imile transmission is achieved through use of subsexiber PIN oumben. Broadcasting red::atiaQ mes-sages and cost accounting an also be achieved by the system end method . After reeeipi of a message by the subscriber, the system may provide an immediate-reply service, allowing the recipient w immediately send our a manage selected from a reply smite menu. The system can also be used in cooperation wish a paperlm facsimile machine which directly displays the facsimile mange on a screen and is capable of entering outgoing fawimile manages to the SAFF. The system can con. ven the received fu message into voice mail mange end dirt the eoovatW voice message m a voice mail-box u imvucted by the mare gender or recipient.

~_--.fOII ,~ i ~ I .Rr/ /1

v r° .LZ'J , s~

5,291,302

of Service", Recommendations F. 162. vol. II, Sections 1-f0, 598. Cunningham, "Electronic Ma Standards to Get Rub ber-Snmped and Go Worldwide" . Des Communica-tions, pp . 1l9-16". May 19" ICamsa "Development of a Public Facsimile Communi-cation System Urine Storage red Conversion Tech-niques" IEEE National Tdaeommwinnom Coo(er-mep 801I30-1204, pp. 19.".1-19.".! . 1980. Kamaa "Public Faedmik Communication Nenwrt". IEEE Communiaoom Mapdne. 1201 p 47 n seq. . 1982. Ejiri, -Advanced Facsimile Communication Netowrk" . JT'R630700, p. Iii (List continued on next pate .)

U.S . PATENT DOCUMENTS 4.106 .060 6/1976 Chapman. )r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . )SlNO:

4.2143.257 1/19lI Ywasdu n d. . . . . . . . . . __ ._ . 77A/2e0 4.749 .216 LI9AI 1Canda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3$6/217 4.255 .619 J/I9lI Suto . . .. .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7)9/% 4.326.098 .nae: eow,c,ti . n .I . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . 34oie:S .3 4 .327 .251 x/1911 Fomento a v. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179/I SM a,3a0,763 1/19!3 Supyama et v. . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 179/3 A 4.371 .752 L19U Manh~ et v. . .. . . . . . . . . . 179/7.1 TP 4.432.020 2/196 Onwa al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., . . . . . 779/100 4.491 .873 1/196! Tdaysma . . . . . . . .. . .... .. .. . .. . . . . . . 156856 4,5W,771 2/I9!! DvIW in al . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . 179/2 DP 4.504.868 3nses ti.wit.et +l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. 3sei :eo 4.J1),790 !/19i3 Walter et v . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3N/900 4.319,999 !/1963 YaEiki a d. . . .. . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73V86 4.523,055 6/19t! HoN « al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . J79/69 4.549.047 10/19/3 Brian of al. . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179/1! B 4.571.6" L1986 Herrag n a . . . . . . . .. . .. .. . . ... .. 16x/900 ",77J .047 LI916 Shimisu . . . . . . . . ... .. . .. .. .. . . . .. . . . . . . 1!!/157

(List continued on next page.)

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 77" 119777 7/1912 Japan . . . . . . . . . . .. ... .. . .. .. .. . . . .. NWN I/00 !7.119!" 1 7/I9tI Japan . .. .. . .. .. ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HWL 11/20 57.fN362 11/1911 laps . . . . . . . . . . ..... . . . .. . . . . . . . . . H04N 1/00 37.192167 11/192 Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ..... .. . . . . . H04N I/00 3! " IJIIai t/19U Japan . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . ....... .. . .. HWN I/00 7i-Ilt16I t/198] Japan .. .. . .. .. . . . . . . . . .. .. ... .. ... H04N I/00 !1-16l472 9/I9t7 Japan . . . . . . . . . _ .. . .. ....... . . . . . H04N 1/00 31-1773.1 10/191) Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ..... .. .. ... H04N 1/II 011617) 10/191) Japan .. .. ....... .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... .. 358/403 39.276W Lt9N Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .. . .. .. . . . . . . . H04N 1/00 39.)0772 3/19N Japan .. .. ..... . . . . . . . . . . .. ... . . ....... . . J79/I00 l9.99N6 6/19N Japan . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. ..... .. .. . .. H04N 1/DO 59-117845 7/194 Japan .. .. ... .. . . . . . . . . .. ..... ..... H04N 1/00 019667 11/1966 Japan ......... .. . . . . . . .. .. ... .... .N.. . . I7!/r0I

79-.1x765 Ibl9l1 Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .. . .. . . _ . . . . R6cM L<2 (List continued on nut pale.)

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Hats. "Present Situation and Future Trends of Commu-nicanon Processing Technologies : Application to Pub. Gc Telecommunications Networks- . Japan Telecom . municanons Review, vol . 28 . No. t, 661000. pp . 228-237, Oct . 1987. ICruufti . "Enhanced Facsimile Communication Net-work". Japan Telecommunications Review, pp. 30-33, tan. 1966. Kurahara et al . . -Control Methods For Facsimile Store and Fowud Cummunicsnon Services-. lEEFJIEICE. Conference Record v. I of 3. Tokyo. Japan. Nov. 13-I8, 1987. Manuo, "Development of Facsimile Communication System for Packet Switched Data Network", Interna . tional Conference on Communications, vol . 2 or 1, pp. 41 .1.1-41 .1 .7, 1981 . Tanmura et al.. "Experimental Facsimile Communica-tion System on Packet Switched Data Network". IEEE Tcansoetioro on Communicauon+, vol. COM-29 . No. 12. Dec. 1961 . Teramurs. "International Facsimile Communication Over Packet Switched Network" . Japan Annual Re. views in Eleetronia, Computers t Tekeommuniea-tions, vol. 9. Telecommunication Technologies, pp . 239-241,1983 . Nakayaeu et al., "A Menage Handling System For Public Network ACM Eighth Din Communications Symposium" . vol. 13, No . 4, pp. 103-111 . Ejiri and Eedo. "Facsimile Communication in Digital Network" . 1TR NOIOQ pp . 19-2x, 1994 . Fiarvu et al ., "Enhanced Mange Handling System for In-House Use", Globeeom '8!-IEEE Global Telecom. muniutiom Conference. !!1201-0S, pp. 41 .4/I-6. Yamairki, "Recent Advances in Foes imile Communi-C"flom", IEEE CH2190.7/63, pp. 112-125, 1995 . Ohmura et al., "Development of a Multimedia MHS Sued on CCITT X.100 Reeommmdatiom", Computer Manage Systems-BS, Elsevier . Science Publishers, 1916 . Tomes, -Electronic Mail Systems", Japan Annual Reviews in Electronics, Computer ! Teleeommunica " rions, vol. 9, Telecommunications Technology. 110000, pp . 213-190. 1917 . Orawa et V., "Facsimile Mail System a Basis (or Imo-grated Mail System". ISS 'K, Session 7"C, Paper 3. bA0l07-I I . PP. 1-7. Hinel S., "Planning of a Nation-Wide Facsimile Sto-re-god-Fowvd Network" . National Telecommunin-dom Conference: Innovative Telecommunications Key [o the Future. 19! I.

5,291,302

Piercy, M. S., "Auwfu: A Store-and-Forward Fac-simile System", Post Office Electrical Engineer's Jour-nal v. 71, )an. 19, 1979 . Murawsti. T., "Faspisk Store and Forward Facsimile Transmission Service". Elacuical Commuuicatiom v. 54, No . 3, pp . 231-137, 1979 . MCI Communications Corporation, "MCI Safe (R) Store-and-Forward Message Switching". System (List continued on nest page .)

U .S . PATENT DOCUMENTS 4 .521 .656 V1916 WaEa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358/438 )SIiUA 4,594,434 4/19t6 HuNmoto . . . . . ._ ._ ._ . . . . . . . . 17912 A 4.535.906 ui916 MautieVn a d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779/!! ",317,633 7/19!6 Wand n al . . . . . . . __ . . . . . . . . . _ . 76t/900 ".602.129 7/19!6 Matthcw+etaL _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . )l9/!t 4.613.907 9/I9M Ywhlmoto a al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358/257 J!t/2!'1 ",614 .9l8 9/1916 Dontr a al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . )S!/:6) 4.635,253 I/19t7 Urui et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 770/E7 4.642.697 2/19!7 Wad, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I!!/a)9 4,646.160 2/1917 lizulu et v. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]36/COI 4,652,700 ]/1967 Matthew et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . )79/19 ",652971 ]/1917 KaNulti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J!!/2!6 4.634.718 )/1917 SueYOahi . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 736/237 4.660.218 "/I9l7 Hauhimow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779/9J 4.667,248 !/197 Kanno . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ... . . . . . . . 731/210 ",706.116 11/1997 Kondo . . . . . . . . . ... . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7!t/426 1,717.677 12/197 Gordon . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . 779/97 4.748.656 S/19tI Gi6M a al . .. . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . )79/97 s,76).]l7 t/l9N L.ehwn d d. . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . 770/51 .

(List continued on nest page .)

79.1I4766 ILI9t4 Japan . .. .. ... .. . . . . . . .. ... . . . . . . . . . . ... . 379/100 39-I]19M II/1964 Japan . . . . . . . . . ... .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . HdN 1/00 60x66 ") ]/I98S Japan . ..... .. . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 779/100 008 1%3 !/197 Japan . . . ..... .. . . . . . . .. ... . . . . . . . . . . ... . 77I/.02 0097173 7/19ri Japan . .. .... . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . .. ... .. . 77t/!3s 66%9x! 5/1917 Japse, . .. . . . . . . . . ... .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . HWN 1/00 Ea119161 N19t3 Japan . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379/x! t01191M L19t3 Japan . .. ..... . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . ... .. . 179/100 60.13r33s 7/191! Japan . .. ....... . . . . . . ... .. . . . . . . . . .. ... . 779/100 6bISW6 7/197 Japan . . . . . . . .. ... . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . HO4M 7/4l f0.17P167 9/191! Japan ._ . .. . . . .. ..... . . . . . . . . ... .. HWN 1/U0 60.197059 10/1913 lapao . .. .. ..... . . . . . . ..... .. . . . . . . .. ... . 779/100 60.3H077 IL19/J Japan . . . . . ..... . . . . . . . . ... .. . . . . . . . . ... . 779/100 61 " 13727 1/19t6 Japan . 0017757 I/I9l6 Japan . . . . ._ . . ._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J ."C/191

lA17)711 1/19K Japan . . . . .. . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . .. H04L 11/10 6140060 1/19E6 Japan . .. ... .. . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . ... .. HORN 1/00 67 " 17)777 N19t6 Japan . .. ... .. .. . . . . . . ..... . . . . . . . . HORN 1/)2

(list condoned on nest past.)

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

User's Guide Sanded Asynchronous Accev . (in pan) 19 . RCA Global Communications. Inc., "RCA Fulorward (5M) International Facsimile Service-Overview . . . Sep I. 1967 . RCA, "RCA Tries Again With FarForward" Informs.' uon Weeti, p. "1, Sep. 21, 1967 . "Design for Facsimile Storage and Conversion process . Lag in STOC-201", Sltimamura et al . vol . 7J, No . l, 1995 . A. Boleda et al . . "PBX/LAN" Telais 1963 two, pp. 27-73, 2M quaver . H. Wursbur` et al ., "PBX-Based Lens: Lower Cost Per Terntinal Connection-. Computer Design . Feb . 1984, pp. 191-199. A. Torino, "Len's-Partners wish Voice/Data Sys-tem", Telecommunications Sep. 1984, pp. 64S-64k. Wp . John Wojno with Robw Gibb. "While-You-Wait Fu", Newaweek. Deidrc A: Depte, "An Answering Machine That Re. ally Gives Answers" . Oct. 9. 19 . InboundOutbound, "Special Requests try Spectrafaut", Sep. 1919, Circle Reading Service Card Number 73. IDP Report. "Speetnfas to Introduce Special Request Fu Information Revival Service", Sep. 17, 1919, vol. 10. No. 1 5. Lama Collier, -Local Entrepreneurs Invention Weds Modern Convienirnea", IC end K. Jack Lnar . -Making Databases; Available co computer Illiterates", The Morsis Daily Her" Dec. IS, 1969 . Can Chang Mueert, -Just The Fait, Ma'am", Husineu Magazine, Tuesday. Vice. S, 1989. Phil Kadoa, South Town Economist, "For Columis4 Getting Fu Has s New Meaning" Friday. Dc:. 8, 1989. Tno+eript Paul EMlieh. Fwocial News Network HigL Technology Business Minutes Oct. 3. 1969 . Muw Setosuchi. "Facsimile Date Converter Applied to Various Data Communications Services", Jan., 1917, pp. u-ze. "Japan is Matia& INS A Amity", M. Kuanbv; Tele " phony, Oct. 24. 1967 pp. 64, N, 70. 74. T6. 76 and 61 . ..Integrated Digital Switching System With Queuing Stone Facility". S. Hanori et d.. international Coof. on Commuoiudons, Scenic Wash., U.S.A . (Jun. 8-13, 19t0), pp. 27.4/1-! . "Mendhn SL Information Services", L. Lee n al.. Tel-au 1985 Two (Hell Northern Aa., Ltd., Goads), pp. 13-19.

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Oqeruoms . pp . 1-61 . FuMuier 21 Handbook . NEAJ( 200 IMS, NEC. Facsimile Mul Module. Gen. enl Description pp . t-I chru 6-I . NEAJ( 200 IMS (Facsimile Mail Module) System Description . NEC No . " I Issue 1 . Jan . . 1966, D0. 1-3Z. NEAX 2400 IMS (Facsimile Mail Module) Station User's Guide (Applicable to PB Telephone). NEC ND 41363 Issue I, Jul ., 1983, pp . 1-72. ITT Inaugurates Fupak, Butinl Communications Re-view, NEC product, PP . 29-71 . Facsimile Transmission Service, Universal Compatibil-tty Between Facsimile Machines, Faa/Paic, She Next Breakthrough . Service Fnmre. Flexible Fanimile Transmission . fi'i Domestic Trans. mition Systems, 1 Mar. . 1910, pp . 392 Jmdi 2" Sep., Thursday Sep. 2", International Switch

Symposium, Colloque Interniationall de Commutation pp. I-2. To : Distribution From : Mike Donnenfield, Fumuter Made Easy. Jun. 9, 1913, Internal Memo . Audiofu, Inc. Fax Massigersent, System Description, Jul. . 1991 Release l . p. i-iadei-4. Audiofas, Inc., Facsimile Automated and On-Demand Distribution Methods Oct. 6, 1913 . Audiofu Inc. Pro. po..i for Bellsouth Advanced Networks . pp . 1-22. Audiofat. Ins., Facsimile Automated and On-Demand Distribution Methada. System Spetifintiom for Ha South Advanced Networks, Nov. 2!, 1961 . Trilope Mange Management Systems, Converse Technology, Inc. . Dec.. 1987. pp. i-s. TriloQue Hardware Architecture, Convene Technol-ogy, Inc. 1967 . Trilo`ue Message Management Systems, Converse Technology . Inc. The International Business International 100. North Amman. International Business, Jan. !991, P. 36 . "Convene cad Axom Crate a Voice and Fu Messag-ing Strategic Alliance". Brian Wiltshire. Convene Actions, Converse Technology . Inc., Fourth Quarter 1990. Voice Maxpng Coma to Age in Today's Mobile Communications Market. Mobile Communications Business. Feb. 1911. Trilo`ue Voiulosue User Guide. Convene Technol-ogy, Inc. pp . t-12. "lntutu's Unique Fu Service-, May 1990, pp. 58-59, Tdxonn . FcQenbawn. "Information Disclosure Statement foe I92.B39", Apr. 1990 Pat. No . ",918.722 Fee History.

"Evolution of Integrated Digital Network and Service Integration", Maruyamis. Oceda and Mori. pp. 1 . 1 .4/1-1.1 .1 .6 . "Electronic Switching Systems". Fujitsu Scientific Technical Journal IW. ZI, 1985 . pp . u3-2!! . Necmaster Fuxtioaal Spedtkation. No . : Fu OOZ, Ver-sion : 200, Oct. 16. 1994 12:37PM pp. 1-127. Fax Master ZI Remote Operation. What is Remove Opentiomt, How To Set Up Fax Master For Remove

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 4.769 .719 9/1961 Endo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . 77A/196 4,A)7,79! 6/19A9 Cohrn et al . . . . . . . _. . . _ . .__ ._ . J79/6! 4.947 .891 7/199 Koum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ .__ . . . . . »eiee 4.1166.15% 9/19!9 Heuuslmann ._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 719/9 4.870.679 9/19!9 Adachi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . J!A/Us t,691.])7 1/1990 Bonn et d. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]79/100 4.905,273 L1990 Cordon n al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779/97 4,914.396 t/1990 Svnneluri et v. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179/9a 1,91!,722 x/1990 Duehrm n v. . . .. .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 7791100 4 .922.518 snsao Gordon ct v . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . »vi» 4.933 .955 6/1990 NeuEORer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]79/I00 4,%1.170 7/1990 Herbn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379/100 a,%7,1lt IO/1990 Mouton et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77!/x33 4 .974 .214 11/1990 Pmns n il . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]79/100 4.994.926 LI991 Cordon n v . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7!!/r00 5.00],373 )/1991 CTamberlin et v. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 779/19 5,00,916 t/1991 1N'uAoli . . . . . .. . .. .. .. ... ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ]79/f9 5.095.445 Viss : s.lu,ucw . . . . . .. . . . . . .. ... . . ... .. . . . .3sei4ao 5.136.634 en": w. n v. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . nsnao

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 0154258 7/I9t6 Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .... ... .. . .. H04N 1/00 61.33713 ]/1917 Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . .. ... .. ... H04N I/00

6I" 172rM !/1977 Jape . . .. .. ... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 779/100 62" !7!061 6/t9tT Japan . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . ... .. .. . . . . . H04N 1/00 0111147 6/1987 Japan .

62" 141N9 6/1917 Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . HORN 1/00 0199161 9/1967 Japan .

63 "20163. 9/1917 Japan . 006w64 3/1961 Japan .

63-107361 5/1962 Japan . 01!7961 1/1988 Japan . . .. . ..... .. .. .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 73!/r01 oume qnvee Japan . . .. . .. ....... .. . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . .. ss4i4oo - 0290041 11/19lt Japan . . . . . . . . .. .. . .. .. ..... .. Hd1N/I/100 6411677 1/1919 Japan ..... .. ... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. )79/100 007]9.3 7/1919 Jape .. ... .. ... .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 7!!/r00 01126!6 3/1919 Japan .. ... .- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .- . . )Sltir00 133326 10/19f9 lapaa . . . . . . .. . . _. ..... .. . .. . . HWLII/20 0003671 1/1990 Japan ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ... . 73!/02 0161333 11/1990 Japan ..... . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .. . 7S "/r01 2211691 7/1969 United Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . 719/9 "

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

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49EA/ERsrL JERVICE COMPLETE

itrconPu6 CJ ALL DE rECrEo

iV ?ESEA/T VO/CE ~?OMPT MEAN/

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ACCEPT 4ttfR RE V/ 1/Owe

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U.S. Pate Mar . 1, 1994 Si 5,291,302

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3,291,302

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The electronic transmission of documents by way of 20

facsimile (fu) systems employing public and private switched telephone networks hay become both eom-monplue and, often. an essential component in many businaa aetivi[ia . In ouch a setting, it is very common for the fu terminals (fu machine) to be kept quite =s busy during a major fraction of the business day . More over, where sender and recipient are in different time zoom the "business day" ears approach 24 houea. pvtie " ululy in international activities. It if common for fu 30 users to "broadcast" documents w a number of differew recipients . that is. send the same message to several different fu machines It is also true that the contents of wine feed documents are of such r uaadve nature that the originator or addressee would like to have a ]i measure of control over who might tie those docu-ments u they move from the receiving machine m the beads of the actual addressee. These circumstances present a number of practical

problems for a fu user. In order to make a successful 40 fu transmission it is necessary that the receiving ma. chine be available a the dine these the transmitting ma-chine attempts to contact it. If the receiving machine is already in cafe handling moths message. the transmitter will receive a "busy" dal. The originator's only M 43 course is to continue initiating telephone ells until contact cars be established. The is a "hit or airs" pro. ceu at best and can be very wasteful of the otipeatios operator's lima Soma rather expensive. fu m~ehiae hive diPh+l w

memories which will allow the to memorize the docks-went m be transmitted gad to be programmed to mdse multiple radials in ass effort to establish comact in an aum~^s way. However. ti's o limited to only one or two documents god. mars importantly. it ties up the 55 transmitting -whim until the effort u weeatfd or abandoned. This u hardly an acceptable solution it that machine has other documents to mad or receive. These tie other conditions which ears scale in a ful "

care us transmit even though a telephone connection has 60 been established. Perhaps the mart common of these is the absence of piper is the receiving machine. Iv such situations, repeated attempts to "radial" will lead to repeated toll charges with each attempt. with no actual success until the receiving machine is services! (which 63 may be wine rime if the machine is operating unat-tended because it 'u nighttime half-way around the world) .

The objects of this invention are to address chose many shortcomings; of present fu systems end to pro-vide an integrated system for their solution. Further more, the invention u to achieve this in a way which is fundamentally compatible with existing fax terminal machines. The basic approach is to provide special computer-bawd to Spore And Forward Facilities

FACSIMILE TELE~jM.MUNICATIO%S SYSTEM AND METHOD

This is a continuation of application Ser. No . 07/53 .181, filed Feb. 12. 1991, now abandoned. which was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No . 07/2s9,798 . filed Sep. 22, 1998 now U.S . Pat. No . 4.994,926.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The field of this invention it telecommunications

systems used in correction wish facsimile transmissions . More specifically, this invention relates to a system gad method for enhancing ense of facsimile transmissions 15 and providing teams relative m facsimile transmis-sions not heretofore available.

2 Busy 1. .s which are destined to receive me, .

sages are affected by the converse problem . Since they end the prospective transmitting machines must engage in (perhaps, automated) "telephone ug" . They are used emery meReimdy . When a transmitting machine gets a busy venal, even d u automatically reduls. it can only Quas at when the receiving machine will be available. Thus . the receiving machine will likely roman idle for some fraction of the time until such an attempt is made . Tae practice o! broadcasting documents to a number

of ddrmee obviously compounds these problems And adds still others of its own. Even if arse does nor encoun-ter busy signals or impaired machines. convenient broadcasting demands an expensive memory-type fu machine on the transmitting end . Such machines read in the document once end wen proceed to automatically dial the various recipient machines This process ua up the sending machine and its telephone line and makes them unavailable toy incoming calls . This, of course. exacerbates the busy signal problem for those units trying w contact the pending machine. The security of sensitive documents is still another

problem Once concur is established between two fu machines. the transmission of the document proceeds automatically . irrespective of who may be sanding by the receiving machine at the lima In a busy once. the contents of three documents are accessible to the fax operator and anyone elm who happens to be in the vicinity .

It u AM common for individuals to wish w deliver fu documents [o a recipient who is not currently avail-able through a known machine (e.`. a person on a busi" am trip) . This is a very inconvenient situation in that it requires that the paper documents be held until the traveler phones is from a remove machine. It further require that there be someone available at that tine who has knowledge of and access to the documents intended for the recipient. Another concern u related to so-csl!d ps; r!c: .`i

terminals. In recent years, paperlas fu techniques allow a computer or a microproensor equipped with specific software and modem to directly transmit and receive (simile messages. However. it is also very common that the recipient u not in his or 6R office (the papcleo fu terminal may also be loomed at home) u the dine when fu message u coming. For example, the recipient 's out w lunch or otherwise absent from his or bar office or homes This requires the sender to retry the communication message delivery again and again if those is no older fax machine available in the office.

Still another concern if adequate &ewundag control we the billing of calls Typically. many businesses wish to be able m track the costs of both fu machine cafe god the associated telephone charges. While tele-phone charges can be ascertained from telephone com-pany records. in the present environment these must be related w records of the number of pages transmitted per call anti w forth, separately maintained by the fix machine or its attendants.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

network u in In" ~ 5._y1 .~0: ork fyve pan of a sW~

S ~tphicall r, pouted' [o such sm,==,ons A r" .1 entered

ctephoInto f ne Q«umer near th groups

MASS us ~m~roadb Storage by h

users ~m~ of 4~r'~

s . List, The fax ~ c or Pro r ~u~ ufier~ c

or '- hs,~ magnetic bY

~h~a' where Y °'mGute eyc ~c~'~ Q.b

Intended for die from th S++etic disk . ° I then y~o and . . +r the n esainanon phone ~~ pin

the t~smaehine~

within

Machin machine is "I ansuw ~fihe call. t~ Outgo ingh ~c~°d sa~~y~

Message every ma a SAFF Can

char SAFF ~°< the ddt 'a within the

inauon fusmti than

Proceeds to attempt reSlon of io Copies she ~~~~1~o, the one t the SAFF.na for °^e

he ~yslf 4°c'umen~Yailablen(or raanv~�g °o

In es tinacion Mach

~rt -0 unto her ~ a menu ~d treat

if CPU to WI she dacwhich case ~fuj ~I faalitY by ori gin Since clan «+~amitting other

d~~ immediate]

~s uYp~ C d^Q wnf ~S °nF°rteba~ 1' ~

the documents

oe~ Sw

been So a are stored a.. u

. as [a hour she

be necessity w

other aa~+ihich his,

If the 0 motion ~y~S

end other p~n~~nrdedALL 12 live7 to ~~ 'Pooled ~Likew~~ Y ofhaendiaQ the ~ aye°~

(ag,~oece v~ lately

Quay a busefivery canny ~ c

the Io Provides rectiA nt ftr wi (h da~au°4~~~~~ al'i°

,no out of - a Machine 'Plant w enul To still is of forward'

In th ne Periodic etempq

unseal tya~~ ,arand the

any Other ~~ nauon o~ store

m~8a daVision

tiped~° q~ can ~ o e ~mMoats der

know( print

io~~ 17 P~Oth '~ ~~B doa,m~nEy~,~Cuinto

al~~coAre a~d back

~a`iethyiyarna~ ~imacld~ rids

co ~t~e dell-very is III delay the sys[em,~ d eaihu we Chi to individuds who "ided tlyi

4" Provi system will ~~ ~ delayed. r4Iin ~8 we ~~ For -Sample

. are not ;~ ~~ �P+riieul:rfy which ip8

A rcfera~e~ o ~~ deliver W~ mS she prot a b and Soft ~t Portable

~~ca7led `pADer7py^ time to tra~~

h~m°^ ma-

a With Mod ~e ~V[ PlacinY

dentifies

the deli ~B the d da u~m wed at a lacer ~

fax °`M ~

are being emP~oyed ac ~~~ ~ °mula~c~ ally nqr the dadna~B sPcoli Marc lion nS syuem we In this 4 Provides

system (ft a v~~ a~~t~ntc

mass ~n °~~~Th ~ N ~ long-distance ~~° of J1 aal10 Co~~°' Cate with A~ ~ a~ ~ ~~tilince their the vi se

trove ~~ ese lines are ~ Only o

lines that or trans -out t ~ yta+d ~~Y

10 be , fax sue 8 sy stem wader. l~~~tti, on am ed

by~~~ eonhaitth ~ at ~nehe fist try. Sub ~~~~certa~~n Bad Y

termin al

Portable ~ ~

SW~ce locally

~ ~m~ a up Me can

the yWk o(~~ long more or ~ p Phone ~ ~

can be It the d4a +mal telerixio ~~ ~~~u~ery~~?

will chi

send A Pin Ivory

~ Cdrvnmately fuc~aftW. The from t6 e ~ ~~ to display ~~Pla in a "~4°l

tempt ma Or havid, gone

y~~° a cy~k~with c " s the inbo 10

sYstens 13 Also Aerosol. message Cc which can Calling ~ ~~~ report will

through

4uatias trf' pro~~ ~Bmator ;~~;_ such as ~ yam, ~at~d~ r~ message and ~ agar r ~~~~ 411 to ~ failed Mo answer m+ehiqc Pi~,'~ voice m d delete the ~ ~e Message, m ~ ~ Proceed (et n~ ~ ~° send au

useful feature ~ ~ ~ box,

A° imao+s~t fad, cernate a~y~.. or ~ orisi+yw~ named

Vol ,cc repl;b~ry of ~ ~u ~Pimr 'uses

sivers +f! of ~~ Q« ~ of ~

it that it Parfait. ° "eQOim~~Ud u m°s~s° back to

Are jd ~c ~

~e a r ~~ q~

spooled is she system t! 4~ ~a~ed from 4 of Pu+ubk~~; ~ ~ terse. fhin

the wai e. link

In together

m once m~ g cE ~ ~bm the

the u~~ wn v% m~ do ~'

if in A he new ~~e ~rtlv~~~usbarch Fate are Originator

Akin to these (ytureS ;~ ~' ~ ~~M

by Occurring, [ active

queue and ue~P~r ~PPended ho r ~~ dump I,,

W that the rayWeat~~°a iaclua64ity co have we This hat she ~ Y~v transmitted when their ~urrrd eor

the s ember, ;n Order Provide a xeyri~Y Code, such `~9~iremem

Since L+cing the lion e~c+lf

~Y of a busy dqraarion h utel ~ pool to

niter r c' ~t Ind r°An 4 ^~ ~ e wads a turuion ~ this °a+~ t r outgo;n8 fu Machine. '~f that a ~ report to the dahnadon ~ alw~

at th s~orrt the SAFF s! rt~cipient and r G°eu+++mts are gem

he l ta u Waiting u ide~fics °~~ e

a lacilicy near the art

T~ raiDi~t m t

automatic ~lY Machine. do lor a Pe n of

Smating.mkhine, it is hen eyl in to the 5,~~

broadcasting a! the

practical to Provide for +nd key in the rasu~~y ~e to

initiate she aef'v she Q°°° t^~~~ Since she does, initiate ~ ~~1~. the delivr

e 5.-'q 1,30? cry easily may be dn. J until th available

toF Fina l ly .

the Code. dxumemi c r~'Psent

is Telephone ,_ . er

s u indicate langdist~nc e4, . special service the~ci control of she telephon 'very are e system . as . he SAFF system sYdcn

FIGS t 1 he and ~ . n t

this c d

Provide yoth Cline d chug 'fare he ac counting

system can 7 yscems Offered by either on GNowev~rerolled and it service e n rendered and (y~ Information ~efephone C++~ be if is al IOUs s ,

. such a, 3" . inClose to th Constructed ~h

-house u!

~ ~~t~~ greatly sorted according orQ~ mg co she on Papa trans . in-house ~elephoeeu~ Component t ehu oFhc

use Y facilitate the fu 8umtor's clients . Th,s system or wt

THE tu~ mc~~ do cost

or a, remotely as BRIEF `mot

~CRf I dirnn f~ co All

EF D PTION OF ~~ ~ clot comm, graphical 3 alone her objects nu Y viable ~ Ir u

~ obi,.

be apPUrnt from advantages arch, p ~ ~f NC',S Preferred

which Provide sub,,,, ofsthe ( pan 4~wa

be con. cIon of the Of the Preferred n ~""c The choice Of .tirel

wilt the following Deqiled D ~a ferurn might be driven attached

el ~ otntee the ~ h atio'nsh;~r~d

fro she 17 ~

~4~ MarkeL toward oR

legal consideration,. -umber

systems

c,)Mtrol set

A at an wishows

Connection

~ w o of the vSAFFS~oae~' . form . ~avo in the network,

full s or inc : Y .,trip dow�^ more Clearly t . ~"' a ynQle 5.~, �ub u ~o%

mown b Y undoes

Consider FIG . 7 ' 30 ~ ~~ ~ Ayr Wd ~e Present invention. is ~ ~ WWild'

a in which a fu ~ra,umu~ note Function

the major ~M~SAFF nenu ~

sion doOccurs

~~i. Rare the rya,u-FIG. 5 shown in ottheorigi. destina tion two machines . u unlisted when the F G ~+ncuonin~aeN FF~ ~ Components 5. 1

and , from N ~ Matin ~~wm

~ tot call dv ewer F

In the SA of the ~ on phone general voice

~ ~ and Sb show steps requited 1. a

s flowFIGS. !

ail x ~ ~;chy~te ~ ~p~ am~ehina Typically.

sending and there u

Iditsitifying the an

~~ 9°v°Y w the OriP,qie F~ on of i fac tory, a~~ ¢ t~ ~ ~~r Cilia ~aeuhaa~i We

general ,60 w.d aa ~~,h°+ n~ w e~,~�d° ~ ads

u.. ,~ ro°; , n " ~ ~~~a~ oranstmiattio

0 takes piece some um p ;~ s ""`~ SAFF, a described p~rdcWule ~W 5 j~°`ro°n 41 era b YIN

the Present ~ Via. A ow chart o<

all fa : lea.

FIG. 7 Y is F7G s~biaiher w Ne f a: ~misfions initiated ~~n a

scri! m steps required to handle a se

<he m F^x ~P~ed b rvice r Y an "orip~~~~iemen~y~ us tuat FIG °

unrt of a SAFF, as dneribed p~~y~~ ie °~ u

~° which ~P~ed

FI~7. 1a~ Y ~ the °n,+Fnada ~ ~ SAFF o exemplary FIG. S allows a bfoek din Y is ;p Dl+ry S t u Machine. nwuofu AFFS 1 and 1 ~Fwith

iG~flm faeaiai;la ac- -

tarmuW of &A anyodimen~ of nber fax MW

the S a Wbd~n`

the SAFFe and u,~~ sub. shows a block In FIG. 7. ~~madcall indicated. Thus

lize uof ~ WOalat faes;m~7~u~~al w6; h

their ~~~~ a Machines j

fed over telephone Lines [o on~nate

fux-m°vta. d~+rY uleviypo ~ for diiDLY of taeCan q~p;j~ ~i~aaa ~~

the SAFF~+ includes an on 'Q;. DETAILED

p~~p770N U also r~ ~ inducles Each of the

S~ ~d Uses 26 cc

Introduction ~! co~la~r~tiv~Yeonaecud"ovatihmcnon blocks u

rf- ~~ P~~ °°6°~mat of ~ invention iacluda~+m 7. 3R E,ch of °Phone tines 6. u Which

u ~pynctive fad a°p~ n a mW" ~ ~ ~ iaiaf+ees a0. 31 coupled the ". IS ,y~

,~ ~,~ w~ ro a ey

.;~ +YUem of ~ 2S to ~Dbona ; b. The tuxnonw

telephone

r+mom~ explained luerejr Weenson ~e~ °~O~ror or ~~

°~OdePhOlse dWribu. service and Purpose

rea~r w b ~ 17 ~

""y °°°a control w momma. status Ind CC.

Store AAd g

F ~s 6nadve uD ~

answerer Time

~ aw ~ ' ~~ o~Pa Hcalondyynee~°°d much n ins fiesumck etwprk. Tyd ry~~ r ~~ «F}~ e~p,dd°d in th

fax e .1 .1 ~ "w4ue reap

ban such +f 1 a FIG. company-,

man no to awhina'6 but other provilde the mretieaJOn the ne w~ 5 ~ ~~~

code at the dedicated

i ~ May

"be ~Y tr+nwie ty~( ~~ Components which ~"~"d ~+es s L Either war. a�

in Nip ¢+.e nee

pm°yde~wit~ ^ro coo ~ eabout °~ th ~ ~~~ Wt ~SAFF t iydf iqa~FF ht ormA ' 'tee S

d~m~° machine. th

vid e sequence of ~u~ ~~ allow ,~, iniervmuon of da~Hoo mry~a ~u~eh~ ~ Phone in Deco of the

y~ o! b shown 'Us Fro. I ~wto ~ accounting of ~e r~ ~ ~Y1~' Pro. ~ ~~ M SAFF IS. For Lion p~ wr p~po,y moment, rhb SAFF

doted for both ~e the

Proxy for the dam. kP~+oaevitieieompanY, a�0 ~upm control and 6s cc

~,~uall of [hae aeti

~d the k 3~. While

noting the I'M" daunation l~py~ a~~,

the SAFF ~ a~ ~a the ori~inuing

(n the Preferred embodimrnt it is Presumed the ~~ ~ ~e same digital diy~ Sages that would have

SAFFi ~ P~~~ u t~ Interface between she I Occurred if a

local chin* had actually ~~eeaa action o'he destination Ins Thus, ii whoa back she

5,?91 .302 _

destination telephone number, to identify the intended will be referred co m the following . It Wdl be nosed chap destination machine . and agrees to accept the fax forma some critics] elements are shown in more than one of requested by the originating machine. the Figures . This causes the originating mulune 1 to respond by As in example. It is assumed that one of the subscrib.

transmitting the fu document image dau. The origmao- 7 en 1 Attached w SAFE t wishes to send a fu message mg machine's identification, the destination machine's to one of the subscribers 28 attached to SAFF is . The telephone number. the fu format, and the document subscriber I places the call to the destination machine 28 image data are all stored on a mass storage device 67 (in which is routed over SAFF Directed Lines L to the FIG . 7), such as a computer magnetic disc unit . Fur originate Function 9 of SAFF t. Then upult originate chermore, a unique vphamene Manage Code is ar i0 within the SAFF system and They an picked up by the signed co the block of data w identify it Wltile it u rai- On-net Interface 6" which is part of the Originate Fuoe-dent in the SAFF ryitem . This Message Code u related lion, u shown in FIG . 3 . This interface signals the to the file name for the scored data . originate Host Computer 70 of the incoming ea11 end

Delivery the Hon responds by directing the incoming dan to a At this point the SAFF 8 initiates two actions. The i7 Mm Storage Unit 67 where it u stored in a file 61,

lust is to generate m -Acceptance Record" of the During this storage process, the Hat directs two transaction to this point Thus record in one form or ocher activities. (t creates a call star= record file 69 mother, will be returned w the originator u will be (FIG. 7) is mesa storage. recording the time and due of described below . 'Me second cep is w begin to deliver the origination. the telephone number o! the calling the fax message co the destination machine 28. 20 maehioe, the telephone number of the destination me. The devils of the delivery process depend to some ehiae, my security or other special services requested,

degree on the geographic location of the destination various housekeeping information . end it usipu the within the network. A tinkle SAFF pan, in principle. Menage Code number which hates not only the fracas service a broad geographical aces However, in the file but also the fu data file associated with it. The Host preferred embodiment. communications beyond a crn 23 aln pew the destination machine's Wephox numbs rain limiting distance involve a[ least two SAFFS, one t w the Outbound Control unit 74 which proceeds to near the originator 1 gad the other. a "destination wma.Z the otipnapag SAFF t with the norm avail. SAF'F', It near the recipient b of the dxummt The able 9AFF It w the destination through a (pngdiAaeee choice of one, two, or more SAFFs is determined by interface 7! ova long-distance eireuia r (34 in FIG. network economics, or ocher considerations. sad u am JO 1). In the process of anblishing this connection. the essential to the invention. Outbound Control mit employs an dgornhm whie6 For the salve of this discussion, we will define a "1o- mi the number gad kind of available truck re-

cal" manage to imply chat the originating gad the dati" sources and chooses the most efficient cousbusancia or nation machines are serviced by the came SAFE. (Al- these line for the talk required . though, this does not preclude the posu'biliry, that the 7! Answer Function two machines ire wine considerable distance apart and The oriputiag SAFE t thin proceeds to vansmit connected by a tall call .) On the other hand. we will the originator gad destination telephone number, the define a "long-distance" message w mm that use ongi- stored fu image, the Mean~e Code, and other 6aux-nating sad destination fu machines are serviced by keeping data w the destination SAFF 1".13ae don are different SAFFs and. thus . one SAFF must exchange b gent by the mat expedient T-^h"-<sm offered by the don with the other, perhaps through intermediaries long-0iwace service. For example, if this service em-Similarly. the .term -near- used in connection with a ploys digital eammaainoonf, the fu don may well be SAFF refers [o being within the service area of that vaosmitted at a significantly higher rate than it was SAFF. otiSiaally received mw the system. Each SAFF t, 1" has two clearly defined roles : the 4! The fu data it received by the Long-0inanee inter-

"Oripnam Function" f. 31 for 6-od1mg don with an face !! (FIG . ") m the Answer Function 19 of the dnd" ocigiuuna machine, sad the *Answer Function- b. u oacon SAF'F. This mgt spins the Answer Host Com" for handling data with a datieation machines The do- purer tf of the incoming data The Float thin routes ails of them two subsystem an illustrated is FIGS. 3 them dues m its Man Swop facility 2'I. Qt should be and " repeetivNy . In the local mare mode the goo- !0 anted for low reference that the originator SAFF gad nection between the Originate Function. such u f. and the datiaodon SAFF now bah hive a copy of these the Answer Fuxdoo, inch r us Imtd whhio the daitt) The Hat nods whether other manages ire pend" single swFF s by way of . Local Call Loop-bark goo- jog roe the mde.ooo m-hi, .ea either opens . De. neetion 13, between the two Functions. In the longdb- liver' Queue file p. or appends the sew menage w the uau modes the Originate Function f of SAFE ", near !! esudat Qunr File, the originator. is linked to the Answer Function 19 of 'Ibe Host also records Lbe arrival tune and other another SAFF lt, mar the destination. by long-distance pertioeat information about the fu menage in a Call lira, such a K or if for SAFF It Thin, processing a Status file !0 m Alan Storage unit 87, and sands a status long-distance mmisage involve the came basic steps u a update back w the originating SAFF t by way of the local meaalge, except that the scriviry u dared intene " 60 Sums god Control Interface t4, and the SYK= Status uvely between at leas two different SAFFS. end Control Unit 11 w LoulgAtimence Trunks IS . Originate Function It than signals the (,oeal Interface p to dig! [M daci-Wtth this understanding of SAFF functions, the foil- nation machine's (tl in FIG. ") Telephone number on

[owing deuited discussion will illustrate the operation ordinary outgoing local lira 2". 81 If the destination of the system in the long-distance case . since it is the 61 fu's line b available. the destination SAFF now be-more complex, and therefore provides a more eompre- come the proxy for the originating fax machine and henaive example. FIGS. t. 3. 7, and " alt show elements engages the destination machine in the necessary pre. of the SAFE system in varying deices of devil and ill liminary dipul dialogue

5,291,302 If this is succmfw, the document image. including

the source and destination identification information. the Message Code, and the entry and delivery times, is played back from storage and delivered to the dntina " uon . A "Delivery Record" is then trued by the An- 3 ewer Host !S which indicates the date end time of deliv-ery . end any other pertinent data. The Delivery Record u sent back to the originating SAFF ", again by way of the Status and Control interface $4. and the System Sinus and Control Unit 11, w Long-distance Trunks 10 IS. The originator SAFF " then appends this informs-non w the Acceptance Record w form a complete "Transaction File" . The originating SAFF t then send this file . u a delivery receipt or report, back to the originating machine 1 . E0, a a fu document. I!

If the destination machine's line is busy . or the contact fails for some other reason, the destination SAFFs Host Computer 85 will enter a sequence whereby it will attempt to contact the destination ma. chine and transmit the document on a predetermined 20 schedule far a specific period of time or number of via. As this sequence is entered. a *'Retry Record" is ;mer-ued documenting the situation end the system's re-sponse to it. This record contains the reason that the delivery was delayed and it indicates which protocol the system will use to attempt w debut the message. This u transmitted back w the oriprutin` SAFF 8. as described above, and appended w the previously de scribed Acceptance Record w form a Transaction Fps 30 which is then tent u a fu manage back to the otipna-toc. 73e assigned Menage Code is a pert of every tsar action report and may be used at any time to trace the status of undelivered documents. as will be described shortly . 31

If the retry effort is ultimately a«mful, a Delivery Record is appended to the Transtacticei File which is gent back w the originating machine. It the effort fail after reaching the predetermined limit, this u alto re-corded. appended, god pmt beet to the originator. In 40 this case. the originator n peen the option of dialing beet into the system within a certain length of time (typically several hours) and instructing the destination SAFF u w how w dispose of the document (eF repeat rent' sequence. forward W a different telephone num" b her. or delete the message).

This proem is handled M using m ordinary touch. gone phone to dial a mdeipurposs (perhaps toll hw) fax system "Service Number"; which will be referred to has and in later sections. This .ight be a unique num- So ber for west' SAFF, or u might be a standardized uam" ber common w many localities. eaeePt perhaps for area each such as is 535.1212 for calling "Wormattlion". This Service NomWr's answered by the General Ser-vice Coeaol media (10 in FIG. 1. 90 in FIG. 2) of the ss SAFF to which the call u directed. 'ILia uzut contents an automated voice response system that presents a menu of the available services anti prompts the user w select the desired choices by pressing particular num-bers on the wue6toee teypd. to an advanced embodi . Go men4 a eompater4Wfed voice recognition system re-places the keypad and accepts verbal commands in a eonvefytional way. The General Service Control unit !0 ears communi-

cate with in own System Sutus and Control unit Il, 65 end through that unit . any other such unit 11, m vu Long-distance Trunks 13 . Through these connections. both inquiries relating to messages in the system and

mstrucuot- u to char disposition may be addressed to the rnure SAFF system .

Having selected the "failed-connection message du-povnon" choke, the user u prompted to key m the Message Code . The system verbally repeats the code end the delivery discrepancy for vmfieauon . and then presents a menu of disposition options for the user to select with the keypad .

If the user dog not Lake advantage of this "what to do no-" opportunity within the time limit. the message is retransmitted back to the originator with a report. It is then erased from both the originator and destination SAFF riles after a suitable delay (typically six hours) . If the originator wishes to rescind the message during this "`nee" period, it may be recovered and resent to the on pnal destination or forwarded to another datim-cao(s), at will be described later.

In each of the various gases where the SAFFs auto. maocally direct (u message status reporu (each as, the Acceptance. Delivery, or Retry records above), the system ego be programmed to accumulate records from all calls over a period of time (e.g . an hour) at the origi-nator SAFF and debut [hem u a single fu document at the and of the period or upon request by the origins. wr . This hat the advantage of reducing the number of report calls; red the subsequent burden on the originat-ing fu machine. The originator SAFF will enter a re" sequence if it finds the originator's line busy or the machine unavailable when it attempts w debut reports This is a persistent sequence which it will continue trying for direct contact at intervals of an hour or n for a considerable length of time (e.g . 72 hours). It also place a copy of the report in the origiucaft Mail Hog (described below) w that the originator may recover it in between SAFF delivery attempts.

It should also be noted that the originator has the option of dialing the Service Numbs at any dme and :nquiriag about the status of a given cie:;a,c . :Icrt apio, the voice response system prompts. presents menus, gad uses the Menage Code co locate and report on the current bating and condition of the mange. A written record oars be dvected to the originuins or destination test machine. it desired Another future of the General Service function (and

the Mail Ho: fhoedoo described later) u the ability to send au immediate reply w a received fax message. There we many instances whore one might wish co provide a personal acknowledgement of receipt and some indication of the future course of action. A eollee " we of such responses is available and may be selected from a mma using the General Service or Mail Boa systems Enmpln might be : "I received your (u num-ber (Message Code) at (data rime)", "I am unable to respond a the time". "I will respond is the next 2s (s8, 72) hone"; "I completely agree, proceed u described", "Tale no action until you hear from me", god w forth.

In a typical tnizssictith36 the system asks the user for the SAFF~udpned Menage Code anti then prawn a menu of these "canned" reponfn. It will also permit the concatenation of several such responses w form a more complex message. Once the user has made the appropriate selauon& the system will replay an auto-mated voice version of the masse and permit editing as required . When the user is satisfied, the reply is then transmitted either as a fax message of as in automated voice message [o a designated telephone number . That number may represent an active fu or voice number, or it might represent a fix or voice mail box.

5,291 .302 " 1 12

when a voice reply is selected . the user can select the distance loft from the onginaunQ machine to the dau " sex of the automated voice. or the user can actually nation SAFF. once the sure of the destination machine employ a personalized menu of custom reaponsa tai . has no impact on the call . 'nu significantly improves IarM by the user to his or her own requirements end the efficiency of line usage when manses tie d " prepared in the user's own voce. 7 dressed w busy (u :ertninall.

Still another future of the General Service function Although wine additional calls are needed to deliver u the ability to provide a flax-to-voice mange convert the various reports, these requite very little IongEis-sian service. This service allows the SAFF system to once uma u they ore transmitted over the circuits u receive an inbound fu message end then deetrooiealy highly compressed coded mesases It b the nearby crew a voice mull message directed to the intended 10 originating SAFF that translates them into -plain Ian-recipient voice mail box u instructed by the message pu`e" for fu delivery u a local mauve. As pointed sender or the intended recipient. The fu mange may out additional savings in then Ion1 mnsaKa can be be stored in a subscriber's mail boa in the system which gained by compiling multiple reports gad delivering will be lolly discussed flier . In order w provide this ahem in bunt as a mile WI. It should be nosed that the service . the SAFF is equipped with suitable software 15 delivery of reports to an originator o a cooperative end voice print database that will permit the system to proees between the originate Function end the Answer electronically interpret the facamile message from Function of the originate SAFE. The Originate Fuoe " printed documents m verbal text. The voice mail ma non f actually generates these reports end panes them sage erwferred to the instructed voice mailbox may be through the Lxal Call Loop-back 17 (76 is FIG. 7) w the whole text of the facsimile menage or only a voice m the Answer Function IS far delivery u an ordinary fu message which will verbally identify the originator of message. the facsimile menage. the reading time and the number In addition to these bait tams. the design of the of paper The intended recipient tin thin commence system also provide (or a number of additional service the electronic vanslation by touch-tone signal and can and advantages which ate described below. control the operation is fan forward or reverse through 23 Message Queuing the document by touch-tone command. N pointed out. all fu manages directed w a pvtiea-Mother future of the system u that the get of K- lar telephone number are spooled by the Answer Fuae "

eepting end storing an incoming message at the orient- tioo of the destination SAFE, r dem7ed in FIG. " The wr SAFF, gad the get of dialing and forwarding that Hon Computer b controlling this function moeiren mange to the destination by the destination SAFF, can b the incoming messages anti lids a!1 undelivered ma. overlap is time. That u, if the originator SAFF hat line use (air a given telephone rumba mw a mange DL, availabla once the initial connection dialogue between livery Queue Ilk t!, 73e computer also compiles a the originator and the SAFF 'u complete. the SAFF constantly updated, ordered catalog o! the (de name of may immediately melee in first attempt to comet the the mmago waiting for each fu machine. destination SAFF and. thus. the destination machine, 77 Consequently, when messala arrive ac a rate fuser while it is beginning to spool the document. than they m be delivered. for whatever reason . they

If [his immediate cornet u successful, thin the me- tie held in this queue for delivery. As won u the dati " sage is passed from the originator SAFF t to the dac: " nation SAFF establishes :,outgo with tSe Jes.:nrdu.: nation SAFF It to the destination machine It directly maehiaq it beam sending the entire queue of manages from the Originate Host Computer's memory 70 while 40 in a single. mmcdly uninterrupted transmission. Ma the Two SAFFs are still is the process of spooling the sage that arrive while the traomisdoo u in proms document to dish. This is facilitated by a'1vrito-t6rou`h tie appended m the and of the queue. pipeline" whereby the Originate Hon 70 egos the This scheme e4;-ioaus the "vial and error" dial gad incoming fu data through directly to the Outbound rodi~l attempts that ratio from a number of iadepm-Conval uric 7" at the Mme time it is being written w s! dint incoming ells competing ;a an uncoordinated way in ... storage. It is held in a temporary memory, buffer in for the single destination lira It m significantly en-the Outbound unit until it 's slur whether or not m haoee the dlkimey, of the destination fu machine and immediate connection w the destination maehme d the Long-distance and local telephone oueuiu connected possible. A< that point the temporary buffer fu data u m a busy machine. ember tint anti thin deleted, or merely dektad The vat !o When the queue exceeds a certain limiting it= the effect u that the spooling proaa~ only adds a few sae- dedeetioo SAFF will! periodically pert and send a onds delay u the mare delivery over the traditional "Qunr Report" (n a fax document) to the destination direct maehiee"to-dehiw oootaet when the Eadna- machme showing a !bt dtLt wdOng mesugs Thus lot lion maehme is readily awLble shows the originating mwhine idrntitkauoe. the time On the other hind. if llus tie limited, the originating !! inroad into the originator SAFF. the number of page

SAFF can choose w delay mtil suitable lines ire avid- is the doeumenr, and the approximate time that the able. 'Ibis hat the advantage of improving eommuniu- menage will be delivered based an its position in the dons resource management god enhancing the dfi- 9urne. eimcy of the telephone system's line usage over the 13e user m dvaoee a particular message to the direst contact aehase 60 hod of the queue by calling the fu Service Number The foregoing describes the brie fu SAFF menage god supplying the desired menage number, by using the

lundlin` rynm ad from this difeusdoo several advu,- voice repose mm�t 13e General Service unit !0 uaa should be appvmc the originating machine v" directs these instruction co the System Sump and Con-ways functions a if it melee contact and deliver doew w1 Unit 11, which in [tier directs them to the Answer menu on the fire try, thin immediately freeing the 65 Function Host t! through its Status end Control Inter-machine and the attendant personnel for sending or face 34. receiving ocher transmissions. Likewise. the telephone Alternately, the originator can designate a priority system only handle one till across in local and Ion`- level w a given fu menage a the rime it a dialed in

13 5.29 1, 302

(e . g. bY using a different attest code). in this cue . the it ~n an en~elape . and dell erc ~t a she Addressee a~

detunauon SAFF will Insert hither p~oncy messa8o ordinary Mail . nil u a reasonably effective solution to

~y~ of lower pcionty messages in the queue u they the sccunty problem, buy a can only be relied upon to

ire recewed. The originator would normally Pay A provide "text day" delivery . end there are a number of

premium price for this service. 7 ocher, compeun~ alternatives for document delivery

Mocha originator Option u the rime of delivery If service on that time sole .

desired. the ortainatul Can specify the time of day 1n the presem urvrnuon, the security problem

which the message should be delivered . [n this sax the dressed by a Control variation of the destination SAFF

message is forwarded so the destination SwFf directly. quewni system. Messages which the originator wishes

but u not entered into the queue until the specified time . 10 to designate u secure us

temporarily directed to a

This w, be used in combination wish an assigned high �u;liary storage Cue $4. #9 in the .Waver Function of

priority to insert the message at the head o! the queue at the destination SAFF ceded a "Mail

Boi" . Instead of

the appointed pima being delivered so the destination machine. a «ponu

When messages ,re fwlly delivered to the dealing, sent to that machine indicating that a

secure message is

eion machine they are riot immediately erased from the t! wueinQ for a p~rticulu +ddressee- Opdonaily,

a voice

spool Cde it ac the deuitution SAFF . 0.ather. they aft Mouse may be direemd w a daiQnued telephone

maintained in a "Delivered Message" directory 90 for a somber . such n a voice mail box, by the General Ser-

penod of time (typically His hours) . A feature offered bY vice Control !0.

this action u the opportunity for the subscribing roeiD~" This rescue warts is the ~a~a"^ns'"~~Y' ~b

ent of a message to make Additional wPte% redirect or 10 victual SAFF is sssiiaed is aura unique WNho°e

forward copies of selected messages m other destine- change coda or coda (typically indicated by ~e

eions This is accomplished by klieg the Service Nu+n- ~K dipu of a yea digit local number)

. 'i7~ut the

ber and selecting ~e Appropriate cdoiees from the voice SAC aP~ys [o the world u if i~ were a distinct te1~'

response minus. phone e:ehaotds). separate Gym all orbs e:eluute~ a

Seeurhy, and Mail Boxes =~ that area code region. All subscriber's w a pvm SAFE

It u nor uncommon for documents of a sensitive oa" are assigned dwit (u telephone

numbers with that ex'

cure to be gene by facsimile from place co plats TLis is theme Frefis- Subscribing; individuals wiahias Mail

often a problem. especially in a busy office or where a Boxes (typicanY 8210 ;,-99d with a "default"

fu ma-

machine i+ nominally unattended dutins the 111-11tatmis" chins) we WOW -fictitious" telephone

numbers which

save in that the originator has no casual over who May b actually """""" :"""" is fu Mail Bola, rather

than is an

be standing by the machine when the document prints actual telephone line.

ous, m who May leaf through a suck of teas Piled up Mail Bo: numbers ire published a that '"°P°n'

in a hopper tight aflet tuneb. This u a problem which when have Attempted

to dmn Way use them In dditioa each iodividmJ is aW

deal within a variety of waya Fore.* mPl~ mod. U.S. 33 pv~° a ~~ ~'~~ ~e

m PIN numbs which W+1~

PAL Nor. 3.39".9! cad 3.61,"33 . diselaa A "radio ~°° ~ a ~ b°x 7~ ~ computer managing the

SAFF maintains a list that rekw rich fietidous number

(wimile postal "gm- which festruras the dues deliv- with the individual's name the xcvnty code

. and the

ery a( doeurcenn to specific e addressees by 6esimile via

~o~unieaaens sacelliui In this system. ~~ u ~ r~ ~~~ n~~ of the default destination ma-

replacemme for or wpp~~t ~ ~ o~~ ~~~~. a chime. This

and rep fait machine is the one m whie6 ma-

posul system fu mouses we" directed from speoial

it will normally be cant when aPProC^. x the user May in addition to a default fL

operated by the P°n Office t° a alto defies a default voice telephone numeber which may

public fu term= central satellite earth-wme" Here the minutes" weft be a~ & telephone answered by

a human or a con"

sorted according w chair LeoinP~ dadoanoa far ~Q.

voice wncentndan and uplioluat to a

Wellite ~mieu~i tb+s b P~ voice mul bas. ~

alis known in so defined. +~

ve aTheLte lliu thenbto~ dos ni llOr theuplin icedWhvecti0m

such u vice celepban~ n gad reports e of the vftious system massages will

ma+a ~ back .10 FArft also e~ t ~° r°c°vQ is the ntef" An ~oripmi w this number. eu°r wiahiai

to send

lire's feri'i« can could aoem any of the mao+f4 2°

a secure me~s~i~

Hood built is a "pr+"c7' °~. which operated with the ~ at the dins the document is ~ The sY~~

telephone the

receive m allow the maW< <° parses out only on the

disused m~ehine. la realkY. the P~"~' °°~ ~ °~ grad to the Mail with that number. end the Answer

damnation SAFF

~y,~ ~ca than an ddtaini a0~ which enables the

wu Host 47

seleetad (as raedvmi aYuea Thus. Hind's system is ~eadr ~ "Meu~e

Waiting� report w the default deati-

merdY a ~~ ~° of the xr~+ces presently SS ~~n but

auehiae through the Local Intat~ee F7. I( a

provided to tax nave by the telRhone networks. His default VC iee Wephwe number has also be"

defined in

privacy code tmecon is the fame r a telephone nom. this rcpoT4 this span n also ~°s w that

number . The

Der: it insets which o! s Plurality of fu machine will cur has the option of P~F~~"i

or ._"" "".":"f the

~cnu11Y ~~e the mm~Ln Unfortunately. hip sp~ ~ysrcm, through the Gmerd

service control 50, to

pto~eh leads m weedy the ~~~Y dilemmt frein~ 6~ hive albs

a both the default fu sad the default voice

number . Fat asam9le" the

telephone fu users, reports forwarded m another

Chapman. U.S . Pat- No. 4.106.0E0. has approached pence who n traveling could program or require fu Of

the problem in a somewhat different way. He too dir voice Message Waiting Announcements

so be directed

the (hu. cloxs a fanimilrWxd mail system However'

in his w it hotel fax or telephone number

. When voice an .

system . the mesuia are directed by whatever means to 63 Room emmn

are made the $Yrt~^ wUl gave

~ ."wpei " pat office. new the addressee. rather duo the man) recipient of the earl the option of pressing a touch-

Addressee's home of Piece of Muioex 71~u post office tone key to repnt the announcement

u often a neces-

i~, ia if more than one mes-

makes a paper copy al the the fu mes~ie" places ~rY to «wcnbe the messa

?9I,302 16

In this c. . -.,Stance. the paperless terminal initiates the Mad Boa transaction operating u a computer termo-nal (rather than a fu terminal). usmg a computer imno-nal emulator program loch u ihou well mown in the art . The Incoming call from an ordinary line W n rceo`-nued by the OR-net Incoming Sereener N n not hiring a fu transmission end is passed to the Mail Box Service Control 49 . This unit recognizes the call v a computer . rasher than voice ca11 and enables a computer . other than voice- 'apoeue system 7Te utu and the Mail Box Service Control N chew communicate by way of wine computer communications code web u ASCII . The system presents the same security code requests

u the voice system end provide the same basic wer options including message queue listings, queue reor-dering and w forth Udike the voce system. however, it is nor necessary w redirect the fu messages m m-other telephone. The paperlm terminal software recoi-oizn pimple code sequences sent by the Mail Box Ser-vice Control N and can be switched under Mail Box Service control from the ASCII computer terminal mode to the fu terminal mode Thus, the uses may select manages from the queue in the computer mode and rhea the Mail Box Service system will autionsaut. dly switch the terminal w fu modes send the fu messages, and ohm return the terminal w computer made

In this way. die papafer terminal am can engage W an ongoing dialogue with the Mail Does Service Con. cml. doing queue maoivuladon.. reading haa. smding automated fu or voice rmipoew, and so forth. When a fu meo- ~e d rid by a paperlm terminal an a screen the user may doer w hive the manage left in the queme for later disposel and w haw a cover pale added w indiere the dice. time and terminal tedephone number from which the fai wait originally mad. The am may alm twitter the incline w be printed an an ordinary "hvdeopy^ deviea such r a fu device a a printer. In addition. this mode wiL also permit the trammussion of outgoing fu mesa from the paperless terminal and &eeen w the fhoeooetof the General Service Control $0, dl without the need m em the.syrtem and dial in spin. This patmiu a single incoming call over a line 40 w permit the user w access essentially all of the service available from the SAFF.

In another approach the paperless fax terminal can net as an originating maehma and a designation ma-china, m plan of ordinary facsimile """. .":n" In this eat the paperla fu terminal may be used m eooPaa' tins with a tdep6or of provided with a hued a nosh light ymetatar 1f7 or 1f7 r shown m FIGS. t and f for Pam P~i the addraret w ooimuoiote with the SAFF system fat receiving a faesmt7e message while the SAFF aenmpb to transmit a fusinsile message. The SAFF also provide the other services to the paperless fax terminal r provided w the ordinary facsimile ma-ehiee For example. the SAFF will temporarily stem the fn mare and parriodkilly retry to communicate with the destination paperlm fu terminal if the termi-nal s busy or otherwise unavailable w receive ac this dine A companions aspect of this 2ysum u a mail Box

Ruder device 31 r shown m FIG . f which u an alter-native of the papalm fu terminal described abase. This device u a relatively low-cost adapter which con . peen the uses telephone to m available ordinary isle-vision set m form a simple paperles fu terminal . The Ruder device 33 contains a modem capable of both

uge u m the Mail Box , -cue . then this report fists them all .

(n order to get the fax dacummt actually sent to the destination . the security code must be sent back to the destination SAFF. Typically . this would be done by the S addressee dialing his or her own Mail Boa number . Since this call ongtmta from a "normal" telephone K over Ordinary Local lines 10 . rather than the fu's SAFF Directed Lines 3!. the call u directed w the OR-net Incoming Sereener W in the (descinauon) SAFF 10 which functions in conjunction with a mailbox service control 19 . This unit recognizes that the call u not a fu crwmiuion and thin true it as a voice service request . A voice response system then prompu the caller to key in the security code. When the correct code o supplied . 13 the SAFF system announces the number or massages waiting and. if desired, the message codes of each . Mail Hoes contents are maintained in a queue 89 just as are "regular spool files. Thug . the user u also even the opportunity to reorder the massages within a Mail Bo: m Delivery queue, through the System Status and Control unto i1 . 20 in the same way u ocher messages The system finally permits the addressee to make a

selection of massages for immediate relnu, and pro- y provides an opportunity to "redirect- them to a fu ma. chine 7 other than the default machine over ordinary local lines 79 . The SAFF then relemmi the selected documents and move them w the head of the aPProCn-ue destination Delivery Queue p for immediate ddiv- 30 cry. N described artier, the recipient of the winos manages may then choose w provide automated fu or unto replies to selected messages. When messages are accepted into the SAFF system

and arrive at a mail box. The Aaswv Function of the ]7 destination SAFF issues a "Pariah Report" which u directed back m the originator is the manna described for other reports. The rsport u amilar to a Delivery Report, except that it indicates :hat the meas+&c :uc beat received by the mail box. When the Mail Ho: p Queue is actually rid by the addressee the Destination SAFF sends an actual Delivery Report to the originator indicating the date and time of delivery god w forth. Another advantage of the Mail Hoes system is that it

can provide a convenient way far iadividudb who ire 4S away from their "home" machine w scll have access to their documents. Such individuals may all in m their Mail Hoes number w but tram the unto response noit whether they have any merya waiting. By we of the redirection feature, manages pmt m a fu Mail Boa we So be accessed by an individual with the security node from say telephone with a Aa machine. For example. a pas w a bogies grip can haw all

his of by fa doeameab mooed w their Mail Box. Upon arriving u a hotel tint has a fu mrehint the f! traveler plaeo a al! w the Mail Box number god supplies the information oatliead above, including the telephone number of the hotel fax machine. The SA.FF thin ells the hotel machine and doing the queue of waiting documents. 60 Mother upset of the Mail Box function is support

!or paperlm to terminals 33. such as those which pro-vide a volatile display of the (u image on a computer display. Typically. this tmnind is shown in FIG. t which includes a small. modem-equipped personal coin- 67 purer 191 end a computer display 194. The terminal can also include a keyboard 193 for entering necessary ac-cess code or other information.

5,291 30? 18

Thus far . the discussion has presumed that both the ongtnatar and answerer were subunbers to the SAFF system . It is quite reasonable to assume that subscribers will wish to send or receive (u messages with non-sub . xnben, u well . White the services provided by the SAFF are more limited in such cases, nevertheless, the system both anticipates and enhances communications with non-subscribers for the benefit of the subscribers : When a subscriber originates a till to a non-subsen "

her the delivery process is almost identical m subscri-ber-to-subscriber calls. The fu data is forwarded to the Answer Function of the appropriate destination SAFF end delivery is panned, all is the usual way. For the benefit of the mtrsenbmg originator. the message is scored in the usual way at the destination SAFF until delivery u completed. If multiple SAFE-processed mes-xan arrive before the delivery is complete- a tempo. nry Delivery Queue will be created and used u re . qwred However, once the non-subscriber will have no account in the system, attempts so use the Service Num-ber [o manipulate the queue, forward messages, make multiple copies, and use the other special services avail-able w a subscribing wwaa, will be unsuccessful.

Calls originated by a non-subscriber directed to a subscribing aoswcer move by a somewhat different mechantsm_ As noted, each SAFF appears to the world u a distract telephone exchange and all subscriber's to a given SAFF are assigned their fu telephone number with that exchange prefix. Consequently . all nib di-rated w a SAFF subscriber eventually end up at the subseribds SAFE, whether they originated from within the SAFF system network Or DOL Messages on pnating -off-network" can arTiva by my tong For example. they may be truly local ulb, or [hey may be long-distance calls which arrive over any available long-0utanee network.

In any tires messages originating from a nansubscri-ber 71 tie delivered [o the answering fu machine's SAFE by the local line 39 provided by the local tda phone company. They are answered by the SAFF*S OR oet Incoming Screamer Y, which, upon noting that they are fu e..-...:..:om. directs the calls w the Origi-nate Function 9 of that SAFF . From chat point the call u unreel o if it were a local fu call and it is paved over to the Answer Function 12 vu the Local Call L4op-bsck 13 for delivery to the subscriber .

In this situation, as Acceptance Record will be re-turned w the originating machine, but no further ori`i-dtnr serviea tie provided . On the other hand . the answering subscriber has the (till range of Answer Functions available Charges ad Deviled Billing Normally, the Originate Function of the originator

SAFF has ultimate responsibility for the management of outgoing asessageL It initiates all connections to the Answer Functions of the various SAFFs with which it must communicate. It is the node [o which all reports concerning manage turn and disposition must flow . It interrogates Answer SAFFf when extraordinary up-dam are required. Consequently, the Oripnam Func-tion n also the focus of charging d&uL The telephone company presumably chases for all

of the various services provided by this system. The method. algorithm and rates are determined by actual costs and applicable regulations. Typically . the user would be billed for telephone connect time. coil charges, extraordinary services. such as those provided by contra the Service Number, the amount of mass

computer and fax operations. programs for hex opera-tions . memory 19! to (tore an incoming document or documents, a processor 195 for controlling the device, a keypad 1% far the input of user commands . a video display ;mentor 199 end a RF modulator 200 suitable 5 for supplying a display signal to the ordinary television set 201 . The Mail Box Service Control 49 recognizes the Mail

Box Reader u a distinct terminal type end supports abbreviated command sequences from its more limited 10 keypad . In addition. it supporu paging through sections o! a document w that a user can view documents witch may be coo large co fit into the Rider's memory is one place . The Mali 80: Ruder itself has a "zoom" mode shat 17

magnifies; the image on the seraea by mapping a smaller segment of the Reader's memory w the screen . This permits one to overcome the fact that the resolution o[ the television set may be too limned !or a readable display of some of the fmerdeuiled (runs of some fu 20 images. The Reader's keypad 1% permits scrolling through messages . bash vertically and horizontally in both the normal and zoom mode. Vertical scrolling is transparently coordinated with the Mail Bo: Service

23 Convoys paging functions to that if one scrolls off the end a( the segment of a long document stared in main. ory, the Mail Box Service Control will automatically supply the nest segment. Broadwtini; 30 13e queuing, Mail Boxes. end security code arc all

derivative benefits of the spooling of messages at the destination SAFF. There is a counterpart advantage to the originator SAFFs spooling as well. Since the crigi. nuor SAFF maintains a copy of each menage. Nat 35 copy can be used w broadcast messages to multiple deadnations.

This tin be initiated in a number of ways. Fu ~x.rn-pie, the tint pan dial in a code prefix indicating shat t list of destination numbers u to follow . The number are 40 Then entered and Really another code is entered W ai-oal "end of list". The Originate Host 70 recognizes these inputs and attaches them w the message which follows As an alternative, the user can store difiennent numbered broadcast telephone lim in the Originate 45 SAFF man none film N (entered much u daubed above) and invoke the simply by dirlin$ a two or ohm dips "short-cut" code. In either case. from there the fu transmission to the oripaawr SAFF proceeds normally . 50 Upon reception of the Wt red the document. the

origin, tor 9AFF proe~d~ b open u many local loop back or loeer-0iuaoe~ lies r k can to deliver the broad-cast mouse W the vvbW destimadons, essentially simultaneously . Although the Originator is billed for !! making a number of different ells, in fact the originat-ing machine is only dead up for the time required w make one call. Furthermore, the full power of the deliv" ery system n coated for each destination machine, including reporting. rodials queuing, end w forth. 60 A feature related to broadcasting is the redirection of

messages by the originator. Since (u mere ire spooled at the originator SAFF and held (or a period of time even after delivery (typically six hour). the origi-nator can dial the Service Number any time during this 65 period end direct a copy of the spooled message to be sent to other destination machines. Communications With Non-subscribers

5,29! .302 l9

it i handle . " described

presumed mail call, it service call 1113 . System

a voice-based with menu

menu appropriate . user responds prompts with t

keystrokes and with shown succinctly s a the decision

e desired implementation 109. shown, tied this only typical

which t multiple pauses parameters a s chosen

(FIG. SO which Parser a command the System Status t

the interface 72. This Control Unit Passed through Host

interface action on the the caller a

transmission the is terminated . completed

original the an call, billing generally

originator begins the opening g Host calling dialogue

This dialogue includes t gathering gathering and storing the originating

destination telephone so File Host a

expected dam file 118 keyed file

The telephone almost immediately 119

opens Controller buffer t contact bold

-can attempts establish that contact through destination

Outbound 74 In g status available

attempt available, destination

until trunk available . Controller

simultaneously an the trunks use. in order g trunks already

outgoing capacity with up the message task . considerations can affect

details the usage depending setting setting s

incoming a (FIG. from Off-no 65

data Me buffer storm 127 to the Outbound g another

incoming data complain 128, checks controller

--king One wait successful the destination machine. If was successful

satisfactory transfer occurred. originating machine be-Report back 132

fore Otherwise_ an Acceptance

Transaction 133 terminated

complementary activities occurs An-destination described

and call 136 92 Answer

storage space consun._ . u a function of time. end so s ae an on "neOcall u will be forth . shortly . One of the user services for which a special charge 1! it u nor a fu is then to he a

might be made is a subscriber's customer specific billing boy end the then determines system. !n this option the user can "flag" each (u trans . 1 whether is u computer or request . The minion with a keyed-in profit which contains a user tiller is presented a voce response or eom-cmtomer, client, or project number . This number is purer 104 (or such service. u The stored u a key field in the Transaction File for that call . to these a ouehcone 4ey-T3us, when the telephone bill u prepared. the billing pad, verbally, or computer lOS a computer can sort the subscriber's bill on this field end IO ladder, s 107 eleet present the user with a list of all fu messages, tool routine 10 , 110 (for brw" usage times number of pages, end relayed charges. all three chokes ire de. grouped

i[y by-the subscriber 's own customers, clients. or will permi

pro mrnt u actually a loop eom-

jecct Furthermore, it can rcept the subscriber's ) . The routine w gym. panuular mand

vaorithm for billing tills to eus~omen or i3 121 prepares clients

maad and jmrn m m a column showing what the sub- 133 to

scriber smemmt which is then sen

will bill (or the service (u a separate manor Il . through from

and what the SAFF system gad the telephone com- w the Mswer lS

pany command will be

have billed the subscriber). This can be of ~n~ in bt for Dual the Mail Ho: Queue assistance in attributing emu gad billing customers for M ~e requires response to the service

~9. (f rendered . pub b reverxd. When operation u

Software Control 127 the call ID the preferred embodiment each of the principal other hand, the call is found at 101

min if on

of the SAFF such as described in FIGS. 3.~, and w on-net u directed u the t

be u controlled by in oven computer processing unit or 2! 117 and the 70 di i-

units. 'I3ae unto are interrupt-driven computers which 111 with the maeh;m, acting is are

tat connected together by the System Status and Con. ioo machine

~rol place of the denina

wit 11. This unit is an electronic stitch yard (or ( u ;dentifleatiom , communications between the Originate, An- control number end forth 11i.

~v~er. and

and other units within a given SAFF, u well a~ 70 opens a Tno etion and Belts it w t data the

73e the over SAFFs in the "am through we control 117 for the red [hen rtore all of the

Ions-0isunm trunks 13 . While there art many talks information w the Mete which

call and the various control processors must perform to daaoacoo number tied abet

handle Coda

fu operations, the primary one are intercepting m t~ incoming

information are paced calls. either for fu forwarding or service )s-Oatbouod 71, which then a temporary

requests. god delivering the fax mau~a to their dead- w the fu message in ease immedia e nuiont The general software organization of three be esubli hed, end it W principal activities is shown in FIG. S. 6, and 7. It the SAFF . should be nosed these these figure are simplified and punuin this cornet, the Controller intended to be generally descriptive. For examples Tome b of welts u uunlu are procedures

examinn the illustrated here a sequential (for the sake of it will immadiauly w cooaeec with

simplicity) can ~ecually 6e performed concurrently . the SAFF, otherwise it will defer thb call Likewise. not very function of the ~ystan is rcpre- a is In the went of a broadcast sentsd N devil. Generally speaking, rimilar results also will select the num-can

mesuQe. the Outbound be obtained with a number of other obvious v" s7 beg of w use peed per-

ranQemeen of the functional blocks. e of ~ m m avoid Broadly

emu speaking. fu messages addressed w the all of SAFF't a

Originate tying

Function of a SAFF we either through the Other special

dale SAFF Directed LOW Lisa " (FIBS. 3 gad 7) choices on the of

u thes

~ result of direct cwoeeooa or dialiu~ a special ~e- w at ~ yAem. uss code, a they arse from Otdioary Local i.ien 11e Hag ohm enter loop which den the (off-run lies) ~!. r0. 67. T6or which strive w off-tart !b) the On"oet N or lira

(~ data 11S ice processed eru by the Off-act SRxxr 41L and «h pyre in the !u

which Intuhee'i

may direct them to either the Oripoa~e Function 9

126 while uadio copy or w Mail Box Service N. FIG. S, therefore combines !! o

X11 eoewlkr 7" until the

three of these related functions. 12f with the outbound At

23e Hatches w outset. one of the two incoming WI interfaces e if it in immediue eomee~

K and 0 signals the Host Computer 70 chat it u begin. it ring

don with so process a cell u 100 is FIG. Sa.'ibae coin have then a Delivery

their and a

own buffer capability god can tolerate scene delay LO u pmt to the be-before the Host responds. Ultimately the Hon mint it love the line. Report decide whether it u responding to an on-act or off-act u peat 131. end in dther cue the outcome is reported call 101 . If it u an off-act call there are two possibilities to the Fee end the call u (excluding wrong number) IOS: it may either be a fu call

174. , in which ease it is from ~ non-subscriber [o ~ ~ub~ 63 A gee of in the

scriber . or it is a mail box service cell. If it is ~ fu call swot Function of the in SAFE u then the billing for services must be directed ~o the FIG. 6a b. Here an incoming u detected by subscribing destination addreuee 112. From that point the Inbound Control (FIG . "). The Hose

5.291 .30?

of claim 1 wherein paid reply b 1 Tae

maehiaa eompevin6 70 one

the with info~tion W tiom

it to the switched telephone 6!

22 Sinus Ana ~omrol unit 11 Car execution. [:pan complex

. uon of all requests the call is terminated 133 What !tit been described tie the presently preferred

embodiments of a system end method for providing a comprehensive ine.raeNve facsimile menage manage-ment system embedded in a switched telephone net-work . It should be apparent that many modifications to the system and the method are possible without depan . ink from the we spin[ god scope of the invention. What d claimed is : 1. A system for facilitating facsimile cOmmuftimliOns

between a traotmittinQ faeaimile machine end at less one intended receiving fammile machines comprising

at leapt one care and forward facility . means coupling the u least one store and forward

facility to a switched telephone network for receiv-iaQ T-sT+s-+ons from a trwmhtin` facsimile au-ehinq

add store and forward facility including computer means for controlling its operation and

including man uonQe means for storing f+eumile transmis~ aom together with information identifying the ttammittipg facsimile machine and the a least one intended receiving fusmik machine undo eonaol of said computer mast, laid store end forward fatiliry ales including

mnm coupling it to the switched vJryhone net-work for transmitting facsimile mania cored is the man storage mew w at Jew ox intended receiving facsimile machine.

said computes mom being programmed m pro-vide a reply service allowing Addressee 1111206-aced with paid at Iem one intended receiving facsimile machine to send back to the trammit-dag (eaiamile machine or a telephone number desiginued in m instruction received from a sub-scriber, a reply message which u seialai from . reply service mma

service system menu n a menu of standardized responses provided by the system 1. The ryriem of claim l wherein said reply times

menu u a menu of customized responses Provided by

the system. t. The syrtem of claim 1 whereto said reply message

u in a form of voices 9. A fyaem for facilitating fammile communications

between a vao~[tiog facsimile machine and n least intended receiving facsimile

at Iwt one note cad forward facility, mount coupling the at lease one core end forward

facility w ~ switched telephone network !or rexiv-iag caoaisaam from a u~wminiag facsimile ma-eLiu,

mid store end forwW facility including computer m~ for controlling in operation and

including moo uonge mew for staring facsimile ~ ~=-

together identifying transmitting facsimile machine and the a lent

one intended receiving facsimile machine under control of said computer mimes. sued score end

forward facility also including net-mews coupling work fm trammittina facsimile masaQes stored

in the maze storage mina to at least one intended

receiving facsimile machine. and

21 Computer tS Then opens a new fu data and Transaction file (or the message d there u no current queue for that da«nauoe machine . or it prepares co append the data to �, existing queue 13'1 . The vinous till and file puima tin ire linked and stared l7t end the call pv~mecen tie passed through I]9 to the Local Interface 83. which then deaden 1.1 whether the n11 u addressed to a "rul" fu number. or a fictitious number terminating in a mail bon. If the number v rul the Local Interface anempa to comet the destination machine for immedi- 10

au delivery . The Hose then enters a loop where it ten the ineom-

ina dues 1.7 . stores it 144 in the !u Delivery Queue. and puxa it through 1.9 to the local Interface buffer. when the Host determiea that the fu transfer n eom " 15

plete 130, is they checks 132 (FIG. 68) w xe if ~ L.onl Interface best been able to make immediate ddiv "

ery . Ii it has, the Host initiates the uan "+^+°1on of the Delivery Report 167 back through is Status and Cam vol Interface t" w the System Control and Status

unit m vol11. which in turn updates the Transaction Fee and

sends i[ back to the originator SAFF over Trust 1!. It

u this communication which ultimuely reults in the immediate Delivery Report described previously . The 25 transaction in then terminated 169.

If immediate connect a nor established a Re~ry Re' port u sent 113 beet through the System Status and Control unit and the Retry sequence bejins . The Retry criteria tin be varied 1K. both in place and with the ~ SAFF setting. For esampla i( the SAFF is integrated ipso a local exchange the SAF'F sae actually monitor the desired line and simply wait for ii w become avail-able In other aettiop it will be nacmari fm the SAFF w AetwllY radial at prescribed intends In any ~ 7! attempts W connect art made 153 and if they are not successful 1!6 a counter a times u checked 159 W gee if the retry limit has been exceeded' If nor, the

procxev u repeated and if w. a Failed Delivery Report 160 w .sent back through the system and the effort ~a~minated 170.

!f the retry effort is successful, the DelivaY Queuan ceaieved 1S" sod message by masa~e 162 the queue is dumped. with a pause 163 after each message

w eonfum receipt. send a Delivery Report 164 and to shack !or 4 gad of queue 1N. If r message lids during she queues dump . the retry se9umea u 1!4 is twined at the failure point and the proves reprted w 4

conclusion. When

the last mm~p hay ban received u[isfaewri]y . the transaction u tcmmaud 1iL

If it u determined at Ist (FIG. do) that this is a mail box u11. a loops mrcrrd whie6 gets she fu clan lI3 god aces it 141 is the app~oprute Mail Hoes Queue. Wbm the end of map u detested IK. a Posting Report lr3 's rent back thrwib ~ +1'~~ +°d a Mer

use ahitiai Report I" is ant forward ch~ou`h the system w the ddault destination mae6in~ Geeaial Service Calls always arrive on OcdiauY

Lain Lien S. Upon detection zed Answering 171 the voice response menu is pteemted In m the u+a. b with the Mad Hon Services the user keys in responfe~ or give, them orally 174 cad a decision ladder 115 idmti"

ties the desired service routine such u 177.17L or 179. Here again only a few of the possible choices have ban shown for sake of illustration and looping for multiple service requests is provided. 7'6e selected service rou-tine generates command pariameter+ which are parsed IS, u system commands and sent 182 to the System

5,291.302 24 wherein said m. .once means additionally m- fro. . , core and for-ward facility into Suitable cluda mailboxes associated with particular sys~ video display signals for display on the normal iem subscribers and television set .

wherein facsimile Messages received and stored by 10 . The system of clam 9 wherein said computer the mm storage means and intended for receiv- 7 means of the store end forward facility u further pro. in facsimile maeluna associated with chose grammed to provide immediate-reply service. allowing subscribers are scared m respective mailboxes . , recipient to immediately send out a response to a paid computer mum being programmed N re- receipt. which is selected from one of she menus with 1P011f! l0 instructions received from a subscriber standardized replies provided by the system end with w transmit we facsimile messages stored in that 10 custom led replies maintained in the system . subsenber's mailbox to a papeAm facsimile Let- 11. The system of shim 10 wherein mid immediate mina) machine designated in we instructions by response message is is a form of automated-voice. she subscriber. whereby a subscriber who is ,_. T'he system or shim f wherein sad computer away from the freed location of his fill-Simile myns of the pore and forward facility u programmed machine may have faesimile messages intended if to support paging through sections of a document or for receipt by his facsimile machine collected . facsimile message w that the document or facsimile end retrieve them for display on a screen from menage can be sequmtially vaimmined, xeuoa by any location where mid paperless facsimile [er~ woe, or page by page, to aid paperlm facsimile mioal machine is unused ...m: .. .l machine. 6 . The system of shim ! wherein said paperlev fee- 20 13. A system (or facilitating facsimile communia-simile germinal machine is connected to a local tele- tioti from a more and forward facility, paid system phone line with a telephone number and includes a personal computer with a d pal modem means and a comprising :

reader ~ coupled between a normal television display mews. said paperlw Gesmile germinal machine a

being programmed to be able w eommunium with sad 17 set and a telephone line for providing eommwiu" score through said telephone Hoe, rid ruder y"""" store and forward facility in both computer eommuni"

canon mode and facsimile communications mode w that facsimile message stored in the subscriber's mailbox a memory means for storing any incoming ma-fan be directly displayed on mid display mews of [he paperlas facsimile terminal machine is we faaimile ]0 a processor for controlling operation of the communication mode once she communication between sad arc and forward facility and said paperlas faesm" an input mew for input of user command. and ile terminal machine u established in the computer eom- a "kleo display generator god RF modulator mans muoicaeion mode anti necessary access code end eom" for converting haimile mumps received from mend tie provided . 73 a rtorc god forward facility crew display signals 7. The system of shim ! wherein mid paperless fee- ~~ ~ ~Q ~

is capable "ro°° yet,

le~i s mi mile terminal machine is also programmed to transmit w

capable of magnifying outgoing facsimile menage to laid store and forward the pie on the screen of the television set by facility. mapping a smaller segment of said memory deans L 73e system of claim ! wherein said paperlm fee. b to the scresm.

simile terminal machine is compatible with ordinary It . A system for facilitating fac9mile eommmin-hardeopy machines for pmvidioS a "hard copy" of paid dons between a transmitting facsimile machine and as fuamile Message. Ana one intended receiving facsimile Machine. eom- 9. A system for facilitating facsimile communications. prising at lam one more and forward facility. Means

comprising : s! coupling the a lam one note god forward faeility to a[ least one sore anti forward facility. the switched telephone network for receiving "3-s mew coupling the u Imt one acre end forward sion+ from a tranminiag facsimile maehine, rid note

facility so a switched telephone network for reedy. god forward fiei]ity inelodiag computer means for con-ing trisomwioot f}om a transmitting facsimile me- wl1m, its opaatioa gad including man amp m"" s" shine, =p for storing facsimile afom;oiom, together cash iafor"

aid (tore anti forward facility including mados Wentifyisig the transmitting facsimile Machine computer mum for controlling its operation and god the u least see intended receiving frsmile me-

including chine mud, control of mid computer Means. mid start man soup meant for moring faeaimile sands- and (award facility also iaeladint mew coupling is to aces together with information identifying the s! the switched telephone network for tratosmitrong fae" vaormiton$ fieamile machine god the at least moils Messages ~torad in the man storage mean( b u one intended receiving machine under control of least one intended receiving facsimile machine. god aid computer mean,. rid sore anti forward what= individual subscribers may be provided with (aeility also meludinS unique PIN oimbe++. wherein individual subscriber

mew coupling it w the witched telephone net. 60 PIN sambas w aural m the man twrase meow sad cants for transmitting (amends message stored wherein the aces sod forward facility recopmes an in the Mass (came means w at lust one intended incoming famimile manage that b security ended by a receiving machine, trammustual facsimile Machine and said computer

sad intended receiving machine including a order mum being programmed to allow eortununintion with mew coupled between a normal television yet 6! a paperless facsimile terminal machine for display of the and s telephone line for providing communities- facamile message upon receipt of said paperleu baim-tion with fwd store end forward facility end ile tuminia! masque of the appropriate subscriber PIN converting fauimile menage canals received number and command.

5 .291 .302 25

IS . The system of clam It wherein said computer mum is also programmed ca flow communication with sad paperlns facsimile terminal machine for input of facsimile message entered from sad paperless hcsim~ ile terminal machine. 7

16. The system of claim 14 wherein said computer means u also programmed to provide a reply service which allows a message recipient to send back a reply selected from a reply service menu .

17 . A system for facilitating facsimile communira- 10 eons between a transmitting facsimile machine and at lent one intended receiving facsimile machine. cam-P^sinQ a plurality of geographically separate store end For-ward facilities . wish a plurality of subscriber fee . 15 smile machines in a particular geographic area being associated with one of said store and forward facilities.

mean, coupling each store and forward facility to she switched telephone network for receiving trans- 20 mission from any transmuting facsimile machine that is associated with each respective store and forward facility.

each of sod store and forward facilities including computer means for controlling its operation and 25

including mm storage means for storing facsimile traasmir

stain together with information identifying the transmitting facsimile machine and the a lent one intended receiving lanimile machine under b control of aid computer mew, aid store and forward (unity also including

mans coupling it w the twitched telephone net-work for directly transmitting a facsimile mes-sage scared is the mats none means to an in- 35 [ended receiving heamile machine if the in-tended receiving facsimile machine b is we plu-raliey of facsimile machines aUocuied with LhAL particular store and (owed facility, and for transmitting the scored facsimile menage to a 40 particular another of the pore and forward taeili-tie when the intended receiving fanimile ma-chine u in the plurality of facsimile machines associated with that particular another store and forward facility, and 45

wherein the compeer inns of each am and forward Gdlity d proptmmed such the[ with respect to facsimile manages received and stored in in mesa aonp mom i( the u lean nee in-tended reodvios facsimile machine is busy or 50 othawut w" to receive a vtomiaaoa at the time the stnn said forward faeiliry anempn w trammit a ficelialk message stored in its man nonp mew. the store and forward facility periodically gets transmitting the facsimile 33 marp w the at Ides one intended receiving nor. mwnine, and

mid camputa --- being further prograncted upon auoeerfVi, receipt of a facsimile transmis-sion by the addressee to provide a reply service 60 allowing addressee w send back [o the transmit-ting facsimile machine or wi instructed telephone number, a reply menage which is selected from a reply service mean .

1" . The system of claim 17 wherein the computer 65 mans of each store and forward facility is additionally programmed to establish a linked queue in iv mesa stor-age means spooling all stored facsimile messages in-

26 tended for a particular receiving facsimile machine, and transmitting all spooled facsimile messages intended for that particular receiving facsimile machine upon such cesslully making contact with the intended receiving facsimile machine.

19 . The system of claim 17 wherein the computer means o! each store and forward fuility u pro-gummed, upon being unsuccessful in making a trans. mission to an intended receiving (aeimile machines to transmit A Menage ED the transmitting facsimile machine or w mother store and forward facility having the transmitting facsimile machine associated therewith for passing the message to we transmitting facsimile ma. chine. indicating that she message has been entered into the mesa storage means at the store and forward facility . and at lean also indicating the reason for a delay in transmitting the message to she intended receiving fac-simile machine.

20 . The system of claim 17 wherein each store and forward facility includes mnns for receiving broadcast instructions; from a user at a vawmiain` facsimile ma-chine and associating those broadest instructions with a facsimile message received from [he tcaosatitda; !ac. simile machine and stored in the man storage mear ts, and for aaormiRing the gored facsimile message w a plurality of receiving facsimile machines either directly or through other store and forward facilities having the intended receiving facsimile machines associated there-with. in accordance wish the broadcast iristructictis.

Z1 . A system for facilitating facsimile communica-tions between a vansmieting facsividle machine and at lean one rounded receiving facsimile machine. com-prising a plurality of geographically separated scare gad forward heilida, with a plurality of subscriber facsim-ile machines in a puticulu geographic am being uw-ciuad wish one of said store end forward facilities. means coupling each store and forward facility to the switched telephone network for r=eiving transmissions from my transmitting facsimile machine [hat u ufxti-ated wish each respective store and forward Gciliey, each of said store and forward facilities including com-puter mesas for controlling iv operation and including mesa storage mew for storing facsimile transmissions together with information identifying the transmitting facsimile machine and [he at leer one intended receiv-ing facsimile machine under control of sad computes me- . mid store and towed facility also including mum coupling it m the switched telephone network for directly trsimmictias a facsimile message noted in the mrr tmn~e means to m intended receiving Brsim-ik machine i( the intended receiving facitimile machine s in the plurality of facsimile machines associated with the partieulu store end forward facility . and for train-existing the stored facsimile menage to a particular another of the store and forward facilities when the intended receiving facsimile machine 'u in the plurality of facsimile machines associated with that particular another store and forward facility and wherein mud mw storage menu of at kau one of the rtarc end for-ward facilities additionally includes mailboxes associ " ued with particular system subscribers end wherein facsimile manages received god anted by the ---storage mew red intended for receiving facsimile ma-chines associated with those subscribers we stored in the respective mailboxes. aid store and forward facility being responsive to instructions received from a sub-scriber to transmit the facsimile messages noted m that subscriber's mailbox m & paperless facsimile terminal

27 3.291,302 28

machine designated the instructions by the sub- facsimile 1-- --e. and the step. upon wccevful receipt ,cnber . said paperlas terminal being able co communi " of a facsimile transmission by she addressee . o! provld-nie with said score and forward facility in both coin- ink a reply service menu for transmitting a message purer communication mode and facsimile eommuniu " selected from Said menu to the transmitting facsimile non mode. whereby a subscriber who u away from the 7 machine or an instructed telephone number. fuel location of his facsimile machine may have fusim- 24. A method for facilitating facsimile communica-ile ma+aQa intended for receipt by his facsimile ma- uons between a transmitting facsimile machine and at chine collected, and retrieve them for display on a least one intended receiving faesimJe machine. eom-+crean from any location where any said paperless fu- prisaing simile terminal machine u situated. to the step of providing at least one core and forward 22 A system for Gciliuuag facsimile communize- facility having computer means for controlling its

dons between a transmitting facsimile machine and at operation and having maze storage mount for sror~ least one intended receiving facsimile machine, coin- ;off (mile mnL`a, prune a plurality of geographically separated store and coupling the at lean one store and forward facility to forward facilities. with a plurality o! subscriber faeaim " I! a switched telephone network for receiving faaim" ile machines in a particular geographic area hems am*- de ma- ~e from vaomieting facsimile machine, cvced with one of aid store and forward faeilidn, recording received facsimile mmaga in [he maze means coupling each (core and forward laeility to . tthe storage mina whether with information indicating switched telephone network for receiving w---us- ons the vaosmittiog facsimile machine and she in-from any tcan+mittina facsimile machine that u aswri" m tended receiving facsimile machine. and ated with each respective store and forward facility, tratimittiyf faaimile messages stored in the may each of paid score and forward faeilitie including coin- storage mom w intended receiving facsimile ma" puw means for controlling in operation and including chine. and including the n of mass storage means !or storing facsimile n+^~^un~om i together with informauon identifying the transmitting 2! defining mailbo:n is the moo scrap -as aaoii" Gcsimile machine undo ' control of aid computer

and with particular system subscriber, and iaclud-mms, said (tore and forward fieiliry ale including tog the gap of mew coupling it to the switched telephone network storing facsimile mama invaded for those pvtieu-for direedy transmitting a facsimile message cored in a lar systems subscribers in their rapeetiv* mailboxes.

.. mass storage means to an intended receiving faoimile 70 and farther including machine if the receiving facsimile machine is m the the step, m response w muroc:iam moved from a plurality of faeamile machiaa associated with that hem subscriber, of vainsmirtiag facsimile alai. particwlar store and toward facility, and (or transmit- sages stored m rho auWrnbds mailbox w a qper" tias the stored reLmile menage m . parciculu .Wither la. facsimile terminal maehioe dissipated by that of the note and forward hcilitie when she intended ]s subscriber m the ioseuedom for display on a receiving facsimile machine b m the Plurality of facaim-scrom ile machines associated with that particular another 27 . A method for finliudog facsimile oommunia-smre and forward facility and wherein individual sub dons between a transmitting ficamile machine and u scribers may be provided wish =qua PIN numbaa, Insist one intended receiving fammile machine, coin-Wherein individual subscriber PIN numbers zee stored 40 D^°°i in the maze storage mew of the store and forward the step of providing at least one store and forward facility having the facsimile msohina of these iodivid- 6cility having computer moos for controlling iv ual subseribaa associated therewith. and wherein the operation and having mw storage means for rtor" non and forward facility recognizes m incoming fae" ini flinsimnae min, simile machine, and aid computer mms u pro- r! coupling she u lean one rtorc and forward facility to crammed w allow eommimieatian with a paperleu a switched Wephooe network for receiving fiction-facsimile terminal, machine for display of the facamile Us meeaga hom arwmitdng facsimile machines, message u sod papals GeomBe temmal machine recording received facsimile mmiga m the maze upon receipt of the appropriate tubrenber PIN samba rtarap mew whether with ieformacoe indicating and wm-od. 70 the traemitdag fieimillt maehiae and the m-21 A method for Gcilindej hale oommueita- tended receiving machine. and

lions between a aaeminmg 6=m& machine and n awmitdeg fieamle oesges cured m the moo leas one intended teodvmg heamille machine, coin- storage means to intended receiving facdmile ma" prifiai she sup of providing a law see pure and for- ohms. and ieeludinS the step of ward facility having aompooe tunas for controlling is !s providing subscribers with unique individual PIN operation and having mass; =rap moms for storing numbers, faesmile manses, coupling the k lea one were and storing the individual PIN numbers in the maze xor-(orwvd facility to the twitched vJephone network for ap n, rexiviagfieaimile meuya tfom vammittintfammile recognizing an ioeommg facsimile manage from a machine. recording received Gctimmile m-aBa is the 60 traamitoeg facsmile machine which has been mast storage mnos together with information iodiuo- security coded. in` the trammitting fiaimile machine and the intended transmitting W the intended fraimile machine for the receiving facsimile machines and including the step that security coded message a message indicating that if an intended receiving facsimile machine if busy or [he riore and forward facility u holding a security otherwise unavailable w receive u the time we at lent 6! code message. and one store and forward facility anempu comet w trans. vainueittipg m a paperlm facsimile terminal machine mit A facsimile menage, of periodically retrying to the security coded message for display On a screen transmit the facsimile menage to the intended receiving only after receipt by the sore and forward facility

5,291 .302 30

from said paper It iicsimile terminal machine of mui %._ . �< means for storing facamde innsmia-the unique PIN number o! a subscriber. sons . together with information identifying the

26 . A System (or facilitating fACIimJe eommunin- transmitting facsimile machines and the a leas cions between trwmitting facsimile machine including one voice mailbox mew under the control of u lent one paperlas facsimile mulune, end intended 7 aid computer mean, said store and forward receiving "mile machines including a least one Pa. facility also including perless ("Mile terminal machine. comprising means for converting facsimile message into voice u lent one store and forward facility . mail message, said store and forward facility means coupling the at lease one store end forward further including facility to a switched telephone network for receiv " i0 means coupling is m she twitched telephone net.

ing transmissions from the at least one transmitting work for transmitting facsimile messages stored paperlm facsimile terminal machine. N the may storage mans to intended receiving cud store and forward facility including facsimile machines end transmitting said con. computer means for controlling iv operation and vetted voice mail meuaga w Lid a lest one including 15 voice mailbox m""-" mass storage means fog storing facsimile vansmis" )1 . A system in accordance with claim 70, wherein dons, together with information identifying she said man storage means includes mailboxes associated vuu+niRini DaDe+Ies facsunile terminal ma- �,,ih particular system subscribers end wherein paid chine end we a least one intended receiving facsimile messagn received and scared by the mass paperles faoimile terminal machine under con. 20 stone means and intended for receiving facsimile ma. trol of paid computer means, china including said at lean one voice mailbox means said store and forward facility also including means coupling it co the switched telephone network assoc uted with those subscribers are cored in the re . !or transmitting facsimile messages scored in we ~_, A system in accordance with claim 70 wherein

specuve mailboxes.

mass storage means to at test one intended re- 27 ceiv

~a IfWd11RI71g facsimile 10iCIW6 gad intended ra in` p~pecleu f~es~mile terminal machine, re-ceiving facsimile machines includes at least one paper .

d less facsimile terminal mew for displaying facsimile wherein said man storage means additionally in . chide mailboxes associated with particular syr message on a screen . temyuyscribets and 30 77 . A system in accordance with claim 70 further

wherein facsimile messnSa received and stored by including mans for providing immediate reply service [he in ... storage means and intended far receiv. for facsimile message recipient- ink paperlm facsimile terminal machines aasoci " x. A system for facilitating facsimile eommuniu-ued with chose subscribers are scored in the tioiu, paid system comprising : rapeenve mailboxes. 73 a transmitting facsimile machine.

said store and forward facility being programmed a receiving facsimile machine and to communicate with we paperlas facsimile a store and forward facility including. at least. terminal machines in bah computes eqmr "ir ::: a computer means for controlling oxntion of the non mode and facsimile communication mode so store end forward facility, than the facsimile manages scared in that sub- b + man storage means for stain` facsimile [rwmis" scriber's mailbox can be transmitted to aid re- sioro together with information identifying the ceivins paperlet facsimile terminal machine for trwmininS facsimile machine and the receiving display on a display woes facsimile machine. and

27. A system of claim 2" Wherein aid receiving pa- + coupling means for coupling she store and for-perlas facsimile terminal machine can Also be used to u ward facility to a receiving transmission network niter a response message without the peed to eats the for receiving facsimile transmi ssions from we system, transmuting facsimile machine and for coupling b. A system of claim 26 wherein said intended re- the store and forward facility to a forwarding

«ivii,g facsimile -wh+M includes u Insist one voice transmission network for uwmitHng facsimile mail boy weans for storing voice mail message. !0 transmissions to we receiving facsimile machine.

29 . A system of claim 29 Ihrthv including mans for wherein said receiving facsimile machine includes . at converting facsimile memw into voice mail messages lent. end directing mid conversed voice manage w sod it coupling means fm coup4in` slid receiving fae-voiet mail boa means b instructed by message gender simile machine between we Forwarding trains-or recipient. Is minion network and a normal television situ 70. A system for facilitating facsimile eommunin- a eommuaiuuon meanu (or communin[ins with

uam be[wern oraosmitpag facsimile machines and in- said store end forward facility through she for-tended receiving facsimile machine which includes at warding transmission network. sad least me voice mailbox -ma for receiving voice mes- a conversion man for converting facsimile signals sage, comprising 60 received from said store and forward facility into

at lent one store and forward facility, suitable video display signals far display an the means coupling the at least one store and toward normal television set .

facility [o a switched telephone network for receiv. 33 . System of claim 74. wherein the forwarding trans" ink transmissions from the transmitting facsimile minion network includes at lent, a public switched machine. 6! Telephone network.

Lid store and forward facility including ]6 . System of claim K, wherein the receiving tram-computes means fog controlling ins operations and mission network and the forwarding transmission net-

including work tie the public switched telephone network.

5 .291 .302

71 ]7 . A system fog Aunt; facsimile communica-

tions. said system CO. jdng: a transmitting facsimile machine a receiving facsimile machine and a store and forward fadlity including, at kw. a computer mew fog controlling operation of she

store and forward facility . a am storage means for staring facsimile vusmis-

rioiu whether with information identifying the transmitting faeaimile machine end the receiving factimile msehioa, and

a coupling mew for coupling the store and for-ward facility to a receiving transmission network for receiving fac.i .iiii transmissions from the transmitting facimile machine wA for coupling

32 th, end forwvd facility to a farrarding tral--,C)n network for transmitting facsimile c+u+fmistions to the receiving facsimile mai:hme,

wherein said reteiving facsimile machine includes, at 7 lout . a personal computer mans far eommunical "

iag with said store and forward facility and for electronically displaying facsimile transmissions.

31 . System of claim 71, wherein Lid penoeil com-pma mean includes, at lean mans for communicating

to with slid flare gad forward facility through a computer eammuoiutioa mode. H. System of claim 77, wherein the receiving trans-

mission network and the forwarding u^ ssi^n net-work ire the public switched telephone asawork.

EXHIBIT TTACHMENT

[361 References Cited

U.S . PATENT DOMAENTS

7394.493 7/1971 Bad 17N7 7.641p32 L1972 Bond 32414 4,038.3T2 1111977 Goga a &I . .- 17813

(List continued on next page.)

FOREIGN PATEN-r DOCUMENTS

37-1ls762 11/19L 1apm . H04N IMO 58.186273 10/1987 Japan _ . H04N IAO 39.271964 12/1984 Japan H04M 11M 59-214765 1'J1994 lapm X04M 3112 62.3333 119!7 Jqm HOWL 11120 138326 IOI1919 Japan H04L 11120 57 Claims, 10 Drawing Shah

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United States ratent ,,y, Gordon et al .

1541 FACSIMILE TELEComwmCATIO.m SYSTEM AND METHOD

1'S1 Inventors : Richard J . Gordon . Los Angeles . Calif. ; James R Kennedy, Tucson . Ant .

(731 Assi¢nec: Audiofaz, Inc. UuicuZ Ga.

" ~ Notice : The portion of she term of this patent subsequent w Mar. I . 2011 has been dis-claimed.

[all APPi . Yo . : 371,832

1221 Filed: Jan. 1_', 1995

Related US. Application Data

(63j Continuation o[ Sa. No . 166.701, Dec . Is. 1993 . which is a communion of Sec Yo . 9!!.d]7. Oec L 1992. PaL No. 5191.702 which u a continusioe of Sec Na. W181. Feb. 12 . 199t . aWndoeed . which is a continuation-in-part of Set No . 248,798, Sep . 22 1961, Pa No. s,99s.9't6 .

(S1] Iut CL° H04N U00 (521 L'S. CL 358/474: 358/400: 358/4=-

359/407; 3581<35: 3581436: 358/4e0; 358/e05 X58) Field of Search __~-- 358/400, 402

3381407, e01, e0e, 403. 434, 433, 434 442, 440, <38, 439, 405; 3791100. 109

11x1 Date of Patent: " Oct. 17, 1995

221 1699 "'1989 l:niicd Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . HU+NI 11/Oy

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

The 3M Fu/changc Facsimile Network Switch tuns your facsimile network into a highly efficicnt, high-volumc coma munieuor no chits available pp . i-2.

Primary Examiner-Edward L. Coles. Sr. Msurau Eram�,sr-Jarortu Grant . II Attomry, Agnu. or Firm-Louis T. Isaf; Jeffrey R. Kuester

[57) ABSTRACT

A system and method has one or more scare and forward facilities. (SAFF) each associated with a plurality of sub-scriber facsimile mxhinex The SAFF include a compute: for controlling operations and mats data storage equipmeM . A subscriber m the system delivers m outgoing facsimile message to she SAFF wish which a is associated. which records she fu message. together with data u w ori;inaunq facsimile machine and destination facsimile machines The SAFF then delivers the facsimile mange m she intended receiver Gaiafile machine, either directly or through another SAFR if unwaestNl on an initial attempt. we SAFF periodically retries to send the facsimile message. The system duo provides spooling of ail facsimile messages for an intended teedvc machine, which are ill spooled upon eonnadon with she teceivc machines Subscriber mailboxes tie provided u put of the man storage, which can 6e accessed by a subscriber to have hip in---~a debuted m any facsimile msclaine he designates . Secure facsimile trans. mueion is achieved through use of subscriber PIN nurrbmn. Broadcasting redirecting messages and cost accounting can also be achieved by the system and method. After receipt of a message by the subscriber. the system may provide an immediate-reply ferviee, allowing the recipient to immedi-amly send out a menage selected from a reply service menu . The system an also be used in cooperation wish a paperless facsimile machine which directly displays the facsimile message on a screen and is capable of meeting outgoing facsimile messages to the SAFF.Tbc system can convert the received fu message into voice mail message and direct the converted voice message m a voice mail box as instructed by the message fender or recipient.

~~ ,-/-- ~~ I '~-.VirN 1 I L~.

5,459,584

Answcn-0cL 1989. Audiafu. Inc. Proposal for RcIlsouth Advanced Net. warks-Fanimilc Automated And On-Dcmand Diauibu-uon Maihads-Oct. 6, 1988 . CClTS-Rcd Hoot-wol.ll-Tclamuic Services : Opera. Lions And Quality of Service OcL 1984 . [EEFJIEICE--r,low Telecommunications Conference 1987-,"70". 15-19-1987-Control Methods For Fax Store & Forward Contort . Services. Kaa+nai Shimomum Tataaki Koniehi & Tadoshi IchikaWa-DesiOn For facsimile Storage end Conversion Processing in S7UC-201-pp. 3I-39. Huuki OhmurL Yuichikamiywa end Himshi Kobyuhi-Developmmi of a Mulu-Media MHS based on CCITi X s00 Recommendations�". J03-319. Yotosuka Electrical Comet. Lahantory-Dev. or A Public Fu. Coax Syx Using Storage R Conversion Tech-pp. 19 .4.1-19.<.3-1980. (p r"""""^m " i Co11f. on Comm.-Coo(Cence ReOOrd vol . 2 of L Development of Fax Comm. SrA for Paclost Switched Data Network 41.1.1-41.1.7. Himshi r.._.ued Fps Comet. Nanvat-p-30-36-Jm 1946. 26. Fu Wooer 21 Remote OperLion--Fu Muw 21 User Handbook--pp. 1.61.1.64. The Fu Network-Imeilliseec Communications Male (ICM}-~ Spee.-May 11 . 1991 Inreds's Unique Fu Service-May 199&--pp. 55-59 Ma Safe-Stare And Fawad Mwye-SvitehioF Svsu= Specifications (a Aellfauh Advuiced 'Icm-:'s Facsimile Automates! And po-Demudlpiit Methods-Nov. 1981 . Teilogue Hardware Archkoccure--Converm Technology, Ine Tcilosue Message Mma`wciss Systana--Converse Tech-nology, Inc.

US Fu; no data avu7able pp . 1-8. "Fu fete slams Business Hard" Insight Mad. Auk. 22, 1988 pp. 1-3. Mauyw6i EjirI and Tainya Eado--Faaiw7e Comm+ma-uon is Digital Network--lsa 19Sd--pp. 19-27. Toshihslco Maloyfma . ToshiFum Shimsn 3. Xatwhilco Hrrun-A Mrasye Handling System For Public Net-works-1983--pp. 103-112 Mmyoshi Ejvi-Mvanced Facsimile Communication JuL 1983--pp . 17183. Husinnt Wat-An Answaiag Machine That Rally Giw

3 .056 .336 I IJ7977 Crater ez al . ..... . . .. ... .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . 778!.'37 4.106.060 NI977 CTapman. lc .... .. ... . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . 738?,36 4.571 .699 2/1986 Herrcg et d. _�_._ ._ . . . . . . .._. .. 764N00 4.594 .414 a119l6 Hahimoto . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . I791S A 1.60:.I_9 7/1986 Maahewf n al . . . . . . . . _. . . . . . .. . . . .. .. I79/18 +.617 .907 9/1986 Yoshimoto et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JS!l2J7 4.614 .978 9/1986 Doueraal . . .. ..... . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . _ 758l-63 s.W:.697 LI967 Wada . ._. .. . ........ .. ... .. .. .. ..... .. . . . . 3511007 a.6,L6,160 7/1987 IizWca a L. .. .. ...... .. _.. . . . . . .. . . 71YIS7 4.654 .718 LI967 SusyosAi ..... .. . . . . . . ... . . .. ..... ... 73M'37 a.660 .'.!6 aJ1967 Hahimoto _. .. .. . . . . _............ .... ]79NJ 4.748 .656 3/1961 Gi6bs et al . .._ .. ....... ..... .. .. . .. .. . . . 379193 4.837 .798 611989 Cohen a al . . .. . . . . . .. ....... _..._... . 77918! 4.370.678 9/1969 AEShi ..... . .. .. . . .. . ..... .... ...... 379!100 4.893.333 t/1990 Bv+o ei iL ------- _-------- 779/t00 4.905377 7/1990 Gordoo a y. --'---..J_. 379A3 4.918.722 4/1990 Dwluee a al . 379/100 s.97],955 NI990 Neudoefc ------- - 3791100 4.9a1 .170 7/1990 }{etbft . ...__.._~ 779/100 4.967 .238 1011990 Wmaton R &L -.-~ 3svau a.s1a.'.sa Itn990 vaine a AI . 779/100 4.994,926 211"1 Gordon at al . 359(400 5.065-34 11/1991 FG0hidi 35814C0 S .I]6.6Y1 Yt992 Rae a il, 7791100 5.193 .110 visa Jones at al . 379194

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

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/MME0~~4TE DELIVERY

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5,459,58a

The electronic transmission of documents by way of facsimile (fu) systems employing public and private switched telephone networks has become both common-place and, ohm, an essential component in many business activities to such a setting. it is very common for the fax terminals (fu machines) re be kepi quiet busy during a major fraction of the business day. Moreover. where send and recipient tie in different time wna. the "business day" can approach 24 hours. particularly in international aetivi-aes. It is 00211=01% for fax ,sets to -broadcasit7 documents to a number of different recipients. that is, stud the game message to several different fax machines . it is also true that the contents of some !tied documents me of such a sensitive moue that the originator or addressee would like w dove a measure of control over who might we those documents as they move from the receiving machine in time hoods of the actual addressee .

These circumstances present t number of practical prob-lems for a fu user. In order a make a successful fax transmission it is necessary that the receiving machine be available u she time chat the uanfmitting machine attempts to COntaM it. If the receiving machine is -'ready in use handing another mesttge, the transmitter will receive a 'busy" signal. The originator's only recourse is in continue initiating telephone calls until contact can be established. This is a "hit or miss- process at bat and an be very wasteful o! she originating operator's time .

Some, rather expensive. fu machines have digital mama acs which will alloy them to mernorriza: Use document to be transmitted and w be programmed w nuke multiple rcdials in an effort a establish contact in an automatic way. How-ever. this is limited to only one or two documents end, more importantly. ii uos up time transmitting machine until the eRon is successful or abandoned. This is hardly an accept . able solution if that machine has other documents to send or recd ve. There tie other conditions which an result in a failure to

iransmii even Lhough a telephone connection has been established. Perhaps the moss common of ibex is the absence of paper in the receiving machine . In ouch 31w2~ uune . ¢pc3ted 3ucmpis to "'edial" will lead 10 rcpcatcd udl

The objects of this invention tic to address these many as shortcomings of present fu syaicme and to provide an

integrated system for their solution . I'unhermorc . the imcn~ Lion is la achieve this in a war which is fundamCnully

FACSINILLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM .1\D METHOD

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of application U .S . Sec No . 08/I66 . 701, filed Dec. Ii, 1993 . which was a continuation of application U.S . Se :. No. 07/955 .877, filed Oct .. I99=, now U.S . Pai. `o . 5 .=91 .30-, which was continuation of I: .S . Scr. No . 07/65y.I8i, flied Feb . 12. 1991 . now abandoned. which was a continuation-in-pan of application 1: .5 . Set. Yo. 071248 .798 . now U.S . PaL NO . 4.994,926 .

FIELD OF THE INNENTION

'I?ic field of this invention is telecommunications systems used in connection with facsimile transmissions. More spe-cifically. this invention relates to a system end method for enhancing else of facsimile transmissions and providing features relative m facsimile transmissions not heretofore available .

BACKGROUND OF THE INV&YiION

charges with cach altcmpi, wqh no actual SUCLCSS Until the receiving machine is scrviccd (which may be some lint, if the Machine is Operating unaucndcd because it is nichuimc halfway around the world).

Busy machines which arc dcsuncd to receive messages arc Affected by Lime convcrsc problem. Since they and the prospcnivc uan:mining machines must engage in (perhaps . automated) "telephone Lag" . ;hcy arc used very inefficiently When a uansmictinq machine gets a busy signal . even if it

~~ automatically redials. it can only guess a[ when the receiving machine will be available . Thus . the receiving machine will likely remain idle for some fraction of the time until such an attempt a made . The practice of broadcasting documents to a number of 15 addressees obviously compounds these problems and adds

still other of its own. Even if one does not encounter busy signals or impaired machines, convenient broadcasting demands an expensive memory-type fu machine on she

.o transmitting end Such machines read in the document once and then peoeeed w automatically dial the unions recipient machines- This Process ties up the sending machine and its telephone line cad makes them unavailable far incoming caps. This, of course, exacerbates Lime busy signal problem

y for those units trying w contact the sending machine .The security of sensitive documents is still mother prob-

lem. Once contact is esnblished between two fu machines . the uanfmiafion of time document proceeds automatically, irrespective Of who may be shading by the receiving

30 machine u the rime. In a buoy ova, the contemn o! these documen ts tie aanable m she (u operator and anyone else who happens to be in the vicinity .

It is alto common for individuals m wish m deliver fu documents to a recipient who is not currently available

3; ".'ueugh a known tu:hine (e.g . a person on a businet. This if a very inconvenient situation in that it requires that the paper documents 6e held until [he traveler phoney in from a remote Machine . It further requires that there 6e someone available u chat time who has knowledge of and

4o esteem w the documents intended (or the recipient Moths roman is related w so-rued paperleu fax

trnninals . In react year, paperla : (u techniques allow a computer a a micro-processor equipped with specific soft- wan: and modem to directly vanimit and receive facsimile

as messages. However. it a arm very common that she recipient is rot in his a ha omu: (the paperlat fax terminal may also be located u home) u the time when fu message if coming . For example. the recipient is out to lunch or otherwise absent from his a he office or home . This

w requires the sender to retry the communication message delivery spin end spin if there is no other fax machine available in we once .

Still another comet is adequate accounting control over the billing of ells. Typically, many businesses wish to be

is able w track the costs of both fu machine use and the associated telephone charges. Whiles telephone charges can be ascertained from telephone company record, in the Present environment these muss be related to records or the number of pages transmitted per call and so rorth . separately maintained 60 by the fu machine or its attendants .

SUMMARY OP THE INVENTION

5 .459 .534 4

ticat to pcovidc COT automatic broadcasting of documcms io mulupk dcstinacons . Lists of "broadcast groups" o! phone numbc:s can be arogrzmmcd into the facility by users . or a list of destination phcac numbers eniercd "by hand" at the

s time o! a call . The SAFF nn then broadcast she message to cvery machine of the selected lisp Ibis is a great advantage to broadcast uses in that they need only tie up their machines for one outgoing transmission . the one to the SAFF. The SAFF copies the message to all of the destination

L a machines u outlined above . In the meantime, the originating machine is available for receiving or transmitting other documents .

Similarly . sine time documents K scored near the origi-nator. the system can permit messages which have already

Is been tine to be coped to other destinations after the (an. without time necessity of minding the message to the SAFF. Likewise. since the messages tie also spooled in a facility near the datiauion, the system also provides the recipient wish the option of forwarding or redirecting doeu-

m mean to still abet destinations, as if time recipient were the originator. 1Te system cm also accept and store mess-~a destined test a fictitious deadnacion a "Mail Box". 'Ibusi. individuals who tie traveling can. u their convenience, dial into dine system amd pick up any waiting docurnamilL

23 Other services ere provided du[ m particularly unlul to individuals who ere not a the 'home" T"".h:""" For example. so-called "paprsfns" tax terminalsi, small portable wmPuaz equipped with madams and software programis

30 whiff enable them w emulate fu mrmioals, ere beef employed at m increasing nee. The MW Box system reco¢ures i variety of these devices and provides iatcx-uve leaoaea to facilitate their use. In this we, the SAFF an either periodically retry m communiorc with the intended

7s Papelas to amiaaf or c¢uit tLe [ax maaage wuahc Paperlaa fu terminal a fu machine a instructed by the tecipimt a sender. In addition, the syuem mcopuxn a small, highly portable Mail Box header that consists of an dopier tha[ as be connected between the titer's telephone and a normal Wevwon set (for example. in a hotel room). allowing 40 the user m display fu messages received from the Mail Box on the N saeea. The system is also programmed a provide a fax-La-voice

message conversion service which can convert an inbound 43 fu message into a voice mail mess,~e and send the mesinge w the intended recipient's vain mail boa, such u an answer machiftes.

Another useful feaaue is time ability of a fix recipient to send auwmaLed"vda replies to fu messages back to the oripnuon (typically directed to a voice mail box) . This permits the recipient to select a. generally tem. response from a menu of possible replies. These replies may be selected from i menu of stairsdardized responses provided by the system a from a menu of customized response& in the

tf user's own wise, that is maintained by the system . Closely akin to these fnwrcs is the ability to have the

originator of a transmission include the Rqui'emem that the recipient provide a security code. web u a PIN number, in order to release the document from the spool to dine

an destination machine . In this case . the SAFE sends a wriucn report to the destination machine advising that a secure message is waiting (a a particular recipient noel the fu identification of the originating machine . The recipient must then call in b the SAFF W key in time security code to

es initiate the delivery of the document- Since the document is epmlcd, time delivery easily may he dclayeC uRul the recipient is available tusupply the code.

Compatible with existing fax icrminal machines . The basic approach is to provide special compuicr~bascd fu Siorc And Forward Facilities (SAFF's) u m imc¢ril put of a swiLchcd iclcphonc nctWark system . All fax transmissions cnicrcd into the network tic routed to such a facility. typically gco¢raphically near the originating machine. where they arc tcmporuily scored or "spooled" by the computer in a mass storage buHcr, such it a rtugnctic dish .

"[he fu masa¢e from the originating machine is intended far a destination machine . Which may or may not be in a position to immediately answer the call. If the destination machine is within the service region of chat SAFF, the system ehen proceeds to attempt to call the destination fax machine . If the destination machine is within the smiee area of a diBerent SAFF, the system forwards time fax document dues to that facility 6y long-distance lines, in which cue this second facility attempts to call time desti-nation machine . In either case, if contact is established and the message is delivered immediately. time system directs a primed report back to the originating fu machine confirm-ing delivery to the descnuion machines and ocher pertinent data

i(, on the other hand the delivery cannot be completed immediately due m a busy signal . a machine hint (e.g . . receiving machine our of Paper) or any other reason, the spooled document is caved and dine system makes periodic attempts w rnnnec she destination machine and complete the uvumisuoa

ID time maotime. the system wads a printed report back to the originating machine acknowledging that the mass- c has been entered into the system. indicating the cezton she delivery is being delayed stating the protocol the system will take to deliver the message, and providing a reference number a "Musa`e Code" which idmdfla the mare and my be used u a leer time to race the std, of the doeummt.

Placing the delivering spooling system geographically near the destination machine has the advantage of mope economical use of any long-distance lion that may be involved. 'Mew lines tie used only m move the message from the originator to the spooling system in the vicinity of the destination. which is viroually certain to be successful on the first try. Subsequent atempu to contact the destination machine an be handled mote or less locally and reed not tie up the bulk of the lon`-disnnca fadlitia.

If the delayed delivery is ultimately siccenful. the system will send a primed delivery report to the originating machines On the other dud. if the didivery attempt protocol has gone Uuoug6 its whole cycle without wccesi, a report will be sent to the originator indicating that the delivery procedure has !ailed and requesting insuntictions as to how to proceed (e.g . try spin, redirect the message to a alternate number. or delete the mesuoe).

.fin important feature of the system is that it recognizes all of the documents that tie spooled in the system u a given time for a given destination machines These are identified and linked together w form a message queue ror that machine . In this way, once comet is established. ill of she waiting messages can be "dumped" to that machine in a continuous batch. Furthermore. if new messages uric while chin dump is occurring . they K simply appended to the end of the active queue end tie uansmiued when their turn Comes . This has the advantage of greatly enhancing the uulirauon efficiency of a busy destination machine .

Sine all outgoing fax documents tie temporarily noted m the facility near the originating machine, u u alw prod

5 .-459.SSa

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Ocher o6jecet and advantages of the present invention will

be apparent from the following Detailed Description of the preferred embodiments thereof and from the attached Draw. ings of which : FIG. 1 illustrates the ima-relationships of the principal

elements of a connection between two SAFFs. FIG. 2 shows a more detailed hew of the vuious systems

within a single SAFF. such u those shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 illustrates the major components o[ the Originate

Function in the SAFF3 shown in FIGS. I and Z FIG. 4 illwaats the major components of the Answer

Function in the SAFFe shown in FIGS . I end 1 FIGS . 5a and 6 show a flow chat describing the general

processing steps required to handle a (u a voice message incoming to the Odaimrc Function of a SAFE a described particularly is FIGS . 2 and 3. FIGS . 6a and b thow a Down chum describing the general

processing preps required w bandit the delivery o! a (u message incoming w the Answer Function of a SAFF. u described particularly iv FIGS . 2 ad t. FIG. 7 shows a Bow chart of the general processing steps

squired to handle a service request iv the General Service unit of a SAFF. as described particularly in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the

paperleas fanimile mnainal. FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of another embodiment of

the paperless facsimile terminal which an utilize in ordi-nary television sec for display of facsimile meson.

Message Interception b

In the Present invention. ill fu uuumissiom initiated by a subscriber w the (u management system tie first ima-uPted by an "originator SAFF; that is, the SAFF which directly services the originating fu machine. FIG. 1 shows two exemplary SAFFs S and 18, with irtereon .e:-:^ ; between time SAFFs and with subscriber fax machines being diagrammatically indiated.'fhw in FIG. 1, the SAFF d includes In oeiginue function 9 coupled one telephone lines " to oeiginuing fu machines 1. Likewise, the SAFF is includes arm (nigioae function 22 coupled one telephone lion 26 to oeipnacnj fu machines 30. Each of Lima SAFFs 8 and la also includes respective mower function blocks 12 and 19 respectively connected ova telephone lines 6, ?A to fax machines 3. 26. Each of the SAFFs !, lE also includes service interfaces 10. 21 coupled via telephone lines 3. 75 w telephones 3, 29 . The function end purpose of the service interfaces is mace fully explained hereafter. and they tie untie control of sutus and control blocks 11 and 21 . Ace= to the System of FIG . 1 can be obtained much the

same a access m a Specific long-distance company's net. work. Thin is, subscribers such a 1 in FIG. 1 can dial a unique see= code u the time a call is initiated. or a telephone line dedicated w a fax terminal may be puma-ncntly routed in the SAFF system, in this case the SAFE 8 of FIG. i . Either way, one acassa SAFE Directed Lines 3 and the SAFE! itself in the process of dialing the destination fax machine . the SAFE 1 then answer the phone in place of the

destination miehine. such as ono of 7,8 shown in RC. 1 u serviced by SAFE !t. For the moment. this SAFE 8 near the onginuor becomes the proxy for the destination machine 28 . while nouns the actual destination telephone number. the SAFE 3 rnpges the originating machine in the same digital dialogue that would have occurred i( a direct con . necuon to the destination machine had actually been made . Thus, h ahocs back the destination telephone number. u) identify the intcndnl Jexunuiun machine . arid agrees to

'[1m preferred embadimmt of this invention is a muld-funetion, interactive hcdmile t+-smi" itian system which is integrated into a switched tell apUoee distribution network. where "network" is taken broody w mean the entire systarn required to complete a communication from an originator to an mswaer, This embodiment provides a comprehensive computerized fu message managanae system based on automated fu Store And Fonvvd Facilities (SAFE embed-ded in the network. This system requires no modifications to existing facsimile machines, but rather. relies on the network to provide the enhanced services, The system contains several components which actually

transmit the far messages and related information . provide written fax reporu to user about the sows of messages within the system . allow user intervention in the sequence or automatic actions of the system . provide an accounting or services rendered for both the customer and LM telephone company, and control end supervise all of them activities.

In the preferred cmhodiment. it is presumed that the S,\FP's tie placed a the interface between the local We-phone delivery %ystem end the long-distance delivery xy%-

Finally . since the documents and their delivery arc both under the control of the telephone system . as a special service the telephone call accounting system can provide both time and charges for the telephone services rendered and fu information, such u pages transmitted . sorted according to the originator's clients. This can greatly facili . lace the fax user who wishes to do Cost accounting or to bill clients for costs incurred.

6 tcm . as indicated in FIGS . 1 and 2. In this Setting . ihc SAFE system can be controlled end its services oRe:cC by ciihcr one . However. It is obvious ihat useful sys(ems can 6c constructed where the S.~FF caIsis as close Lo the user as a

1 Component of his or her own in-house telephone sysmm (such u a PBX or Ccnvcz) or as remotely as a single . independent . sand-gone SAFE serving a wide geographical area is also obvious that commercially viable sysecms can be constructed which provide subsets of the features of the

is preCerrW embodimenL the choice of siidconLrol setting end service features might be driven by any number of eco- nortvc. marker or legal considerations . which would miliuic toward oQcein; the system at an alternate location in the network . or in a "snipped down" fore . To more clearly understand the present invention . it is

use :vi m consider the manner in which a fax transmission occurs in the traditional setting . Here the communicuion between two machines is initiated when the destination machine answers a telephone call directly from the origi-

=o owing machine . Typically, [here is an exchange of digital data identifying the sending and receiving machines to each Other and establishing the fu mode or tormae to be used I! This exchange is satisfactory. than the actual image uan3- missioe takes place Otherwise, time call a ecminarM

ZT usually with some form of wriarn diagnostic w the respect tie users.

DETAILIED DESCRIPTION

Introduction

5 .459,53-t

The originating SAFF d Then proceeds to mmsmit the originator soil desdvuion telephone aumben, the noted (u image, the Message Code. and other housekeeping data m the destination SAFF 18. Then dues tie sent by the most expedient mechanism offered by the long-distance service.

'° For examples if this service employs dipui communia" tiwu, the fu dais may well be uanfmined u a significantly highs rue than it vu originally received taro the system. The fu dais is calved by the Long-distance Interface 95

(FIG . 4) in the Answer Function 19 of the destination SAFF. 45 This unit signals the Answer }Ices Computer !S of the

inomang data 7w Hoes thin mums them data to its Mass Storage facility i7. (It should be noted (a laic reference shat the originator SAFF god the datinuion SAFE cow bah have s copy of them dais .) The Hopi nags whether other messages m pending for the destination machine end either opens a Delivery Queue file 63, a appends the new message to the existing Queue File. The Host also records the arrival time and other pertinent

ss information about the fax message in a Call Status file 90 in Mast Storage unit 87 . and sends a status update back w the originating SAFF ! by way of the Status and Control Interface $4. and the System Sinus and Control Unit 11 via Lang-distanctt Trunks 13.

ap It then signals the Local Inierfaee 83 to dial the dauna-tion machine's (81 in FIG. 4) telephone number on ordinary outgoing heal lines ?A, 62 . If the destination fu's line is available. the destination SAFE now becomes the prosy for the originating fu machine and engages the destination

6s machine in the necessary preliminary digital dialogue . If this is successful, time dceumrnt image, including the

source and destination identification information . time NIc+~

Originate Function

With this undenwndin` of SAFE functions. the following detailed discussion will illustrate the operation orthc system in the long-distance case . singe it is the mate complex . and therefore provides a more comprehensive example . FIGS . 1, 2. ), and d all show elements of the SAFF syoLem in varying dcFrces of detail and III will he referred to in the following. R will he noted that game critical clcmrnu are shown m

xccps the fax formal requested by Lime originating machine. This causes the originating machine I to respond by

innsmrtung the fu document image data. The onginaung machinds identification. time destination m3chinds tGa phone number. the fu forma and the document image data arc all stored on a mass Storage dcncc 67 (in FIG . ]l . such as a computer magnetic disk unit Furthermore . a unique aiphameric Message Code is usiqned to the block of data to identify it while it is resident in the SAFF system . This Message Code is related to the file none for the stored data.

Delivers,

At this point . the SAFF d ieiuuu two actions . The first is to generate an "Acceptance Record" of the transaction to this poim- This record, in arse forth or masher. will be returned to the originator as will be described below. The second imp is to begin w deliver the fu message m the destination machine 23 . The details of the delivery process depend m wine degree

on the geographic Ixtion of the destination within the network. A single SAFE can. in principle. service a broil geographical am However, in the preferred embodiment eommuniotioos beyond a certain limiting distance involve u least [WO SAFFs, one a near time originator I and it= other. a "destination SAFF'. 18 new the recipient 28 of the documau The choice of one, two, or mace SAFFa is determined by network economics. a other considerations, and is rux essential to time invention.

For the sake of shit discussion, we w71 define a'7on1" message m imply that d= originating and the destinations machines tie serviced by dine sine SAFE (Although, this does got preclude time possibility that the two machines we wines considerable distance apart gad connected by a toll call .) On time other head, well define a log`-distance message w mean that the originating ad destination (u machines tie serviced by diSasat SAFFs and. thus, one SAFF must exchange dais wish the other, perhaps through intermediaries . Similuiy. time teem "new" used in comsec . lion with a SAFF refers to being within the service ama of that SAFF.

Each SAFE 1. 13 his two clearly defined roles: time "Originate Function" 9. I2 for haoming don with an orip. patina machine, and time -Answer Function" 19, 12 for handling dais with a destination maahim Tft details of these two subsystem m iilusvned is FIGS . 3 sail 4 respectively. In the local message mod4 time comsetzion between the Oripnde Function. such n!, and time Answer Function. such u 1], is linked within the single SAFF t by way of a Local Call Loop.-back connexion v, between the two Functions. In time long-disian mode- time Originate Function 9 of SAFF l. near dine originator. is linked w time Answer Function 19 of another SAFF la, near the daUm-uon, by long-distance lines, such as 14, or 16 for SAFF la . Thus. processing a long-distance message involves the same basic steps as a local message. except that the activity is shared interactively between at least two diQcrcnt SAFFs.

8 more than one of the Figures .

As an example. h is assumed than one of the subscribers 1 attached co SAFF d wishes to send a fu masaoe to one a! the subscribers 28 attached to SAFE 18. The subscriber

s places the call to the destination machine Ztl which is mined over SAFF Directed Lines 0 to the Originate Function 9 or SAFF 8 . These signals originate within the SAFF system and they arc picked up by the On-nct Interface 64 which is pan of the Oneinam Function. u shown in FIG, 3 . This

1° Interface vqnajs the Originate Host Computer 70 of the incoming gall and the Host responds by directing the ineom-in4 data w a Mass Storage Unit 67 where is is stored in a file 68 .

During this storage process, the Hon directs two other activities. It maw a call sums record file 69 (FIG. 3) in mass storage, recording the time and date of the origination. the telephone number of the calling machine, the telephone numbs of the destination maehina any security or ocher special services requested. various housekeeping informs. 24 tioe, and is assigns the Message Code number which hears not only the trams 81e but also the !u dais 6k anodised with it The Host also parses the destination machine's telephone numbs to the Outbound Control urdt'74 which

u proceeds w tonxa the originating SAFF a with the nearest available SAFF 1! m the destination through a long-0iuaoa interface 73 ova long-distance circuits 79 (14 in FIG. 1) . In the process of establishing this cormecdom the Outbound Control unit employs m algorithm which ex+^i++d the

30 numbs soil kind of available Bunt resources and chooses the most efillomt wmbiaaem o! these lines for the task required -

Answer Function

5 .-159,53

sacc Code . and the antry end delivery times . is played bacl from storage and delivered to the destination. A "Deliver Record" is then creased by the Answer Host 85 whict indicates the date and time of delivery. and any oihc pertinent data . 'she Delivery Record is sent back io ih< on¢inuing SAFF 8 . again by way of the Status and Convo Interface 83, and the System Sutus and Control Lnii Il . vi : Long-0isunce Trunks 15. The originator SAFF 8 thcr appends this information to time Acceptance Record to fom a complete 'Truisaaion File- . The originuing SAFF 8 then scads this file . as a delivery receipt or report, back to ih originating machine l . 60, as a fax document -

If the destination machine's line is busy, or the cootie fails for some ocher reason . the destination SAFFs Host Comoute: 85 will inter a sequence whereby it will attempt co contact dine destination machine end transmit the doev~ mnc on a predemrmined schedule for a specific period o time or number of uses . As this sequence is entered. a "Bevy Record" is generated documenting the situation and the system's response to it . This record contains the reason ttue the delivery was delayed and it indicate which protocol she system will use to attempt w deliver the message. This is uansrttiued back to the originating SAFF S. as described above, and appended b the previously described Acceptance Record w form a Transaction File which is then sent a a !u message back w the originator. The assigned Massage Code is a pan of every aamaedon report and stir be used u any time m race the status of undelivered doeumwy, u will be described mar.

If the retry effort is ultimately successful, a Delivery Record u appended to the Transaction File which is sent back w the originating machine- u the effort fails after reaching the predetermined limit. this is also recorded. appended . and tent back w the originator. Iv this one, the originator is given the option of dialing back into the system within a certain length of time (typically several hours) and instructing the destination SAFF a to low m dispose of the document (e .g. RDA may x9~~ lonvud m a didarnt telephone cumber, or delete the mesup).

This process is handled by using an ordinary touehrone phone to dial a multipurpose (perAaps, toll Gee) fu system "Service Number"; which will be rekned to hoe and in !tier sections . This might be a unique number (or gray SAFF, or it might be a standardized number common w many localities, uapi perhaps for tin coda. inch of is 555.1212 (or calling "informatiaa .'Ihu Service Number is answered by the General Service Coned units (SO in FIG. I. 50 in FIG. 2) of the SAFF to which the call is directed '[his unit contains an auomaed voice response system that presents a menu of the available services end prompu the user to tilers the desired choices by pressing particular numbers on the wuehtorc keypad. In an advanced embodi-ment, a eompuier~bated voice recognition system replaces the keypad end accepts verbal commands in a conversational

n 10 In each of time various cases where the SAFFs automui- e cally threes fu message sinus reports (such u, the Acce~~

tines . Deliven~, or Refry records above) . Lime system can be programmed to accumulate records from ill calls over ~

i period of time (e .g . an hour) at the originator SAFF end it deliver them u a single fax document at the end of the Period or upon request by the originator. This has the

f advantage of reducing the number of report calls and the subsequent burden on the originating fax machine . The originator S .+.FF will ewer a retry sequence if it finds the .o originator's line busy or the machine unavailable when it a[tempu m deliver reports . This is a persistent sequence which it will continue [tying (or direct eoptace at intervals of an hour of w for a considerable length of time (ag. 72 hours). h aiw places a copy of the report is the originator's

u Mail Box (described blow) so that the aliinatuir may recover ii i between SAFF delivery attempts.

]t should also be noted that the originator has the option of dialing the Service Number u any dine end inquiring about the status of a given message. Floe again, the voice

30 POP°Ru system Prompts. Presents menus. and uses the Message Code to locate and report on the current location and condition of the menage. A wiiceo reeoed as be duecud w the originating or destination fu machine, if desired.

Another !sorties of the General Service function (god the Hall Box !unction described !tier) is dine ability to send an ;m,"""^:"t" reply m a received (u mesuga'17here ere many imuoeea where one might wish to provide a personal acknowledgement of receipt and some indication of the

°0 (untie course of wino. A collection of such Rsponses if available and may yo selected loom a menu using the General Service or Mail Box systems. Examples might be: "1 received your (u numbs (Message Code) u (dose.

~~ rime)" ; "I am amble to respond u this Lime"; "I will respond in the neat 26 (erg, 72) hours"; "1 completely agree . proceed u daaibed"'Tiles no action until you hear from me", end u molt

ID a typical transaction. the system arks the user for the Ja SAFF-astir Message code and then presents a mane of

these "canned" responses. if will also permit the wneucna- don of seven! such responses to forth a more complex message . Once she use has made the appropriate selections . the system will replay an automated voice version o! the

55 message aid permit ed;ung u required. When the user is satisfied, the reply is then uansm;ucd eithv sf a fu message or as an automated voice mcasago w a designated telephone number. 'Mat number may represent an active fu or voice number, or it might represent a fu or voice mail boa .

60 When a voice reply is selected, the user can select the sex of the auiomaicd voice, or dine user can actually employ a personalized menu of eusiom responses tailored by time user to his a ha own requirements and prepared in the user's own ruin.

way. The General Service: Comrol unit 50 can communicate

with its own System Saws and Control unit 11 . end through that unit any ocher such unit 11 . 20 via Long-distance Trunks 15 . Through these connections. both inquiries rclai-ing to message in the system and inswuctions as 10 their disposition may be addressed in the entire SAFE system .

Having selected time "failcdtonneaion message dispu-fiuon" choice. the user is prompted w key in the Message Code. The System verbally repeats the code and the delivery discrepancy for verification . and then presents a menu cal disposition options fur the user m select with the kcypud .

e! Still another feature u( the General Service function is time ability to pmvidt a faa~unndce message convcniiin xrnce. This service alluw% the SAI'Fsyxicm w receive an

9 10 If the user does not glee advantage of this "What to do

now" opponumiy w,thin the time limit, the message Is retransmitted back to the originator wish a report . It IS Lhce erased from both time onemawr and destination $AFF tiles

5 after a suitable delay (typically six hours) . If the originator wishes to rcscnd the message during this "grace" period, it may be recovered and rcscnt to the original destination or forwarded to another desunuion(s), as will be described l ater.

5,-i59 .53a 11

inbound fu message and then electronically treat a voice mail message directed to the intended recipient voice mail box u instructed by the message sender or the intended recipient. The fu mcssaee may be stored in a subscriber's mad[ has in the system which will be (idly discussed later. In order to provide this service. the SAFE is equipped with suitable software and voice prim database that will pertnii :5e system to electronically interpret the facsimile message from printed documents co verbal eex4 The voice mail message transferred to the instructed voice mailbag may be the whole text of the facsimile message or only a voice messa¢e which will verbally identify the originator of the facsirtule message . the reading time and the number of papers. The intended recipient can then commence the electronic =station by couch-tone signal and can control the operation in fast forward or reverse through the docv-mcnt by couch-cone command

Another Feuure of the System is that the gee of accepting and storing an incoming message u the originator SAFE. and the m of dialing and forwarding that message to the destination by the destination SAFF, nn overlap in time . That is, if the originator SAFF has lima available. ova the initial connection dialogue between the originator and the SAFF is romplers, the SA.FF may immediately nuke its dm attempt to cent= the destination SAFF and, thus. the destination machine, while is is beginning m spool time document.

It this immediate contact is succentlal. then the message is posed from the originator SAFF 8 to the destination SAFF Ia to the destination machine 24 directly from the Originate Host Compma'+ memory 70 while she two SAFFs tie lull in the process of spooling the document to disk This u facilitated by a "write-through pipeline-whereby the Originate Host 70 passes the incoming fax data through direNy to the Outbound Control unit 74 at the same time it is being written to mass storage, It is held in a temporary memory buffer in the Outbound unit until it is clear whether or not an immediate connection a the dnd-nation machine is possible. A[ that point the temporary buffo to data is either cent and then deleted. or merely delemd.lhe net eSee[ is shat the spooling process omit adds a few seconds delay in the rtwaW delivery over the uadiaonul dices machine-tomaeltiae canna when the da-unuion machine is readily available. On the other hand. if lima ice limited, the originating

SAFE can choose to delay until suitable tine am available. This has Lime advantage or improvinS communications resource management and enhancing the efficiency of the telephone system's tine usage over the direct cramact scheme . TAe foregoing describes the basic fax SAFF message

handling system and Corm this discussion several advantages should be apparent The Originating machine always fune-aons u if it makes comet and delivers documents on the fist try. thus immediately freeing the machine and the utcndam personnel for sendin6 or receiving ocher vansmis-sions . Likewise. the telephone system only handles ova call across its local and long-distance line from Lime originating machine to the destination SAFE. since the lute of the destination machine has no impact on the call . This signifi-canUy improves the eReieftrcy of line wage when messages aft addressed to busy fait LC=in2l$ .

Although some additional calls tie needed to deliver the various reports . hex require very little long-distance time . ax they are transmitted over the circuits a% highly earn . prc%.xd cor1cG messages . it is the nearby originating SAIT

Allernaely . the originator can design= a priority icvc) to a given !u message at the time it is dialed in (c.` . by using a diRarnt 11rxu code). In this cue. the destination SAFE will insert higher priority mellow ahead of lower priority

ria mellow in the queue as they are received . The originator would normally pay a premium prim for ibis service . Amber Originator option is the time of delivery. If

dusted, the originator can 3peeify the time of day which the mellow should be delivered In this cage time manage is

n~ forwarded to time destination SAFF directly . but is non entered lore the queue until the specified time. This can he used in combmauim with an assigned high priority fo insert

12 Lh3i translates them into "plain language" for fu delivery as 2 :ocsl message . .4s pointed out. additional savings in these local messages can be gained by compiling multiple repons and dclivenng them in bulk u a single call . It should be

s nosed that the delivery of reports to an originator is a cooperative proems Wtwcen the Originate Function arid the answer Function of the Originate SAFF. The Originate Function 9 actually generates these reports and poses sham through the Local Call Loop-back 13 (76 in FIG . )) w the

10 Answer Function 1: for delivery as an ordinary !u message. In addition to hex basic features, the design of the

syseem also pm%ida for a number of additional services and advaneaqef which are described below .

15 Message Queuing

As pointed gut. all fax messages directed to a particular telephone mumbo am spooled by the Answer Funcdoa of the destination SAFF. s deviled in FIG. d. The Host Computer

=p SS conwlling this (uaRion monitors the incoming messages and limes all uaddivaed cmessages (a a given telephone numbs into a motqe Delivery Queue 81e !f. The eom" pwa alw compiler; a constantly upload. adored catalog of the file names a( the messages waiting for each fu machine.

n Consequently, when me... Sea alive u a me faprr than they nn be delivas0. (a whatever reason . they are held in this quwe (a drlivay. As loon a the destination SAFE establishes coonct wish the destination machine, it begins senmna the entire queue of message, in a riagls, eafmtially

w umnrmupted vmsmiriaod Messages that arrive while an transmission u in progress tie appended m the cod of the 9un'LQ

This scheme

CliT1AffY ~ -uW and

~~~~~J

R}Vl ~~~ dial

lw 3^'y

adial attempts that fault from a number of independent » incoming ells competing in ere uneoordiaamd way [or the

single destination fix It can signifiratntly cribs= the CZCicmcy of the destination fax machine and the long . distance: and foal telephone circuits eonnxted to a busy machine.

40 What the queue exceeds a certain limiting size, the destination SAFF will periodically inure W send a"Qaeue Report" (a a fu document) to the dntinaGon machine showing a list of the waiting mcssaV& This list shows the onjinaing machine identification . identification . the time entered l orethe4I originator SAFE the number of pea in the document. and the approximate time that the message will be delivered bard on its position is the queues The user an advance a particular message w the head of

30 the queue by calling the fu Service Numbs and supplying the desired message mumbo, by win` the voice response manus.'ihe General Service Unit 50 directs these instruction w the System Sumis end Conuoi Unit 11 . Which in tom directs them w the Answer Function Mau 85 through its

55 Status and Control Inmrfaee 80.

5 .-159.53a 14

$ .\fF called a "Mall Box" . InsicaC of being dclrvcred LO time destination machine . a rcpon is sent to that machine indictiung that 3 sccurc mcssagc is wsiun¢ for 3 particular zddrcsscc. Optianstly . s voice message may 5e directed to 3 designated Lc :cpnonc number, such u s voice mail box . by

the Gcncral Scnice Control 50. This feature works if the following way. Each individual

SAFF is assigned its own unique te:ephone exchange code

or codes (typically indicated by the first three digits of a seven digit local umber) . Thus . time SAFF appears to the world as if it were a distinct telephone ezchange(s) . separate from all ocher exchanges in that area code region All subscriber's to a given SAFF are assigned ihe:r fns tek~ phosse number with that exchange pre ix . Subscribing individuals wishing Hail Bogies (typically atsoeiued with a

"default" Cu machine) are issued "fictitious'* telephone numbers which actually eemtinaue in fit Hail Boxes . rather than is m actual telephone line .

Mail Box number are published so that corrapondrnu

may use them . (n addition . each individual is also given a

secret Security coda or PLY numbs which will access his or

he box . The host computer managing the SAFF maintains a list that relates each fictitious number with the individual's

name. the x=tity node. and the real telephone number of

ft default destination machine . This default machine is the one m which messages and reports will nomully be gent. whm appropriate. In addition to a default fu machines the user May also deflae a default voice telephone member

which my be either a telephone answered by a human or a computer-managed voice mail box . u is known in the 211- W1= such a voice telephone is also defined. a voice venioa

of the various srsmm messages and reports will also be amt

to this number An eriginftor wishing [o send a secure message merely

s dials the (fictitious) Hail Box telephone number at the rime.

the document is sen~'Il~e system directs; ft message in the

Mail Box file 89 in the destination SAFF associated with chat

number. and rheAaswv Hose SS sends a "Message Waiting" report to tjme detail[ destination fu machine through the

(,pal interface !7 . U a default voice telephone number has ,o also ban defined in this report. this report u also gem m that

number. Zhe rya has the option of programming of instructing she system through the General Service Control 50, to have d[het or both the default fu and the default voice

reports forwarded m another number. For example, the

person who if traveling could program or require fu or

vain Message Waiting uuww+-emenes w be directed w s hotel !u or telephone number. When vain announcements am made, time system will ;eve the (human) recipient of the

so call time option of pressing a wuchtone key to repeat the announcement u ofkn u necessary w uanseribe the mes-

sa`e. if more than ono mafsaga is in time Mail Boa queue,

Then this region lists them all .

In order to get the fu document actually um w the 51 destination, the security code must be sent bulgy to the

dntination SAFE. Typically, this would be done by time

addtnxe dialing his or her own Mail Box number . Since

this call orisinaia from a "normal" telephone 34 Over Ordinary 1~1 Lines 40, rather than the fax's SAFE

yo Directed Lines 38, time ell is directed to the OR-net

Incoming Sercener 48 in the (destination) SAFE which

functions in conjunction With a Mailbox service control <Y .

This unit recosnirp that the call is not a fan transmission and thus ueau it as a voice service request. A voice response

es system then prompts the taller u~ lees in the security c'"k-

When the crater aKk a supplied . the SAFI~ +y "tcm

:umuunces the numher id messages wUiung and . if do+ired .

It is net uncommon (or documents Or a sensitive mute to

be tent by facsimile from place to Place- This is often a

problem. especially in a busy office or where a Machine is

nominally unattended during the transmission, in that the

originator has no control ova who may 1x standing by the =~

machine when the document Peiecs out. or who may leaf

through a suck of loses piled up in a hopper right after

lunch. This is a problem which others love snemPted t° ~ Zy

wish in s variety of ways . For example. Bond U.S. Pat Noa.

3,594,495 end 3,641 .432. discloses a "ndi0 facsimile Postal system" which features the direct delivery of daeumenn to

specific ad~d :aseea 6y 6nimile via rnmmuniatiom satel-

lims . In this system. intended u a replacement for or ~

supplement w the ordinary "Paper- Postal System fu mes-

saga was died (mm special public fu tnminats opa.

tied by the post Office w a central satellite arthautiae . Hoe

the messages were caned according to their feoP=Pkwl destination for eoncrnuation end uplinidn` w a

suelliee

servicing that arm Ilk 3=llim then btu+dssu All of die

uplinked messages back w FarttL In principle. anyone with a radio receiver is the

fatelliee's

service area could sws any Of the messya. w Bond built in a --privacy code" which operated with the eeedva to allow the message w prim our only on the dotted machine -in reality, this privacy code was nahiny mote than an

addressing signal which enables the selected !u receiving

system Thus. Bond's system is merely a restricted version of the Services Presently provided w to users by the a

telephone networks. His privacy code function is the game

u a telephone number. ii uteri Which of a plurality of fu

machines will actually receive die Message- UnfortunutdY.

his approach leads m wait the security dilemma facing

telephone [u Users. Chapman. U.S. Pa. No. 4.106.060. hay appmaehed the

problem in a somewhat different way. He too disdosn a

lusimila~bucd mail system . However. in hip system, the

messages tie di .eeied by whoever Means to a "paper post

once new the addrnsa. rather than the 111dre user's home

or place o[ business. This post office then makes a paper

copy of the fu maszia Place' it in an envelope . end

deliver it to the addressee u ordinary mail . This is a

reasonably affective solution to she security problem. buy it

can only be relied upon to provide -next day" delivery. and

share tie a number of other. competing aliemwves for

document delivery service on that time scale.

fn time present invention, the security problem is

addressed by a conifo11 variation of she destination SAFE

queuing sysicm . Messages Which the originator wishes to

designate a secure K Lempur+nly directed to a auxiliary %urcage lilt 51 . 19 m the Answer Function of the destination

13 the message at umc head of umc qucuc 3' time 3PPO'n1cd 11 ;71C .

when messages a¢ finally dc:i%ercd w time dcsunauon

machine they ire not immediately erased from the spool file

5 88 m the destination SAFF . Rather they arc maintained in a

"Dcii "ered Mcssaqe" directory 90 far a period of time

(typically six hours) . A feature o(f.red by this action is the

oopanunrty for time subscribing recipient of a message to

make additional copies. csdircc: . or forward copies of

selened messages to oiler desuaations . This is accom- 'a pushed by calling the Service Xumber and selecting the

appropriate choices from the voice response menus .

Sceuricy and Nut Boxes 15

5.59.53-t 1s

the message codes of each . Mail Box contents arc main . (aired in a queue 89 just u arc '*regular" spool files. Thus . the use. is also given the opportunity to rcordcr the messages within a NIail Bo; Delivery queue . throu¢h the System Suws end Control units Il, 20 in the same way u other messages . The system finally permits the addressee to make a

selecL[on of messages for immMiatc release. and provides an Opportunity to -redirect- them to a fu machine 3 other than the detain[ machine over ordinary local lines 39 . The SAFF ehen releases the selected documents and moves them to the head of the appropriate destinuion Delivery Queue 83 (or immediate delivery . As described earlier, the recipient of the various messages may then choose to provide automated less or voice replies to selected messages . When messages arc accepted into the SAFE system and

am ve u a mail box . The Answer Function of the desunation SAFF issues a "Posting Report' Which is directed beset to the Originator in the manner described (or other reports . The report is simile w a Delivery Report, ucept that it indicates chat the massage !us been calved by the mail box . When the Mail Box Queue is actually rod by the addreatee the Destination SAFF lentil an actual Delivery Report w the originator icdin[ia` the dale and time of delivery and w forth. Another advantage a( the Mail BOX system is that it an

provide a convenient say for individuals who ue away from their "home" machine m will have access m their daeu-mean. Such individuals may call in m their Mail Bo: number to bear from the votes response unit whether they have my messages waiting. By use of the redirection faanue. messages pmt w a fu Flail Box can be accessed by an individual with the security code form any telephone with a fax machine.

For example, a pawn on a business nip nn have all his or ha fu documents directed to their Hail Box. Upon arriving u a howl that him a !u machine, time traveler platy a call w the Mail Box cumber and supplies the information outlined above, including the telephone number

In another Approach. time papalas fu ramiml nor act u an Origin-'in~ machine and a designation turbine, in place of ordinary facsimile machines in this cue. the Paper. less (u terminal may be used in cooperation with a rek- phooe a provided with a wend a flash It& l=w= 192 or 197 n down is FIGS . R and 9 for prompting the adden~ee m oomumnitae with the SAFF system for teteiv- 111$ t facsimile usG7ti~C while the SAFF 7QG[GpL~ to transmit a facsimile message The SAFF also provides the orhez

is services m the pqpedeu fu terminal err provided to time ordinary facsimile machine, For example, the SAFF will temporuily stole the fare mange anti periodically retry to communicate rich the dminacon papalett (u terminal i! the ta'miaal is bury or otherwise unavailable w receive u this core .

of the hotel fu machine. The SAFE rhea calls the hotel p A wmpaniae aspect of this system is a Mail Ho: Reader machine and dumpy the queue of waiting documents, levies 77 v shown in FIG. 9 which is m Alternative of the Another apes of the Hail Box Analon is support far paperlpa (u iaminal described above, This device is a paperlw fu terminals 33 . wed a L6om which provide a relatively low-cost adapter which mooeas the wa's tele-voluile display of the fu image an a computer display. ~3 phone to an available ordinary ielevipoo ue w form a pimple Typically, this terminal is shorn in FIG. i which includes a papoias fu reminal. 71m Reader device 33 contains a small. modem-equipped personal WmptoQ 191 and a eom- modem capable o! both computer and fax operations. pro-putter display 19". The terminal can also include a keyboard grams for ibex 197 !or entering necessary access node a other information. ing docvmem or documents, 1~ b ~ ~

inrnm-

ln this cim~ms~~, the paperlqs term ;nal initiates the 50 the device. a keypad 1% for the input 19S (a controlling

Put of us commands. er mmands. a Mail Box vansactiue operating a a computer terminal video display fair 199 and a RF modulator 200 suit. (rather than a fu terminal), using a computer terminal able for supplying a display signal w the ordinary television emulator program wed u Lhoie well known in the art. The yet 201. incoming call from an ordinary line 40 is ReoQnixd by the O?-nn Incoming Seieerfv Oa a nor being a fu uammis- 53 Lion and is passed w the Mail Ho: Service Control 49 . This Unit rccosnizea the call u a computer. rube than voice call and enables a computer, rather than voice, response system . The user end the Mail Boa Service Control 49 then earn . muniemc by way of wore computer communications code yp such u ASCII . The system presents time same security code requcfu u

the voice system and provide the fame bate user options including message queue listings. queue reordering and x, leash . Unlike the voice system, however. it is not necessary es in relived the for : messages to another telephone . The parx:rlcs% terminal whware recognizes +imple axle

The Hail Box Service Control 09 recognizes the Hail Box Reader a a distinct iuminal type end supports abbreviated command sequences from ib more limited Iceypsd In addi-uon, it suppons paging through sections of a document so the a user an view documents which may be too largo to fit torn time Reader's memory in one place. lTe Mail Boa Reader itself ha a "loom" mode that

mapnifics the image on time scrmn by mapping a smaller segment of the Reader's memory to the Se'xe,'I'1,is pamiu one to overcome the fact that the resolution of the television act may be too limited for a'eadable display of some of time finer-dctailcd features of wore (u images. The Reader's keyPyl 1% permiu scrolling through messages . Mnh vcr~ ucally and hovonwlly in l+oih time normal and mmm m(wlc .

16 scqucnces sent b~~ the Nail Box $crvice Control 49 end can be Switched undcr Mail Box Service control from the ASCII computer tcrnmal mode to the !u terminal mode. Thus, the user may select messages from the queue in the computer s mode and then the Nail Box Service system will amomau~ cally switch the terminal to fu mode . send the fat messages . and then return the terminal to computer made.

In this way . the paperiess terminal user can engage in an ongoing dialogue with the mall Box Service Control . doing 10 queue manipulations.'rading faxes. sending automated (as or voice responses and so forth . When a fu message is read by a papertqs terminal on a screen. the user may elect io have the message left in the queue for later disposal and to have a cove page added to indicate the date, time and is terminal telephone number from which the fu was origi-nyly read . The user may also redirect the message to be primed on an ordinary ""hardcnPy "" device , such as a fu device or a Printer. In addition. this mode will also pemde the

uansmia+ian of outgoing to cnevaQea from the paperias 20 terminal and access w the functions of the General Savior

Control 50, all without the need m exit the system and dial in again. This permits a single incoming can over a line 40 m Permit the user to weeaf essentially all of the savior available from the SAFF n

5 .459.534

Thus fu. the discussion has presumed that both the originator aid ansWaer was subscribers to the SAFF system. It is quiet reasonable w assume dust subscribers will wish a send a receive fu messages with non-wbsmbas. u well . While the services provided by the SAFF tie mare limited in such caw, nerWvlrx the system both antici . pates and enhances communications with non-subscribers for the benefit of the subscribers. When a subscriber originates a call to a non-subscriber the

delivery process is almost identical to subscriber-Lo-sub-scriber calls. The fu data is forwarded to the Answer Function of the appropriate destination SAFF and delivery is Pursued. III in the usual way. For the benefit of the sub-scribing originator. the message is stored in the usual way u the destination SAFF until delivery is completed. If multiple SAFF~procqsd messages arrive before the delivery is complete . a temporary Delivery Queue will be crated and used u required . However, since the non-subscriber will have no account in the system, uLempxs to use the Service Number to manipulate the queue, fomard mevaEcs, make multiple copies, and ux the other special %crvicc% available

In the preferred embodiment, each of the principal units n! of the SAFE such a described in FIGS . 2.3 . and 4 is

controlled by iu own computer pnwesxing unit ur unlit . lTeie urns K in¢rtupl "Jtiven CumPulen which arc con .

17 vertical scrolling is transparently coordinated with the glad Box Service Control's paging functions so that i! one scrolls oR the end of the segment of z long document stored in memory . the Mail Box Scrvice Control will automatically supply the next segment .

Broadcasting

'ilnc queuing, flail Boas. and security codes are all derivative benefits of the spooling a( messages u ume desunauon SAFF. There is a counterpart advantage to the originator SAFFs spooling u well . Since the originator SAFF maintains a copy of each message. that copy can be used to broadcast messages to multiple destinations.

This can be initiated in a numbs of ways. For example . the user can dial ill a coda prefix indicating that a lice of destination number is to follow . The numbers are then entered and finally another code is entered w signal "end of lisp" . The Originate Host 70 recognizes time inputs and attaches ahem co time message which follows. As m after-native . the user wt store different numbered broadcast telephone lieu in time Originate SAFF mass storage files 69 (entered much u described above) and involve ahem simply by diaiin` a two or three digit "short-cut" code . In either eau, from them the !u transmission m the origioacor SAFF proceeds normally.

Upon reception of the list god the document. she origins. eor SAFF proceeds w open a many local loop-back or long-distance lion a it can to deliver the broadcast message to the various destinations. essentially simultaneously. Although the originator is billed for making a number of different calls, in her time originating machine is only tied up for the time required w male one call . Furthermore. the frill power of the delivery system is asserted for each Cr.lltinu:on machine, :rc:uding reporting. iedials. queuing. and so forth. A feaare related to bmadcude` is the redirection of

messages by the ortpeuoc Since fu messages m spooled u the originator SAFF end held for a period of time erm after delivery (typically six hour), the originatorcan dial die Smite Number any rime during this period and direct a copy of the spooled message w be sent to other destination machine.

Communications With Non-subscribers

18 to a subscribing ansWCrcr, will be unsucccssful .

Calls originated by a nomsutscnbcr directed to a suh~ scribing uisWem move by a somewhat different mccha . nism . As noted . each SAFE appcWs to the world as a distinct

5 telephone exchange and all subscriber's to a given SAFF arc assigned their fu telephone numbers wish chat cachanac prefix . Conxqurntly. all calls directed to a SAFE subse:iber eventually end up at the subscriber's SAFF whether shay originated from within the SAFF system network or not .

10 MasaQa originating -Off-nCLwork- can arrive by arty route. For example . they may be truly local cells . or they may be long-distance ells which arive over any available long . distance network.

In any case. menages originating from a nonsubseiber is 73 tie delivered w the answering fu machine's SAFF by

the local lion 39 provided by the local telephone company. 'il1ey tie answered by the SAFF's Off-net Incoming Saernc 0!, which, upon noting that they ate fu uansmis-sioro, directs the calls to the Originate Function 9 of that

m SAFF. From that point the till is treated as if it were a local fu all end it u paled over w the Answer Function 12 via time I.aca1 Call Laop.back u for delivery co the subscribe:.

In this situadola. an Acceptance Record will be mounted to the otipouin& machine. but no further orilicator services are provided. On the other hand. the answering subscriber has 25 the 1W1 cane of Answer Function available.

Camps and Deviled Billion

Normally. the Originate Function of the originator SAFF has ultimate responsibility far the management of outgoing

b mass~ea. u initiates W wnaeeuons w the Answer Func-tions of rime various SAFFs wish which it must cortwuni " care It is ft node to which all reports concerning message fowl and disposition must Bow. It interrogates Answer SAFFf when extraordinary updates tie required. Conse-

. ~ aumur. the Originate F,uu;ien ;s also the focus of charili .~-.

The daLL

telephone company presumably chugs !err all of the various services provided by this systern. The method, algorithm. and raw ere determined by actual cosh and

b applicable teplatian+ . Typically, the use would be billed la telephone canmea time, roll charges, extraordinary ser-viaa, such n those provided by calling the Service ;Number. the amount o! mass stomp spree rnmumed as a function of near, and m froth.

u Ooe of the user services fm which a special charge might be made is a wMaiba's customer specific billing system. In this option she user ac "Bag" each fu transmission wish t keyed-in peEa which contains a user customer. client . or pmjeee number. This number is stored a a key field in the

so Transaction Fle la that all. Thus . when the telephone bill is prepared, the billing computer can sort the subscriber's bill on this field end present the user with a list of ill fu mess-, total usage time, number of pages and related charps, all grouped by the subscrilaces own customers,

!s clients. a projects. Furthermore, it can accept the subscrib-ei t particular algorithm for billing calls to customers or clients and generate a column showing what the subscriber will bill for the service (u a separate muter from what the SAhF system end the telephone company have billed the

6o subscriber). This can be of grca assistance in attributing costs end billing customers for cervices rendered

Software Control

5 .459,534 19 20

nccicd together by the System Suius and Control unit I1 . .%tcssage Code. The destination telephone number end other This unit is an electronic switch yard for control communi~ information are passed almost immediately 119 to the Out . taboos between the Originate . Answer, and ocher units hound Conwlle : 74 . which then opens a temporary buffer is wLihin a given SAFE, u well as the she other $AFFs in the mold the fax mcssagc in cue immediate comas can be system through the control long~disunce trunks 15 . While 5 csublishcd . and ii iucmpu to establish that comet through There ire many tasks which the various control processors the desunatian SAFF. muse perform to handle fu operations . the primary ones arc

In pursuing this toms, the Outbound Controller 73 imercepting incoming calls. either for fu forwarding or service requests. and delivering the (u messages to their examines the status of available trunks. If trunks We avail desunauons . The general software organizuion of these ~a able . h will immediately attempt to connect with Use desti-pnnclpal activities is shown in FIG . 5 . 6 . and 7 . It should be nation SAFF, otherwise it gill deer she calf until a trunk u noted chat these figures are simplified and intended to be available . In the event of a broadcast message . the Outbound gene:ally.desaipuve . For example, some procedures thus- Controller X11 select she number of trunks to use umuiu " vued here u sequential (!or she sake of simplicity) can nrously based on she percentage of the trunks already in use, actually be performed concurrently. Likewise, not every in order to avoid tying up all of time SAFF's outgoing function of she system is represented in devil . Generally 15 capacity with a single message task. Other considerations speaking . simile results also an be obtained with a number can affect [here usage choia3 depending on the devils of the of other obvious arrangements o[ the functional blocks . sexing of the System

Broadly speaking. fax messages addressed to the OriQi- The Hose then enters a loop which den the incoming fu sate Function oft SAFF arise either through the special data 125 (FIG. 5b) from the On-net k or OS-xt Li 5.4FF Directed Loral I~tw d (FIGS. 2 and 7) u a remit of ~~ Interface's buffer and states each byte is the !u data die 136 direct connection or dialing a special access coda or they while sending another copy 127 to the Outbound controller arise from Ordinary Local Lines (off-era lira) 39 . 40 . 6) . 74 until the incoming data is complete 11S. The Host am Those which arrive via off-act lines tie processed lust by the checks 129 wiry die Outbound apmvpa m am if it was OS-net Saw= 48. which mar direct them w either the SucwsfW in malcn~ immediate connection rich the dead . Origin= Function 9 or m Mail Box Service 49. FIG. S, u nation machine. u is vu successful and a satisfactory therefore combines all three of there related IUnaion3. trmuta occurred. than a Delivery Report is sent back 132 m

At the attract. one of the two incoming call interfaces 64 d+rse originating machim before i[ leaves dm line . Other-and 65 signals she Host Computer 70 thin u u bepnaint re wim a Acceptance Report is am Lll, and is either can prows a call u 100 is FIG. 5a. These units love their own she ancoma L reported 133 w the Transaction Fide and the buds capability and nn tolerate some delay before the Host ~ call is-terminated L14. responds. Ulumuely the Host must decide ahethe it is A eomplemmtary tit of apivfdes occurs in the Answer responding w an on-ea m off -act all 101. u it u as off-act Fuoctiau o[ the dncinadm SAFF v described in FIG. 6& all them tie too possibilities (excluding wrong numbers) and b. Hoe m incoming rail if detected 136 by the [-by^.r~ 102: it may either be a fu call. in which tax it u from a 3s Control 92 (FIG . "). The Answer Host Computer 35 the� non-subscriber to a subscriber. or it is a mail box service call . Opens a new fu data and Transaction file for the wince of I! it is a fax rail then she billing !or savior mint be directed hue is no ntrsmt queue for fat destination maey;a, or ii to the subscribing destination add"""""" Ill From that poise premea m append the data m an existing 9uem 137. The u is handled like tie on-ca call a will be described shortly. various call! tied file parameters ace lidmd and stored 13!

If it is nor a (u rail, then it is presumed m be a mail box b and the call th~i ~~Q ~ call service all 10.1, and the system ohm determines whether it Interface

is a computer err voice-based request. The ealla is presented addressed m a "cal" fu numbs or a fictitious member wish a voice response menu or computer menu 104 for such terminating in a marl box. u the number is gal the Local service, u appropriate. The user responds w ihae prompts Interface attempts w contact the destination machine for with a muchtune keypad, verbally. a with computer key- ,s immediate delivery. strokes 305 end a derision ladder. shown succinctly u 107 The Hoe then a~mn a loop there it yeti the incoming selects she tinned implemwuian routine 10E.109, 110 (for data 107, notes it 148 in time fu Delivery Queue, aid brevity only twee typed choices we shown, end this passes it through 149 w the Laeai Interface buffer. When the element is actsrally a loop whirl will permit multiple eom- Host detamim the she (u transfer a complete 150, it then manila) . The chow mmine pat- parameters m a cam- so checks 152 (FIG. ib) to see i(ume Loral Interface has been mend pane 121 (FIG. 3b) which prepares a command able to males immediate delivery . If it has. time Host im aisacs statement which is thm pmt 122 to the System Sows end the transmission of the Delivery Report IQ bast through its Control unit 11, through she interlace n This command will Status and Control Interface 84 to the System Control end be passed to she Answer Host 85 through its interface 84 for Status unit 11, which in-turn updates the Transaction File actual action on the Mail Bo: Queue !9. If the service » end sends it back m the originator SAFF ova Trunk 13 . It requires a response b the olio the transmission path is is chit communication which ultimately results in time reversed When the operuian is completed 127 the call is immediate Delivery Report described previously. TM trans-terminated. action in then terminated 169.

I( an the ocher hand, the original call it found u 101 to be If immediate eonnm is nor established a Retry Report is m an-net call, billing is aenenlly directed u the originaor ao tint 133 bast th rough time System Sinus and Control wit 113 and the Hwt 70 begins the opening digital dialogue 114 and the Retry sequence begins. The Retry criteria nn be with the calling machine. acting in place of the destination varied 134 . bah in place end wig the SAFE satin` For machine. This diabetic includes lathering end storms the example, if she SAFE is integrated craw a lain exchange. the fu identifications . originating and destination telephone SAFF can actually monitor tire Mired line and simply wait numbers and w forth 116. 71u Hose opens a Transaction File ns for it to become available . In other fetungs it will he and links it to a data file 117 for the expected dam and then necessary for time SAFE to actually Rdial m prexrihed ,wren oil of the call and file m(nrtnmion 118 keyed to the intervals . In any case attempts to connect tie maJe-155 :uW

.I 5.49 try ° ~cc i! [he 2hatW 156 a coon .583 _ ~ sent track ~htog u thei

r 0 Failed R~~ °uiche md, in System

~CC PcCa ~th ~ domqs~8c yss~~C Dcfi~on

ic,n~~ cbo.cto ~ Aaperl~u~ uo

rcd in +haty ~ subscnCCr.

Proc.c`y jna x

1`sa ~S Ry~ Qutr61 each NdBm° ch gk

S messages screen from 44Y land cbJ ~ c~ a b°cauon ,na

subscriber 3 °~

~~a.rrc.";~ewas rmrt y ~~ K'1+ee`the Allure fy

point u~r

to 9terminal c~ ~i ~

machine where n SCSi

tuated. ud p~P~ sasc

call . ac , ~ dec~~~ a ~nsacciort (t ~ R~ has 3 ~~~ L ne number onncc~cd to a le., SaidpaPe:leaf f

mess~g :he,syA+~+due 41h ~~u Use

fy~at this is a mail a~ nc~ w+~lt~~ M and ~ S PmsAlays S

personal Iclephan comWtr ~~ `i. sil Qart , box co ~!d s Yea Pa r With

s e~ t UL-Ough 'a

dYS emd y~d " a PC SOS QR"aa

~I can be . jen

r.~ o u s° ~at ~~'te m"m` "'d f

forw acs~~ r~~~ Y

be able o come

Gear ~ ~u~ ~

system safe

~5 R tepoR t~ ~k Aaperl W f~1 ~~ Qlmsp B0 31o~ ~ aj~¢o6s ury~auons mood gaol[ 6 is mwy mile Y°d said s~ n5e;'= t.~»~, s U~n~e calls uw ~+ PCs

u++au'oa Store ~°~ m ~~ Ma chin m maitbvc

na ,m«'~e"'°d ~ ~ ins ~°~' ~ ~a~w ~ ~ ~"~+''o

4 In the iC3 of

ahedd said P,Pey a~ ~"" = ac use

tine ~,' i~ ~"r~,. t~s~sw°"' orn,T; ~ ~ M~ s. 7, ~`~' ~ms ~ rtePee~ s~y~M+le

~nEP~s.+ible cyoicq yt~' or 17y~6e+ ~e ~ Orally v ~mtn~f y~ *retain, t, a ~ °m~ea,~duni

. . - herein are watq

loa d~t for mulupfe ~ °h°u'o Tor~~~ few f

Service r~'~le ~ t~ovao ~ paid p~Paleu F ~e 'm Idt ~ l`naaga~~~P`"rfuu~,tion

r~I7se ~r+am Of c~,~ 1'W

re and r~on~� 'mu u�' p`q ~e co r~ Sri System ~+aod "~! 73a ~ ~ y ~~ h41 aeia 1,;d ~eiNty,

~ ~Mile what

°"A~~o~er ", ;"~~ c au `~. ~~

182 &cS b ye`SYS`q~°~ for mss. ~~

facati

°° Yueai+irr in y=~+n and ~ ~Oyy Ptef ~~ ~ atef f ~eracai~~ ~ ~m untive ~tbod 1~.--

d~ u~el~Y o r~~ ~frmof~ _, ~ up ~ save ,°d~- ~+rMachine

fm~°t"on~e

sOPe of

c1y~,n~ ~°2 t d`~`a~ from ~ ~~ iAe said

~r 0" 10 Ehe wifthed ~

one Ste ~ network ~~ud :ecl ;uy ~ f j+art a ~~ for

beiv"en Or ru7lita~pl fycpny~Q aom,,,,~v ~ ~~~

Iwivatna i~.~ j~~ facsimile

~ f~ +n~ttin

m Ieuc on a + ~a ~~q'~~}~e y~ ~ una ~ xaia°~a~=lY. or,va

store means ~~~ the and fonvw

(+a7i s oft

act ~~ info for ic~~t

(acs; err '°m'a~imane ~

forward ~ surer ~ ~~~° u~oa u~e mwsses.

~ ~ lurr~~rtu~q~~~~+~.H~'tkyl Means ~ ~t~ ~

Under c°rtmo, ~ f ~ iii.

Simile and to~rw ~ for cpn~~epit~ ~udin~ ~t u ~7+yWq J ~~eC

fo arn* ~~ ed lacifitY to the Malt +cfiity, t qkr~4~ wherein ane ~n the actin

tirt ~~ ~~u+ in ~f'

for .uainj r or laid store

~ W . WLOW wdwSubscribers

Call rece . . ~n°~ immile m~ to t f +~ai h~~ . numy~ may Machine

means ~~ and vfyias ye'~~USA Yca, in ~ ~HdWI ~y~ ~ Pro"fded

with un coca of d smut.

.he ~ Ha~e ~ PIN

Mean switched ~Cam COM 1. mile ~s, ~ ~ nn yjc r~ W ladliey co the u ~ ft f~Pa~ n o

"'hcrcea~ one ~~y~ n~ ill the ~

Storage r~_ ~'httipt from diaplyY otp~~ recci~ingufac-

W~y~ c

m~~, dsW,'' lu~+ ~ ~a also rue

'no or at I aid

m of~ym~S U~~~~p~~

6'+e^~ PIVc Pcular rt'?°^'ry �x Ing

rc:~~~siorat~ il~

Stages ees ~iv~y yea sto

stem sub- mca~ '~an4t~ S ~Tyk~w ... Said comAUicr me

hem, n r~d ~~i7wicr

mean, - and

i~un~~~n ~ Rio d i~o h,

machine

~ mahod ~ (rpm said

p~hi~ fa~ ~~~of acn'rr,

MnF'a»~'~ay1 ~n !+ . ~ Win ° iransrn; racilit~Un~ ~ ~°8 facsimile

Uarft. ~'~~~} ,ttriv~nr j~ ~~milc much- co+r~muniqliuns Iq7.N U71c a~~ kbine. ~5~ ~d 'u Icas~ un ~ :unU furry mP7i.ling .NCn,uJ ~ 1+cifieY havrnE

5.459,53-t 23

computer means for controlling opcration of the score end Forward (unity and having mass storage means for ,ionng facsimile messages :

coupling the u least one sore and forward facility to a Switched telephone network for receiving facsimile messages (ram transmitting facsimile machines ;

recording received facsimilc messages in the mass storage news together with information indicating the inns-ccvuinq facsimile machine. including seeps of defining mailboxes in the maps storage mews associ .

aced with particular system subscribers. and storing facsimile messages for throe particular system

subscribers in their respective mailboxes; and truurttieting facsimile messages scored in [he mass storage means to paperlau receiving facsimile machines. including steps of in response to initiation by a system subscriber, trans-

mitring facsimile messages scored in that subscrib-er's mailbox a a paperlns hnimile terminal machine associated with that subscriber [or display on a screen.

6. A system for facilitating facsimile communications between transmitting facsimile machines god receiving fac-simile machines, including at least one paperless facsimile terminal machines comprising

at least one sto. and forward facility. and means coupling the u least one since and forward facility w a switched telephone network (or receiving mns" missions from the u Ipu one transmitting facsintile mwA

said stare and forward facility including

computer means for controlling operation of said sraee and forward facility,

roan storage memi for storing Gaimile uammisaons, ro`etha with information idewifyiog the t:ansvuo-tines farsiade machine. uncles control of said com-puter means, and

means coupling said store and forward facility to the switched telephone network for transmitting fac-simile messages stored in the matt storage mew m at lest one paperleat fioimik ranizinal machines

wherein said mass storage mews additionally includes mailboxes associated with particular system sub-scribers.

wherein facsimile meafa~a received sad ftaed by the man storage means for those subscribers am stored in the respective nutilboacs. and

wherein paid note and forward facility is progriumned w communicate wish the paperleu facsimile termi-nal machine in bah computer communication mode and facsimile communication mode w that the fac-simile mn+afa stored in shat subscriber's mailbox can be vwmiued in said papalas facsimile termi-nal machine tar display on a display screen .

9. A system of claim !, wherein said paperleu facsimile germinal machine can also be used w enter a response message Without the need w exit the system .

10. A system for facilitating facsimile communications. said system comprising : a transmitting facsimile machine: a receiving facsimile machine'. arid ~ stoic and forward facility including, u Icau,

a computer moos for controlling operation of the store and forward facility .

a inns storage means far storing facsimile mcsxagaa together with information identifying the transmit .

25 a PAL faciimile derive couples! to the switched telephone network.

wherein said facsimile stoee god forward faciLity and sad priparlw facsimile deuces m both configured w wm-muoiate with one mother to transfer to said popericris

w facsimile deuces facsimile mnu~a received by said lfcianI7C store and forward fWlity, from transmitting facsimile machines and noted in said f-iti-", fI0[C and forward facility.

14. The system of claim 33, whirred, said facade scars 35 and forward facility and said paperless facsimile device am

both IVmhc configured to communicate with am masher through. u learn. a facsimile Communication mode.

1S. The system of claim 13, wherein said facsimile cure and forward facility and said papeAas facsimile deuces am

40 both fimber configured to communicate with one another thmuS4 u lease a computer communication made.

14. 7Le system of claim 13. wherein computer wmmu " n:,+" ;on made includes, at lem it terminal emulation

17 . The system of claim 15, wherein said facsimile store u W forward facility god said papalas facsimile denies ace

both hittMf configured to also commamicare with one another IL[OIl(h 1 facsintile communication mode .

1!. Tie system of Maim 17, wherein said papvlqs facsmik device is saiwhable barn computer comm-

50 nieation cootie and (aerimile communication mode during a single telephone call .

19. 'iLe system of claim IS, wherein said paperias facrimile devise is funkier twi¢hable back w said computer communication mode after said facsimile communication

55 made during the game node telephone call. 20. The system of claim 13, wherein said facsimile scare

and forward facility and said paperlnt facsimilc device am bah further configured w provide a - in ability to manipulate a quasi of facsimile messages stored in said

eo facsimile note end forward facility . 21 . The system of claim 11, wherein said faesimilo store

and forward facility end said papuleu facsimile device = both further configured w display on said papMess fae~ simile device a list a( hesimilc mcmilles stored in the

m facsimile store mid forward facility . 22. The system of claim IJ . wherein said facsimile .cart

and forward facility and said papedes+ facsimile device arc

24 Ling facsimile machine. and

a coupling mans !or coupling the store and forward facility to a rccciving transmission network for receiving (acsim1lc Messages from the vansmituns facsimile machine and for coupling the store and forward facility to a forwarding transmission net. work for transmitting facsimile messages to the receiving facsimile machine,

wherein said receiving facsimile machine includes, u io least. a personal computer means for communicating

wish said store and forward facility and (or eieeuoni-caliy displaying facsimile menages.

11 . The system of claim 30, wherein said personal earn . pwa means includes, at least . means for communicating

13 wig said Store and forward facility through a computer communication mode .

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the receiving trans-mission network and the forwarding transmission network are the public switched telephone nerwork.

13. A system for facilitating receipt of facsimile messages 20 from transmitting facsimile devices . said system wmpris" ia` : a faaimr7e note sad forward facility coupled to a

switched telephone network; god

5,459,58

both (uMcr configured to provide a user an ability to select for delivery u ]cast one particular facsimile message stored in said facsimile store and forward facility.

Z3 . The system of claim 13. wherein said racsimilc store and forward facility includes. u least. mcans for storing facsimile messages uong with information identifying asso-ciated vansrttitting facsimile machines .

27 . no system of claim IJ, wherein said facsimile store and forward facility includes, u lest means for stonng facsimile messages in facsimile mailboxes associated with particular subscriberm 3. The system of claim 24. Wherein paid facsimile

mailboxes tie accessible only by providing security coda to the facsimile store and forward facility.

26. The system of claim 13, wherein 3770 facsimile Store and forward facility includes, u lent

computer mans for controlling operation of the facsimile store and forward facility,

mass Storage mom for storing facsimile messages together with information identifying uamrtuuing fac-simile machines. and

coupling means for coupling the facsimile store and forward facility to the twitched mkphom navorlt.

27 . The system of claim 13 . Wherein said paperless facsimile device includes. u Lust. a personal computer wish a modem arid a display. 7a The system of claim 27, wherein said paperless

facsimile derive u portables and wherein Lid modem is a facsimile modem. 29. 73a system of claim 13, wherein said facsimile suare

and forced facility and said paperlea faoimile device tie both Amber configured to provide a user m ability w wed facsimile main as from aid papaleas facsimile device w said facsimile (rate and forward facility.

70. A method for operating a facsimile note and forward facility co facilitate facsimile commumcatioos, paid mahoa Comprising Steps Of.,

providing a facsimile scare and forward facility acicessible through a switched telephone netwodc;

receiving facsimile masalm at the facsimile store and forward facility from nanimiainil facsimile trischinies ;

storing the facsimile messages at the facsimile tae and forward Gently ;

receiving a call from a papafm facsimile device u the facsimile floe and forward fadHt)r. and

transmitting facsindle manages stored in the facsimile store aid forward facility from the facsimile store wal forward facility m the paperlm fralmfla device-

31 . 71m method of claim 30. further cot. p. sing a step. before the trwnduing step. of receiving from the paperless faesimilc device a leafs one delivery request (a u lean one facsimile manage stored in the facsimile amore and forward facility. 32 . The meUad of clam 31 . wherein the delivery request

is in the form of a command in a computer communication mode . 33 . The method of claim 72 wherein the transmitting step

includes transmitting the facsimile manta in a faesimile communication mode }t . 'Rte method of claim 11, further comprising a step.

between the receiving steps. of eommuniating to the paper-less facsimile device a lisp of facsimile messages sinned in the facsimile store and forward facility .

JS . The method of claim JI, further comprising xtepe . after the transmitting step. of

recN "ing cam the paperless facsimila device at lead tine

transmitting the 21 least One additional facsimile message stored in the facsimile store end forward facility from the facsimile store and Corwud facility to the papalcss facsimile device.

76 . The method of claim 70, wherein the storing step includes storing the facsimile messages in facsimile mail-

10 boxes associated with particular subscribes. 37 . 'the method of claim 16, further comprising a step,

before the transmitting step . of receiving from the papertess facsimile device a security code required for access to a particular facsimile mailbox.

is A 'Me method of claim 36, Wherein multiple facsimile messages usonued with a subscriber are stored in a Cu-simile mailbox associated with the subscriber. Wherein the method further comprises a step of receiving from the Papalw facsimile device a mailbox manipulation eom-

m mood selecting (or delivery a subset o[ the facsimile mes-aaQef stored in die facsimile mailbox, and wherein the tranami[ting step includes transmitting only the (elected subset of facsimile messages . 39. A method for accessing a facsimile store and forward

v fadliq m faciliurs facsimile communications. said method

calling the comprising steps cat

facsimile iwm and forward facility from a papafnt facsimile devica;

trammimnj a delivery request from the papalev Gc " 30 simile device far delivery of u lam one facsimile

mange noted in the facsimile am and forward fadli[r; and

fecdving delivery a the papvlw facsimlle device from 3s the facsimile swrc and forward facility of the u least

tine facsimile message stored in the facsimile store end forward facility.

40. The method of clam 39, wherein the delivery request is in the lam o! a command in a computer cornmunictuion

b mOdC' dl . 73e method of claim 40, wherein the receiving step

includes receiving the facsimile messages in a facsimile cnmmuniaion mode 02 The method of claim 39, further comprising a step,

45 before the aaeumiuinj trop, of receiving u the paperless facsimile device from the facsimile swre and forward facil-ity a lies of facsimile messages stored in the facsimile ncme and raffia facility. 43. 7Ue method of claim 39, further comprising steps.

50 after the receiving VAP, of transmitting from the paQatess facsimile denim to the

facaimilc sore end forward Cxilfty It least one addi . tional deliver request for delivery of u lent one additional facsimile manage stored in the facsimile

53 sure and forward facility: and receiving delivery u the paperlcu facsimile device from

the facsimile once and forward facility of the at least one additional facsimile mrsu;e stared in ft facsimile scale and forward facility.

no 44. '11+c method of claim 39, further comprising a step. before the transmitting step, of communicating an idcnufi~ cation of a facsimile mailbox from the paperless facsimile denies to the facsimile store and forward facility.

IS . 7'he method of claim 44. wherein the communicating m step includes transmitting from the paperlesa facsimile

fence to the facsimile store and Forward facility r secunly " unk asukiated with the Lesimile mti1Mn .

25 26 additional delivery request for at least one additional facsimile message stored in the facsimile store and forward facility : and

5,459.584 27

46 . The method of claim 39 . wherein the paperless facsimile device is rcpemedly swiichablc between a com-puicr mode of communication end a fxsimilc mode o! communication dorms a jingle connection . 47 . The method of claim 79 . wherein the calling step

includes calling the facsimile store and forward facility through a switched telephone network. 48. A method for acmsing a facsimile scare and forward

facility to facilitate facsimile wmmunieuions. said method comprising steps of:

calling the facsimile store and forward facility from a paperlcu facsimile device ;

uansmiNnQ 3 broadcast request loom the paperlas fac-simile device to the facsimile score and forward facility ; and

uansmiuin` a facsimile manage from the paperlest fac-simile device w the far-simile sore and forward facility (a storage sad delivery to multiple dwitin-dons.

49 . The method of claim 48, wherein the broulca3t request includes a plurality of telephone numbers for she multiple deseinniooa. 50. The method of claim 48. wherein the Eroadesu

request idmi9ea a list of telephone numbers for the multiple desti nations stored in the facsimile use and forward facil-ity.

Sl . '11ie method of claim 48, wheie(a the brosdcax request u in the form of a wmmad is a computer mm-muoiadm mode. end whveia the aep of traoumimng a faewn7e mestaipe includes Caaamsimng ft facsimile mas-sage is a haienle commumcatiaa madam . 4 . . .

28 5:. A paperless facsimile device comprising: display means for displaying a facsimile message: input means connected to said display means for receiving

user input end interface means connected m said display meant and said

input means for controlling said display means, for interfacing with a facsimile store and forward facility . and fm manipulating facsimile messages stored in the

10 facsimile store and forward facHity. 37 . The device of claim Sl, wherein said interface corms

includes a programmed system processor and a modem. K. The device of claim SZ wherein said interface means

includes means for receiving facsimile messages u said i= paperfess facsimile device from said facsimile store and

forward facility. 35. The device of claim 54, wherein said interface means

further includes mew for sending facsimile mess- es to

m said facsimile same: and forward facility from said papexi

nthesimik device. SL'Ibe device of claim S1, wherein said interface means

includes corm for smdin~ facrimile messages b said [raimila am god (awW Gouty 6om said paspalesa

a facsimile device Sf. Miss dedoe of claim !2, whaem said ioraiaa corms

includes mew for communicating with idd Gala sae and fatwvd (adity, through a computer communication mode end : faaimI e communication made

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION

PATENT ND. : 1,639,18

DATED : October 17, 1993 Page 1 at 2

INV ENTO R (S) Biehard J. Cordon; James E. [anaedy

It is certified that wrtar appan in [ha a6ovFidendfied 0+tint end that aid Letnrs Pumt is hereby carmced u shown blow:

Ocher Publicstiana

lfC2 Sata - Store and Forward Message - Switching S>>tma Cuida - May, 1987, P=s. 1-D-2 .

Ticle page, ices (36) References Ciced Toraign Patent Documents

3210609 2/1984 Germany 59015787 1/1984 Japan

J .S . Lier+'lnko dad 1.Z. Lukas, AT&T 7asftadueca i 3eivieu Spud The Vrictm !is sate, 1989, P=s . 12-17 .

CCII'I - 11tad look - 701. PLII - Data ro--T{coded Heevorlcs message g&ndling Systems . 1985 . Pp . 1-3a .

Mr= Enterprises - Smars - i - Spe Fwc Dialer - P=a . 1 .7 - 2 .67, Naoeabe: . 199

Tax Management - System Da.+eripcian - Audtola - Vas. 1.9-18, July, 1991 .

FAEIY1x - Faeaisile Transmission Service - Universal CmWaLtabilicy Between Fax machines .

Iataraal Mao - Yaz.Yasear We Fssy - To : Distribution, Frog: xika Da=aatiald Juan 9, 1983 .

Ialarmaeioa Disclosure Statement - Sari192,l39, Conrrol o! Lleesroa:c Iafarasei n.v..ary .

PATENiNO. : s ;4s9,sa4 Pace i of z GATED : Oeeobas 17, 1993 INVENTOR(s) . Richard J. Gordon; James R. Kennedy

it is certified dut rra aooun in me a6avridmtiRed parrot and dut aid Utters Patent is gushy eortec'ted Us+own brow:

S1,;1Cd and Scaled this

TbfItiCtll Day of aT13IP, 1996

30=rz ".r "

AaaYfe OffCw C~ de /w~ W TA/OYY

r- UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION

'Iakshi Lo Tamie - Public Facsimile Communication Nacja:lc - 1982 - Zip - pgs, 47-J1 .

Smarter Fu Mailbox Manager from Electronic Modules, Tac.

AIA ]00 Talaphune Liar Powered Call, Wncrollar For Baut++s Calls Transparently To Llearaaca Lone Distance Carriers .

Related U.S . Application Data

Continuation of application No. 0&(780,690, filed on Jan . 8, 1997, which is a continuation of application No . 08!395,062, filed on Feb. 27, 1995, now abandoned; which is a continu-atioo of application No. 08/571,842, filed on tan. 12, 1995, now Pal. No . 5,459.84, which is a continuation of appli-cation No . 07/955,833, filed on Oct. 2, 1992, now Pal. No . 5,291,39-7, which is a continuation of application No . 07/654,181, filed on Feb. 12, 1991, now abandoned, which is a coutinuatiou-in-pert of application No . 071248,798, filed 0o Sep. 22, 1985, now Pay No. 4,994,926.

tut . CI .' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H04N 1/W U.S . CI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358/434 ; 358/400; 358/402 ;

38/407; 358/435 ; 358/436 ; 359/440; 358/405 Field of Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 3581400, 401,

358/402, 404, 407, 403, 434, 435, 436, 438,440,442,405,439

(56) References Cited

3,594,495 A 7/197 Bond . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179/5 3641,432 A 21972 Bond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325/4

(List continued on next page .) 88 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets

1, M12- M12-

(12)United States Patent Gordon et al .

(54) FACSIMILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND METHOD

(75) Inventors: Richard J. Gordon, Us Angeles, CA (US) ; Jams R. Kennedy, Tucson, AZ (US)

(73) Assignee : Audlotax EP, I,I.C, Marietta, VA (US)

(' ) Notice : Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S .C . 154(6) by 340 days .

This paleui is subject to a terminal dis-claimer.

(21) Appl . No. : 09/686,306

(22) Filed : OR. 11, 2000

(51) (52)

(to) Patent No, : US 6,643,034 BI (as) Date of Patent: 'Nov. 4, 2003

CA 1329852 5p994 EP 3230609 7J1984

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Audiofax, luc. Audiofax, Inc . Proposal fur Be115outh Advanced Networks--Fax Automated & On-Demand Dis-Ubuuon Methods-Oct . 6, 1988 .

Prunary Exwniner-Jerome Grant, If (74) Attorney; Agent, or Fimi Womble Carlyle Saudridge & Rice, PLLC ; Louis T. Isaf

(57) ABSTRACT

A system and method for facilitating facsimile transmissions bas one or mote store and forward facilities, each assodaled with a plurality of subscriber facsimile machines, typically coupled over the switched telephone network. The store and forward facilities include a computer for controlling opera-uous end mass data storage equipment. A subscriber to the system delivers an oulgoiug facsimile message to the store and forward facility with which it is associated, which records the fax message together with data as to originating facsimile machine and destination facsimile machine. The store and forward facility Then delivers the facsimile mes-sage to [be intended receiver facsimile machine, either dvectly or through another store and forward facility. If unsuccessful 00 as initial attempt, the store and forward facility periodically re4ys to mad the facsimile message. The system also provides spooling of all facsimile messages for an intended receiver machine, which are all transmitted upon making connection with the receiver machine. Sub" scriber mailboxes are provided as part of the mass storage, which can 6e accessed by a subscriber to have his messages delivered to any facsimile machine he designates. Secure facsimile transmission is achieved through use of subscriber PIN numbers. Broadcasting, redirecting messages and cost accounting eau also be achieved by the system and method .

US 6,643,034 B1

5,127,047 A 6/1992 Hell et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3791100 5,136,634 A 811992 Rae U al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379/100 5,193,110 A 3/1993 Jams et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379/94 5,224,156 A 6/1993 Fuller et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379400 5,291,302 A 3/1994 Croydon et al. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358/400 5,45984 A 10/1995 Gordon et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358/434

3,7?b,496 A 9/1973 Ivamer . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179/7.1 3,92(1,896 A 11/1975 Bishop et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178!16 3,993,862 A 11/1976 Kart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178J6 3,995,106 A 11/1976 Wem et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178/6.8 4,058,672 A 11/1977 Creger et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 17&'3 4,OSB,giB A 11/1977 Geger al al . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 358857 4,091,424 A 5,1978 Widagren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3581160 4,106,060 A di1978 C6epmao, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358/256 4,115,765 A 9/1978 Hartte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340(j24 4,207598 A 6/1980 Reich et al . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . 358/157 445,257 A 1/1981 YamvJlv U al . . . . . . . . . . . 358260 9249,216 A 2'1981 Keude . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35gl157 4,255,619 A 3/1981 Ssito . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. 1792 4,326,098 A 4/1982 Boulicius <t al . . . . . . . .. 178(Y2.08 4 j27,251 A 4/1982 Fomeoko el al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179/1 440,783 A 711982 Sugiyama et al . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 1798 4,371,752 A 211983 MaIWews et al . . . . . . . . . . . . 179,7.1 4,432,020 A 7J19&S Ouose et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358/157 4,491,873 A Ipo&5 Taknyama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358/L56 450D.751 A 711985 Darlaod et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179/2 4504,868 A 3/1985 Hasuike cc al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358!180 4513,390 A 4/1985 Walter CL al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3641900 4,518,989 A 5/1985 YeWti et al . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 358/86 45 .055 A 6/1995 HoW e1 al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17911 4,549,047 A 10(1985 Brim e1 al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179/18 4571,699 A 2/1986 Heaog cc al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364NOD 473.083 A 7!1986 Shimiw . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 358/157 4581,556 A 4/1986 Wade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358/157 4$&5,434 A 4/1956 Hashimum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179,2 485,906 A 4/198ti Mallhews et al. . . . . . . . . . . . . 179118 4587,633 A 1/1986 Wang et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364N00 4,602,129 A 7/1986 MatWnn et al. . . . . . . . . . . . . 179p8 4,613,907 A 9/1986 Ymhimoto et al . . . . . . . . . . 358/L57 4,614,978 A 9/198ti Duster el al . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 358/163 4,635,153 A 1/1981 Urui et al. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370/67 4,635,255 A ]p987 L7nh el al. .. . . . .. . . . . . . . 37W110.1 4,642,697 A 1!1987 wade . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 358857 4,646.160 A 711987 lizuka et al. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358257 4,652,700 A 311987 MalWews et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379B9 4,652,933 A 3/1987 Koshiuhi . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . 358256 4,654,715 A 3/1987 Sueyashi . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . 358,257 4,660,218 A 4/1987 Hoshimolo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379/93 4,667,2473 A 5/1987 ICsuno . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35Q257 4,706,126 A 11/1987 Koudo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358857 4,713,837 A 1y1987 Gordon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379193 4,748,656 A 5/1988 Gibbs v al. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379ry3 4,763,317 A 8/1988 Lehmao et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37018 4,769,719 A 411988 Eodo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358296 4,837,798 A 6/1989 Coheo cc al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 379188 4,847,891 A "7/1989 Kolani . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379/88 4,866,758 A 9/1989 Heinzelmaun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379/94 4,870,678 A 9/1989 Adachi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379/100 4,893;133 A 1/1990 Barao u al. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379/100 4,905,273 A 7!1990 Gordon a al. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379N3 4,914,586 A 4/1990 Swinehart CL al. . . . . . . . .. . 364800 4,918,772 A 4/1990 Duehmn et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379/1W 4,972,518 A 5/1990 Croydon or al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379/57 4,935,955 A 6/1990 Neudoder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379/l00 4,991,170 A 7/1990 Herbs! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379/100 4,942599 A 7/1990 Gordon el al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379193 4.964,754 A 10/1990 Shimolono . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379/100 4,967,288 A 10,1990 Mizulori e1 al . . . . . . . .. . . . . 358/425 4,969.184 A 11/1990 Gordon et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379/100 4.974,254 A 11/1990 Perioe et al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379/100 4.994,926 A 13991 Gordon d al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358/400 5,003.575 A 3p991 C6amberlin et al . . . . . . . . . . . 379/89 5,(108.926 A 4/1991 Misholi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379/89 5,014,300 A 5/1991 Harvalh at al . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 379/I00 5065,254 A 11/1991 H'shida . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .358/400 5.095,445 A 311992 Sekiguchi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 764/5]4

0236803 111987 2211698 7/1989 56-89167 7/1981 574653 1/1982

59-133073 2/1982 5738055 3/1982

57-119537 7/1982 57-119541 711982 57-184362 11/1982 57-192167 11/1982 58-138145 8/1983 58-138162 8/1983 58-175342 10/1987 58-186253 10/1983 58-187055 11/1983 59-015387 1/1984 1927664 ?JI984 5930352 211984 5559846 611989

59417845 7p984 59-196647 1111984 59-196648 11/1999 59214365 1?l1989 59-214366 1711984 59-231964 1211984 6046647 3/1985 6081963 5/1965 60.93875 5/1985 6b96945 5/1985

58-165152 511985 60-119161 6/1985 60-119164 611985 60-134154 7/1985 60-134656 7/1985 60-178765 9/1985 60-197059 10/1985 62-128651 11/1985 60-248057 1711985 6113727 1/1986

59-133711 1/1986 6160060 3/1986

61d186.57 6/1986 63-133753 6/1986 61-154758 7/1986 6753545 3/1987

62-132964 6/1987 62-135061 6,11587 62141847 6/1987 62-199162 9/1987 62-204654 9/1987 6364464 3/1988

63L51539 3A988 63-105544 5/1988 63-]87941 8/1988 63-221736 9/1988 63-290071 11/1988

541364 111589 6912657 1/1989 1259526 10.4989 ussa invso

2268535 11/1990

. . . . . . . . . . . H04U112n

US 6,643,034 Bl

Present Situation & Future Trends of Communication Pro-cessing Technologies-Hideloo Hata--pp . 22237-pct., 1986 . Enhanced Facsimile Communication Network-Hirmhi Katsulo-pp. 30.361/86. IEEE/IEICE Global Telecommunications Conference 1987-Conference Record W. 3 of 3 Nov. 15-18, 1987-Japan . International Conference on Communication-Jon. 14-19, 1981--Conference Record vol. 2 of 4-Development of Fax Communication System For Pocket Switched Data Net-work . Experimental Facsimile Communication System on Packet Switched Data Network-IEFB'Treasacuons o0 Communi-cation-vol . Com-29 No . 12-Dec . 1981 . A Facsimile Mail System As Basis For Integrated Mail System-Oaawe el al.-May, 1984 . Planing A Nation-Wide Facsimile Store-And-Forward Network-1981 IEEE-pp. F5 .1 .1-F5.1 .5 . AutoFax: A Slorc-And-Forward Facsimile System-vol . 71-Jan . 1979 . FaxPak Store-And-Forward Facsimile Transmission Ser-vice Electrical Commuoicalion-Vol. 54 No. 3, 1979 . 3 .3 International Facsimile Communications Over Packer Switched Network-1983-Hiroichi Teramura--pp . 239-247. Recent Advances in Facsimile Communications-Yasuhiro Yamazaki---pp. 118-124 1985 . Development of A Mull-Media MHS Based no CCITT X.400 Recommendations-pp . 305-319-1986 . 3.6 Electronic Mail Systems-Kelsuke Tomaru--pp . 283-290-1953. PBX/[AN The Architecture of Meridian SL Integrated Services Networks-19&5 pp . 27-33. PBX-Based Laos. Cower Cost Per i'erminal Connection Computer Design-02/84 pp . 191-199. LAN's-Partners With Voice/Data Systems-Technical Note 09/84-pp . 64g-64p . While-You-Wait Fax-Newsweek-John Wojoo with Robina Gibb-No Date . An Answering Machiog That Really Gives Answers-Busi-oess Weck-Oct . 9, 1989. IoBound/OulBouod-Special Request By SpectraFaz-Sep., 1989 . MCI Safe Store-And-Forward Message-Switching System User's Guide-MCl Communication Corp . 05/87. RCA Fax Forward International Facsimile Service Over-view-RCA Global Communications, Inc-yep., 1987 . RCA Tries Again With FaxForward-loCormation Weck-Sep. 21, 1997-p . 48 . Design For Fsscimile Storage & Conversion Processing in STOC-201-Electrical Communication Laboratories--vol . 33, No . 1, 1985 . Transcript by Paul Hhrlich-Oct. 3, 1989-Video Monitor-ing Services of America, Inc. Facsimile Data Convener Applied to Various Data Commu-oica4oos Services by Masao Setoguc6i-Jan . 1987 . Japan is Making INS A Reality-pp . 64-81-Telephony-Oct . 24, 1983 . Integrated Digital Switching System With Queuing Storage Facility-1980-IEEE . Meridian SL Information Services-Telesis 1985-pp. 119.

Audiofax, Inc.-System Specifications for BellSouth Advanced Networks-Fax Automated & On-Demand Dis-tribution Methods-Nov. ?8, 1988 . Comverse Technology, Inc.Trilogue Message Manage-meM System-12187-pp . 1-5 . Comverse Technology, Inc.-Triloguc Hardware Architec-ture-Jan ., 1987 . Converse Technology, Inc.Trilogue Message Mauage-ment Systems-No Date . International 100-North American International Busi-oess-lao ., 1991 . Converse & Ascom Creme a Voice & Fax Messaging Strategic Allianec-Brian Wiltshire No Date . ComverseAclions-Fourth Quarter 1990--Comverse Tech-nology, loc. 46ice Messaging Comes of Age in Today's Mobile Com-munications Market-Feb . 1988 . Trilogue Voicelogue User Guide--Converse Technologies, Inc.-Dec., 1988 . Trilogue Voiceloguc User Guide-Converse Technologies, Juc.-Dec., 1988 . Ioterfaz's Unique Fax Service-pp . 559-May, 1990 . Information Disclosure Statement Ser. No . 192,839-Ocl ., 1988 . We're Making Headlines With the Marriage of The Cen. mry-SpectraFax Corp.-No Date . The 3M FaxXchange Networks Switch Turns your Fax Network into A Highly Efficient High Volume Communica-tor-No Date. 3M FaxXchaoge Market & Product Summary Version 1.0--Oct. 12, 1990 . US Fax-US Faxsys-Your Business---No Date . Fax Fever Slams Business Hard-losight Magazine-Aug . 22, 1988-PP. 8-12 . The Fax Network (ICM) Product Specification-May 11, 1992 . AT&T Fax Products & Services Speed 7le Written Mes-sage--04/89--No. 2-pp. 12-17. Miter Enterprises-Providing Business Solutions!-Smart-1 SPC Fax Dialer-11/'91 . SmanerFax Mailbox Manager Brochure-No Dale . ATR 300 Telephone Line Powered Call Controller-Hy=12k Controllers, Inc-1993 . CCITT Red Book vol. VIII-Fascile V1119--Data Commu-oicalioa Networks Message Handling Systems--Oct ., 1984 . CCI'IT Red Book vol. 11-Fascicle 11 .5 Telemauc Scrvicesi Operations & Quality of Service Oct., 1984 . Electronic Mail Standards to Get Rubber-Stamped & Go Worldwide Data Communications May 1984-pp. 159-168. Development ota Public Facsimile Communication System Using Storage & Conversion Techniques-Kamac-1990 IEEE-pp. 19 .4 .1-19.4 .5 . Public Facsimile Communication Network-Takalliko Kemae-1982 IEEE-pp. 47-51 . Advanced Facsimile Communication Network-Masayosbi F,jiri-PP . 176-1837/83 . ,4 Message Handling System For Public Networks-Na-kayama et a1-1983-pp . 103-111 . Facsimile Communication in Digital Network-Ejiri el al.-Jan. 1984-pp. 19-27 . Enhanced Message Handling System for la-House Use-Harura et al.-Dec. ,1985 pp . 42 .4.12.4.6 .

OINER PUHLICA770NS

US 6,643,034 B1

Eio, "Advanced Facsimile Communication Network", JTR, vol. ?5, No . 3, 1983 . Fax Management System Description-Jul . 199]-Release 1 .5 . Network Architecture of Advanced Facsimile Intelligent Communication System-pp. 77-51 Walaoabe et a1.-1981 . Electrical Communications Laboratories Technical Journal, vol. 34, No . 10, Published Oct. ?2, 1985-Enhanced Fac-simile Intelligent Communication System (FICS-21) w/Iwnslalion . Electrical Communicalioas Laboratories Technical Journal vol . 33, No . 7, Published Jul. ?2, 1934 pp . 3 t0 5, and 9 to 11-wltraoslauoa. Complaint and Demand foe Jury Trial-Audiofax 1P, LLC vs. 7fax.Com, Inc.

Answer and Couulerdaim-Audio[ax IP, LLC vs. Jfax . Cam, Inc . CCfIT-Red Book-Data Communication Networks Mes-sage Handling Systems-Recommendations X.400-X.430-vol . VIII-Fascicle V111 .7-1981985 .

Sprint Corporation and Sprint Communications Company L.P.'s Answer to First Amended Complaint Counterclaim and Demand for Jury Trial Including allegation of inequi-lablc Conduct) .

Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial-Audiofax IP, LLC vs . Concord Technologies, Inc.

Concord Technologies, loc's .lnswer to Compainl, Affir-mative Defenses and Coumerclaim (including allegation of inequitable conduct) .

Allegation of Inequitable Cooducl-Sprinl Corporation & Sprint Communications Company L.E, Answer, pp . 1-3, Dec. 13, 1999 . Request for Re-Examination-Arguments of Requestor W.T. Babbin, dated Oct . 19, 1999 pp . 1-10. Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial and First Amended Complain & Demand for Jury Trial Audiofaa IP, LLC vs . Sprint Coop . et al .

IDP Report-vol . 10, No . 15-Sep . 15, 1989-Knowledge Industry Publications, Inc . Local Entrepreneur's Invention Weds 3 Modern Coove-uicotts--Loroa Collier-No Dale . Making DalabasesAveilable to Computer Illiterates by Jack Lcsac-Dec. 13, 1989 . Just the Fax, Ma'aun--Bclvidere Native Pioneers Informa-tiou Service-Helvidere Daily Republicau-Dec . 5, 1989 . For Columnist, Getting Fax Has a New Meaning-South-Iowa Economist-Dec. 8, 1989 . NEAX 2400 IMS FMM (Facsimile Mail Module) Stauoo User's Guide--0Z'85 NEC Carp . ITT Inaugurates FAXPAY-Business Communication Review-Nov./Dec. 1979 pp . 29-31 . FAX/PP.IC Facsimile Transmission Service Universal Com-palibili[y Between Fax Machines. Flexible Facsimile Transmission-ITT Domestic Transmis-sion Systems, Inc. 03/90 pp . 39-42. 3 Jeudi 2q--09/81-lolercouaection of the Telelex & Other Services . Internal Memo From Mike Domenfield-Jun . 9, 1985 . Evolution of Integrated Digital Network and Service lole-grauoo-09/79 pp . 1.1 .411-6 . Electronic Switching Systems-Fujitscu Sci Tech l . 21 .3-pp . ==5-258-1u1 . 1985 . NE7MASTER Functional Specification Number: Fax 002 Version : 2.00--0d. 16, 1984 pp . 1-123 . 26 FaxMaster 21 Remote Operation-FaxMasler 31 User Handbook-Sep . 17, 1986 . NEAR 2400 IMS NEC Facsimile Mail Module General Description-1986 . NEAR 2400 IMS FMM (Facsimile Mail Module) System Description-01/86--NF_C Cory . Kobayuhi and Kamae, "A new Nauou-Wide Network for Public Facsimile Communication" 17R, vol. 20, No . 4, pp . 276-281,1978 . Kamae, F.odo end Nakabayashi,"Fa¢imile Ioielligeol Com-muuicafloo System F1CS-1" Review of the Electrical Com-mUOicalion Laboralories-vol . 29, No . 7-8, p. 649-662, 1981 .

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US 6,643,034 B1

The electronic transmission of documents by way of facsimile ((ax) systems employing public and private switched telephone networks has become both common-place and, often, au esuotial component in many business activities . In such a setting, it is very common for the fax terminals ((ax machines) to be kept quite busy during a major fraction of the business day. Moreover, where sender and recipient arc in different time zones, the "business day" can approach 24 hours, particularly in international activi-Iies. It it common for fax users to "broadcast" documents to a number of different recipients, that is, send the same message (o several different tax machines . 11 is also true that the contents of some faxed documents tie of such a sensitive nature that the originator or addressee would like to have s manure of control over who might see those documents as they move from the receiving machine to the hoods of the actual addressee.

These circumstances present a number of practical prob-lems for a fax user. In order to make a successful fax transmission it is necessary that the receiving machine be available at the lime that the transmitting machine attempts to contact it . If the receiving machine is already in use handling another message, the transmitter will receive a "bush" signal . "Ibe originator's only recourse is to continue initiating telephone cells until contact can be established. This is a "hit or miss" process al best and can be very wasteful of the originating operator's time .

Some, rather expensive, fax machines have digital memo-ries which will allow them to memorize the document to be transmitted and to be programmed to make multiple mclials in en effort to establish contact in an automatic way. However, this is limited to only cue or two documents and, more importantly, it tics up the transmitting machine until the effort is successful or abandoned. This is hardly an acceptable solution if that machine has other documents to send or receive .

ss SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objects of this invention are to address these many shortcomings of present fax systems and to provide an

1 FACSIMILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS

SYSTEM AND METHOD

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of application Set. No . 08/780,690, filed on Jan. 8, 1997, which is a continuation of application Ser. No . 08/395,062, filed on Feb. 27, 1995, now abandoned which is a continuation of application Sec No . 08/371,842, filed on tan. 12, 1995, now U .S . Pat. No . 5,459,584, which is a continuation of application Ser. No . 07/955,833, filed on Oct. 2, 1992, vow U.S . Pat. No . 5,291,302, which is a continuation of application Ser. No . 07/654,181, filed on Feb. 12, 1991, now abandoned, which is a cooliuuatiou-in-part of application Sec No . 07848,798, filed on Sep. 22, 1988, now U .S . Pad. No . 4,994,926 .

This is a conlinualion-iu-pan of application Ser. No . 07248,798 0o Sep. 22, 1988, in the name of Richard J. Cordon and James R. Kennedy and assigned to F-Mail Associates, L.P.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of this invention is telecommunications systems used in connection with facsimile transmissions. More specifically, this invention relates to a system and method for enhancing me of facsimile transmissions and providing features relative to facsimile transmissions not heretofore available .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are other conditions which can result in a failure to transmit even though a telephone connection has been established. Perhaps the moss common of these is the absence of paper in the receiving machine. In such

5 situations, repealed attempts to "redial" will lead to repeated loll charges with each attempt, with no actual success until the receiving machine is serviced (which may be some lime if the machine is operating unattended because it is night-time half-way around the world) .

10 Busy machines which arc destined to receive messages are affected by the converse problem. Since they sod the prospective transmitting machines must engage in (perhaps, automated) "telephone tag", they are used very inefficiently. When a transmitting machine gels a busy signal, even it it automatically redials, if can only guess at when [be receiving

15 machine will be available . Thus, the receiving machine will likely remain idle for some (merlon of the lime until such an attempt is made . The practice of broadcasting documenLS to a number of

addressees obviously compounds these problems and adds =0 still others of its own. Even if one does not encounter busy

signals or impaired machines, convenient broadcasting demands an expensive memory-type fax machine on the transmitting end. Such machines read in the document once and then proceed to automatically dial the various recipient

25 machines . Ibis proccLS yes up the sending machine and its telephone line and makes them unavailable for incoming calls. This, of course, exacerbates the busy signal problem for (hose nulls trying to contact the sending machine.

The security of sensitive documents is still another prob-30 lam . Once contact is established between two (ax machines,

the transmission of the document proceeds automatically, irrespective of who may be standing by the receiving machine a1 the time . In a busy office, the contents of these documents are accessible to the fax operator and anyone else

35 who happens to be in the vicinity. It is also common for individuals to wish to deliver (arz

documents to a recipient who is not currently available through a known machine (e .g. a person o0 a business lip) . This is a very inconvenient situation in that it requites that

40 [be paper documents be held until the traveler phones in from a remote machine. 11 Curther requires that there be someone available at that time who has knowledge of and access to the documents intended for the recipient . Mother concern is related to so-called paperless fu

^` terminals. to recent years, paperless Fax techniques allow a computer or a micro-processor equipped wish specific wit-ware and modem to directly Transmit and receive facsimile messages . However, it is also very common that the recipi-ent is not in his or her office (the paperless fax terminal may

50 also be located at home) at the lime when fax message is coming . For example, 16e recipient is out to lunch or otherwise absent from his or her office or home . This requires the sender to retry the communication message delivery again and again if there is no other fax machine

55 available in The office. Still another concern is adequate accounting control over

the billing of calls. Typically, many businesses wish to be able to (rack the costs of both fan machine use and the associated telephone charges. While telephone. charges can

ao be ascertained from telephone company records, in the present eovvaomem these must be related to records of the number of pages transmitted per call and so forth, separately maintained by the fax machine or its attendants .

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nations. , uLUts

of aUad ! hed

Swgraphicall used to such e a tecdu olet, ~ ell be d

list of W' "broadcast me~~5 In

gam Ps° or phone hooa poradly sto 8 mac Y ~itee. Phooc y~ d or h snriginatin one where

t yPicaU ofa°umaGoo~~amm mfrs

Into fee

Facil;ty by users, s1u~8~~Luffe: such as a magnetcy~ computer oI aC mass °°e7' Machine o(~ ~~ selected 76en broadcastlhe hand-, at the messy ~ list, This is a great drsfinalinn

l0 broadcast uxrs ~ that

IbeY need a

a message $om the orig ;o~7~g machine Is intended

~u Machines Thachines e S~(.~: ronie Mg traosn,

position to adva~~ for ~n~ an ~o my tie up their

~c~i Machine, which may or may no, pe in a Iss~". the

s the meuagc io machin

f~hjj h d ~ to~lemp[

10 ca11'Ihefde,r Sc~FF,a`i6e doe

Machines

ureems. receiving or t,.'

System

g other

n i g area o a receiv" S or traosp~jttiu destination machfoe ;S ~ytbw

. 16 e

~inatiou fax js

On . Similarly dip'ertm SqFF. the document servjce laxly, since th m hedata if,

t6~facil~t~a~Y ~ ~dis~ass fices,Cax lready`been~~ syslcmeca~ Permit stored near the lion lion ~s second ~e~a Me, le either case ~ ~°~~ ~o call the de t~ ~"ilhovl Sere to pied k> other Messages which have

printed report back Imo

Immedis~tcly~~cslabLshedund the .o fy~F Likewix~ ~p~~ ti of "Csendin8 the messyaRer [he

to the ~8 deli ve ~e od system direct, a DIY near the desk' °~~ua8cs are al O' to the destination fax mach; copfirm- rrG data . o machine,

so ~'e sFxled is a Fienr with the

maGon l6 , e system also provides the 1f, ne+ and other P<rtinent me°es ro sli1~ ,f

option of forward . ng or redirecting dncu +mmediOr, the

immediately ~txr hand, the originator 7b~ Lerdcsciuatiorts_ ~~t . Y due a bus

delivrry ca h~ desti a sYsiem can a ate be ,cipieal well be s

receiving achi mepl

~ faWt ho CCU neo

Paper) or any Machine

~mp'~e8a 25 into heusystem Lsera traveling can, al ~-r

'Nail` Boxm"e Thus, attem d and the s rerun, ~e and Pick ~ h ~'u Convert, a. dial Ocher P any waitia5 documents.

PLs tocnoixl thr r~save

y~anati~ machine

system and makes

mplcte the Periodic

7 ~d~~

~dualsP e,~~duals so- .

wb ~ a~ of at th

services arc provided that a rparticularlyusc(yl

Iranc~~siop,

exam 1 called "PaPerirss^ (ac ~u the origina~'~c " ~6e sy~em Send, a co "home"

Machines . For bas bocn entered &~m° s

p'~~dg~ ° the gk

which U° e~t~

equipped i16 mod mWs~e

r Ones so delive he s

rna~areprograms 7' is being delayed g the reason ~ e mPlayed al ~pcreasin n ~m'na1s, am !he m 1

7he will lake L~ver 16e

~ male their use

"~rlable

rate . be r glues a , numb, Y c to de g the protocol the system 35 live feaNres toyac

, and °~ ~~Mesu¬ ~,~"a8~. and nrovidin Box system

f (h8 em d ~ Provides

being e~iccs and may be ai ° a later

c" Time Which 8a reference

either Pe~od icr~don,moo ~ , oIraidenti&cs the ~ e is case, the S e

sod cc the me s Papedesxfa ~ ~~~ re~~~ ~° Common

. lp ~ Fc status of the a terminalortra icale with the intended

near l the c~K de,' D tha ~fnemaghs oolinB ~sysfem'n a to P cPie~gh; ant wade '. t

ina7 or tex mace V mesuge fn a lath the

connote, use We h"5

~be a~ ~ePhmthat

M oreV ada ~'~ ' Mail

addition ~ ~°'sli~~~d b

from the o~ ~ move

~~ the

involved.

at r Io hc,sPuse mild to 3Y be and ooli pooling vs[ merge allowing ~ visicc ccled

oQ set (( bet,

rs~ try.

Box Read'; een Ih~.e~1 ~e,°f ~

~'na~uo" which IS L~iRUa11 , certainlobehe v" S t Mail [B

the user to display fax example ' ~ a hotel ronm e Subseyuen~ Rile 1 ~ciuit ' o' bx on the 'N xreen . m~8ti mottled from ~6e °P the butte o(' moreurless local)

contac 4oauo t

pcs to

I ~~~d~~J' en 4s Message ~c System is a oo P~gram

Provide

roachioe can be handird

facilities . fa ~rvia. m d ~ a fax_ will

~6e loa9.dystance Y °~ need ~1 Con, ersi~ ~ "voice lo If '6e delayed deliver s x message iota a voice m~~

which °a° convert and Yisuhimatelysucce~yul lolheinlend

scpd machine.

R, Wbaned. Un the ot'per

delivery report IU ~h~ ~E SY~em mac6jnt ~ r~ipiepCm o ~ mad end the mes L~ Sure t bead, if, he drliv Originating so Another

x, such as u hrough its whole cycle ind

~ ery at[emP~ Proton! r useful feature

will br. sent ~o we origioelor ~Wout Suc send aulomat u the ability

u answer

recipient in (c8a~7 again direct hg ~na[rucYions ..to

the ~ow tot ~m

origina tor, 16e re PP+ at fo y,.~ e~~ t ~

fax voice m J

back !o the lumber, or delete the essage), m~~~ " 'it

erpate a menu of i~ a~ generally ~'x~' ~~s of the document, I °r~e system ' ~ the ., rom ~o eau of stauderdh~ed~~ rePli~ y ~~

ntcalu

on ~~ 6 E

tha t . p T' u'rc o

lem fro,

~ p4m Menu of Gusto doses 5rov~d ob time for a

give, hat are pled ' recognize, a m a

Provided and fink desunati machine. -System al a given vice, that ~~ed responses, ~ Y together to (~ These arc ide L1 °~f Machine .

In this , ~ 8 qua e °~~cd o~ y ~~ to tLes,; m~°[ained by ~Lc sy$[em .

° the wait' Y once Contact ' 8 Queue for 'hat 9nalor of, lealures a the d6di1 Y « have the se CLui1V code, Such

ent a ~u~~o Include conunhaf ~

batch uCan be

nhe ~~~ump~~

new 10 lh establish

Mach ed,

i all of

nn rec oiUer

ipi to relproease

vide the documem U

~ayyuiremeu[ (hit( the W6ue more Inc i nail the end or the P

is oxurring . they °~tssegrs arrive maclu~ne . In ~ a PIN number. in active are simPlY a to the deal 6i5 casr, the SU,~1,~ Spool to the des~~_ turn comes. Ibis has the e'~e PF~'nded In ipatioo machine advising ads a a~ a re trarc whrn (heir ~~ waiting g for a panicWar r y ~'nS Ibnt a ~~

written repnrl utilization etHciency of adbus g, °f S. ally enhancing

~m~<<ed v the orig ;,~ntin ~'i cent y~~ '~ message is Y deslinapnp mac the the Sqj.7.~ead

key ac~nE717C recipient fax ideptificaiion of hire .

or fhed i°~~~cur~ must Then call in 10 ocumeoi . Since she v ~tY' code to initiate the delivery acumen t is spoolej, the deGverv

US 6,643,034 B1 6

phone delivery system and the long-distance delivery

system, as indicated in FIGS . 1 and 2. In this setting, the

SAFE system can be controlled and its services offered by

either one. However, it is obvious that useful systems can be

c constructed where the SAFF exists as close to the user as a

' component of his or her awo in-house telephone system

(such u a PBX or Ceotrex) or as remotely as a single,

independent, stand-alone SP.FF serving a wide geographical

area . II is also obvious that commercially viable systems can

ia be coostmcled which provide subsets of the features of the

preferred embodiment . The choice, of stile/control selling and

service features might be driven by any number of

economic, market, or legal considerations, which would

militate toward offering the system at an alternate location in

I5 the network, or in a "stripped down" form .

To more clearly understand the present invention, it is

useful to consider the manner in which a fax transmission

occurs in the traditional setting. Here the communication

between two machines is initiated when the destination

zo machine answers a telephone call directly from the Origi- nating machine. Typically, (here is an exchange of digital data identifying the sending and receiving machines to each

other and establishing the fax mode or format to be used . If

this exchange is satisfactory, then the actual image trans-

25 mission tales place. Oihernise, the call is terminated, usu-

ally with some form of written diagnostic to the respective

users.

Message Interception

,o to the present invention, all fax transmissions initialed by

a subscriber to the fax management system are first iuter-

cepted by an "originator" SAFF; that is, the SAFF which

directly services the originating fax machine. FIG- 1 shows

two exemplary SAFFs 8 and 18, with interconnections 35 between the SAFFs and with subscriber fax machines being

diagrammatically indicated. Thus in FIG . 1, the SAFE 8

includes an originate function 9 coupled over telephone lines

4 to originating fax machines 1. Likewise, the SAFE 18

includes an originate function 22 coupled over telephone

yp lines 26 to originating fax machines 30 . Each of the SP.FFs

8 and 18 also includes respective answer function blocks 12

and 19 respectively connected over telephone lines 6, 24 to

fax machines 3, 28. Each of the SAFFs 8, 18 also includes

service interfaces 10, 21 coupled via telephone lines 5, 25 to

41 telephones 2, 29. The function and purpose of the service interfaces is mope fully explained hereafter, and they are

under control of status and control blocks 1 and 21 .

Access to the system of FIG. 1 can be obtained much the

same as access to a specific long-distance company's net-so work. That is, subscribers such u 1 in FIG. 1 can dial a

unique access code al the time a call is initialed, or a

telephone line dedicated to a fax terminal may be perma-

oeotly routed to the SAFF system, in this case the SAFF 8

of FIG . 1. Either way, one accesses SAFF Dvecled Lines 4

55 and the SAFF 8 itself in the process of dialing the destination

fax machine. The SAFF 8 then answers the phone in place of the

destination machine, such as one of 28 shown in FIG. 1 as

serviced by SAFF 18 . For the moment, this SAFE 8 near the

50 originator becomes the proxy for the destination machine

28 . While noting the actual destination telephone number,

the SAFE 8 engages the originating machine in the same

digital dialogue that would have occurred if a direct coo-

oection to the destination machine had actually been made .

c5 Thus, it echoes back the destination telephone number, to

identify the intended destination machine, and agrees to

accept the fax formal requested by the originating machine.

introduction

The preferred embodiment of this invention is a multi-

function, interactive facsimile transmission system which is

integrated into a switched telephone distribution network,

where "celwork"is taken broadly to mean the entire system

required to complete a communication from an originator to

an answercr. This embodiment provides a comprehensive

computerized fax message management system based on

automated fax Store And Forward Facilities (SAFE) embed-

ded in the network. This system requires no modifications to existing facsimile machines, but rather, relies on the network

to provide the enhanced services .

The system contains several components which actually

Iraasmil the fax messages and related information, provide

written fax reports to users about the sla[us of messages

within the system, allow user intervention in the sequence of

automatic actions of the system, provide an accounting of

services rendered for both the customer and the telephone

company, and control and supervise all of these activities .

to the preferred embodiment, it is presumed that the

SAFF's are placed a1 the interface between the local tele-

euily may be delayed until the recipient is available to

supply the code .

Finally, since the documents and their delivery are both

under the control of the telephone system, as a special service the telephone call accounting system eau provide

both lime and charges for the telephone services rendered

and fax information, such as pages transmitted, sorted according to the originator's clients . This can greatly facili-

talc the fax user who wishes to do cost accounting or to bill

clients for costs incurred .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will

be apparent from the following Detailed Description of the

preferred embodiments thereof and from the attached Draw-

ings of which: FIG. 1 illustrates the inter-relationships of the principal

elements of a connection between two SAFFs.

FIG. 2 shows a more detailed new of the various systems

within a single SAFF, such as those shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates the major components of the Originate

Function in the SAFFs shown in FIGS . 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates the major componcras of the Answer Function in the SAFFs shown in FIGS . 1 and 2.

FIGS . 5a and b show a flow chart describing the general

processing steps required to handle a fax or voice massage

incoming to the Originate Function of a SAFF, as described

particularly in FIGS . 2 and 3.

FIGS . 6a and b show a flow chart describing the general

processing steps required to handle the delivery of e fax

message incoming to the Answer Function of a SAFF, as

described particularly in FIGS . 2 and 4.

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of the general processing steps

required to handle a service request in the General Service

unit of a SAFF, as described particularly in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the paperless facsimile terminal .

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of another embodiment of

the paperless facsimile terminal which eau utilize an ordi-

oary television set for display of facsimile messages.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

US 6,643,034 Bl

re spond by I As an attached

example, it is as+~ g d

shat One of Flu: suhv

:nbccs

F S ~hes ~o send a

fax mcss~Se t° One

to SP.f

~6c fax ducumcu

18 . T6c sub~cribcr 1

Alifle 28 which is g Of L o~AnatinB

machine 1 to one subscribers 28 dcsliaa a~iached to

SAFE onto

lass t 6a call 1o ttx t~

p0aznate Fun~~~°~ real This causGS ~' ~ t image data . 7~ of e

irecled lines 4 to ~Ibm

the SA1~F Y'

nt image data dal~a~ p one is

transmitting the des~~~o° - "s id~atificalion~ a ad the doctrine

machiPeIs lele- 5

vet SA1'~ R .

D hate

machine

phone number- ~°

al.e de~+ia 67

(~F'`G 3).su $ AF

nel In~erfaca 64 w~~

c Merge C~ ,mss par, of the Origmat° unction, u shn~

i° L'iG- 3~'

e is assign to the block of data ~o and tLey are

puked up by the On .

ate all stored ou a

stora8

~ a computer magnetic disk unit fl~~~' c rmote, ,

n unique

'dl y o ~~¢ 61c name

luterface signals S~ O° ost ~'ioate Host ComPuwr m

while ~l ~s resident in the SAFF

system

of the

e C~,c1e ~s re~atcd l

call and the H ~sPoodsbY aireu

.tio'bd~ iuw_

a~phameri ideonY

e for the sto~cd data

elivery

;n g dada w a M~ Storage Unit 67

where it is stoked i° a ~

l7 other

the Host diie~u ~° ~d Dulling thi.' storage process, rd file 69 (FlG- )

the SAFE 8 initiaus two actions. first

Al this point, Record of the transaction to ~ 11 creates

a ,it stains eu~° origination,

�A~F`~~ activities . ~~~5 the ume and date ~9e~ ac

is to generate an or another, 'It be i5 rare storage, rew be[ of the callin6

mat hi ~~ ~°o~p bet

be 0 ucs«d " various

housekezPinR

this puial. ThLs Ie orator as '~~ bm~~becsaS W ~ he "fall" die d gin

suu~ry

is to beget ~o deliver th

scion machine. any .

special «4 enum6crw6icn

~ctu[uFd W It,, clap c fax u~

second step

. iczs a, the e~-age the f data file

dcseinatiou machine

~ivcrY 4roas, depend to some the io locates aLaot(on Y' ~'~5

states Pun

,°adesi aatiun l Unit

on the geoffePbic location of l6c destmatio¢

in(ucm Passes

CDpuu l 8 with

no details of the ~

egg P machine telephone number to

~aM ealar areHowever, a.

in tohe preferred emlwdime

nt,as`'°C ia tedwith I'- T6e

Host ~bo ,

network A single SAC Can,"

P~ciple, service abroad

oud a certain limiting distance

involve ~4 which Pt°~~ to corm l8`w ~°g~

destination !ham 79 (l e

commu¢icauoas bey lot 1 and

the other. vailiblz S~

atlcasttwoSP.FFs~ooeSnescthco[i6~

theoea~u<ta distso~~R~; c

e ..~~a~ on SAFF'~ . 18 ueu the recipie¢i

28 0( the 8 long-distance interface 75

,Or IonB

choice n( nor. ~°+ °r

amore SA~s is to ~e P~~~ °f

establishing ~~ ~°~pR ~b

y yes and

uetwock emmmi~, of abet ~~'-s~d~'rst~oas,

outbound Contra

anti unit cmPl°Y5 '° jg°it~ Wn~ch

document . Me

in FIG . 1)~

ia lto the imeatum .

;nes the number and kill

of av ail able uo~ o~~

and 'is not c++~~~ we will de5ne a "local' chooses ~6c

must efficient coin

determine

;naung and ~e destination ~o task required

For ~hc sal:~ of this dis~ussiow

1 That the ori8 'F . Nthaugp, this Mswu Fupcuon

essa6message 5 are ~~erviced hY the s3 ~

o machines

loll are

inatin8 .5'~~ 8 then P bets,

transmit

~ C7"' l}1E stored

.distance anon telephone

numbers, ~~a a machi~ cibili~Y (U

dies out preclude ih~ P°$ "

some was~dc[a6le distance

apse and wncected

long by a ~(7,e on@

call .) O¢ tUe other adee ~ .~ defioand s ~~nLhw,

Fax ~; ~ Age the MesseB Co

offered

de, ~ data Are

soot a Y the most

aun¬. oae sttile instion SAFE la

different SAF''F echanism

b the loemp~ y

, 10 mean 5hnps through eKpedicat m ` in g iced by

SAFE m's ~ exchange data

with ~ other, P, .oconneclioa poi examF~° " it this ",Vice

be vansmitted at a

~c fax data may o~ginallY received Into

machines ~e So~

'neal~ ~ area of that uoicanons. than it

~plc[m~i~ies . Similarly, the term

with sSA SPIT, e swbeIn gwit6 i¢the se rviSAF E. °~sigpificaut lYh~bb er

l6Ea chSN 'F 8" 189has Z ~« handling °~ ~ydealt,

droles: the the system . n 8 -

o n ' el azda data isriv ed by ~e ~ -°~~ a~~~te ~~

~~a With an °12 gi ~ (FIG . 4) in

the Ansv''ec Fun° H19 of ost 1CumFu~~`BS ~~F

~~y ,fit signals ~e All"' ese data in

its Mass

95'ua ~eFun cua ad the "Answer F

unction .T hedetni

its of f ~ H _ later reference

a' ac b~Do . .

b~ndliag dale �,ty a dzstination

machine ~'°~' Bating

t6ax two subsystems

me illustrated in made,

'be FIGS . 3 'I'd

collection ~W e5 miO~ d~ls.'Tb

ost the,, routes ~

the local messeB°

tesPecGvelYto

Swcage facility 87 . (1t should be

nosed for

tM Odgina~e Fwxtioa, such as 9,

And the Msae~ ~yal the unB~°atoe SN'F and the

destination SAl'F now

between c SAC'S S by have e Copy of

~ 12 . u lioS:ed back

within the sinBl sc data .) The ties,

BE te~ whether Oil"'

r 1 C~ Iuop- c

between n~lioRfo~ trio

deslinauon mac6ioc and

ei th er

pussaR

file B8 . earls the nca message

13 ~e es ace P~ oc app

function, such nnection W m~~

. ~ g ~

'vat rim a Inca the originate So oPt

~o Fuocuo0.,. In the loug-~ian°

en, a Delivery Queue ' e

9 of SAl'F 8. agar the ori8°'~toq

is linked to the W the ex

none File .

t¢c_filet

Fraction 19 of lines,

SAC 18 " neat the Moor the a~n

bet pertw °~

Tli~Hoslil~ 10 the

Furn>tioo

sucL or 16 for stioo about the fax minds a status update

bay and And ~enuol

" f be status

an 0. ~Y louLt'~c°~5 ~

long-0i~~o4e cxrxPlt6at ss ~M~~o originating css

~StacusaodC Control lini via

dcs4M in~ctfacc 84. and she

SAFF 18 . Thus . P,

ia~erscu~ely between al

lease ~"~°

~volvrs ~tY ~~ s

~ ~~ shared

Uas~c >wps as out me~ag°'

feat SA~'~~

Lou6'~istance Trunk' ~~i

to Fungi'°n

it then s~goal5 the Local interface

&3 to dial ihc dcslina-

` a 4) telephone ¢~h°~ °°

ordinary

w becomes t 6c prozY

for acliv

the following 5a

uo0 m~c~machine s(81

~G,y;~stsndi n6ut SAFFfuncti o ns.

f the system outgoing local

lines 24 . 82 . if the destinsGon Cax's

line is

J di-~ will

available, the ~stination 5~~' n° ,, drstinatioo

i@,tsl dialo

W u° .

ou -0islao~z case, swce it is

the mare wmPleX, and

fax mse6in~ and cnB~es

iN this Slusttate the operation ~

,here Y ~ the V B

le . FIGS . l, the oci&aaun6 .

[e ro+'~~s a ~°~ com4K6cusive examP

machine ~o the occc++a~Y P~°~inuV

back back

all shuw clemeuu ~f ~~ S~

Snlem ~ °°~n~g

~N imaKe" imcluding the

deeaile

dowel a~ ~~ will be roterted

to In the followm8bz

IC this is s~~~~ l' ~z

docum'

critical elements ate shown in

Our" sod d~~~naue¢

identificstioo intormanou~ ~'eMe~~

2 ~. °°d

lays back

dngnxsof

and delivery lines, ~ 4

I1 will he Wled that sump cln

sage code " and the entry

ban ~o~ of Itw Figures

more .

US 6,643,034 B1 g 10

from storage and delivered to the destination . A "Delivery retransmitted back to the originator with a report. 11 is then

Record" is then created by the Answer Host 85 which erased from both the originator and destination SAFF files

indicates the date and time of delivery, and any other after a suitable delay (typically six hours) . U the originator

pertinent data . The Delivery Record is scat back to the washes to rescod the message during this "gate" period, it

originating SAFF 8, again by way of the Status and Control c may be recovered and resent to the original destination or

Interface 84, and the System Status and Control Unit ll, via forwarded to another destiualiou(s), as will be described Long-distance Trunks 15 . The originator SAFE B Wen hater . appends this information to the Acceptance Record to form l a complete "Transaction File". The originating SAFF B then

u each of the unions cases where the SAFFs aulomali-

seods this file, as a delivery receipt or capon, back to the tally direct fax message status reports (such as, the

originating machine 1, 60, as a fax document . 10 Acceptance, Delivery, or Retry records above), the system

If the destination machine's line is busy, or the contact can be programmed to accumulate records from all calls

fails for some other reason, the destination SAFF's Host over a period of time (eg. an hour) at the originator SAFF

Computer BS will enter a sequence whereby ii will attempt and deliver them as a single fax document at the end of the

to contact the destination machine and transmit the docu- period or upon request by the originator. This has the

meat on a predetermined schedule for a specific period of 1s advantage of reducing the number of capon calls and the

time or number of tries . As this sequence is entered, a "Retry subsequent burden on the originating fax machine. The

Record" is generated documenting the situation crud the originator SP.FF will enter a retry sequence if it finds the

system's response to i1 . This record contains the reason that originator's line busy or the machine unavailable when it

16e delivery was delayed crud it indicates which protocol the attempts to deliver reports. This is a persistent sequence

system will use to attempt to deliver the message. This is "D `Which it will continue trying for direct contact at intervals of

transmitted back to the originating SAFF 8, as described an hour rso for a considerable length of time (eg. 72 hours) .

above, and appended to the previously described Acceptance II also places a copy of the report in the originator's Mail

Record to form a Transaction File which is then sent u a fax Box (described below) so That the originator may recover it

message back to the originator. The assigned Message Code =s in between SAFF delivery attempts .

is a part of every transaction capon and may be used al any It should also be noted That the originator has the option

time to trace the status of undelivered documents, as will be of dialing the Service Number al any time crud inquiring

described shortly. about the status of a given message . Here again, the voice

If the retry effort is ultimately successful, a Delivery response system prompts, presence menus, crud uses the

Record is appended to the Transaction File which is sent 3o Message Code to locale and report on the current location

back to the originating machine. If the effort fails after and condition of the message. A written record cart be

reaching the predetermined limit, this is also recorded, directed to the originating or destination fax machine, if

appended, and sent back to the originator . In this case, the desired.

originator is given the option of dialing back into the system Mother feature of the General Service function (and the

within a certain length of time (typically several hours) and 3s Mail Box function described later) is the ability to send au

instructing the destination SAFF u to how to dispose of the immediate reply to a received fax message. There are many

document (cg. repeat retry sequence, forward to a different instances where one might wish to provide a personal

telephone number, or delete the message) . acknowledgement of receipt crud some indication of the

This process is handled by using au ordinary touchtooe future course of action . A collection of such responses is

phone to dial a multipurpose (perhaps, loll free) fax system 40 available and may be selected from a menu using the

"Service Number"; which will be referred to bare and in General Service or Mail Box systems. Examples might be :

later sections . This might be a unique number for every "I Kui°cd your fare number (Message Code) at (dale,

SAF'F, or ii might be a staudardiud number common to time)"; "I am unable to respond al This time"; "I will respond

many localities, except perhaps for area code, such as is in the next 24 (48, 72) hones" ; "1 completely agree, proceed

555-1212 for calling -Information" . This Service Number u 4s as described", "Take no action until you hear from me", and

answered by the General Service Control units (10 in FTC . so forth.

1, 50 in FIG. 2) of the SAFF to which the call is directed . In a typical transaction, the system asks the user for the

This unit contains au automated units response system that SAFF-assigned Message Code and then presents a menu of

presents a menu of the available services and prompts the These "tamed" responses. It will also permit the concateoa-

user to select the desired choices by pressing particular so lion of several such responses to form a mom complex

numbers on the louchtone keypad . In an advanced message. Once the user has made the appropriate selections,

embodiment, a computer-based voice recognition system the system will replay an automated voice version of the

replaces the keypad and accepts verbal commands in a message and permit editing as required . When the user is

conversational way. satisfied, the reply is then transmitted either as a fax message

The General Service Control unit 50 eau communicate g5 or as an automated voice message to a designated telephone

with its own System Status crud Control unit ll, and Through number . That number may represent an active fax or voice

that unit, any other such unit ll, 20 via Long-distance oortber, or ii might represent a fax or voice mail box.

Trunks 15. Through Were connections, both inquiries relat- When a voice reply is selected, the user can select the sex

ing to messages in the system and instruciioas u to (heir of the automated voice, or the user can actually employ a

disposition may be addressed to the entire SAFE system . yp personalized menu of custom responses tailored by the user

Having selected the "faBed-connection message disposi- to his or her own requirements and prepared in the user's

uou" choice, the user is prompted to key in the Message own units.

Code . The system verbally repeats the code and the delivery Still another feature of the General Service function is the

discrepancy for verification, and then presents a menu of ability toprovide afax-to-voice message cooversiouservice .

disposition options for the user to select with the keypad . s5 This service allows the SAFF system to reserve an inbound

If the user does not take advantage of this "what to do fax message and Then electrooicaly create a voice mail

now" opportunity within the time limit, the message is message directed to the intended recipient voice mail box as

US 6,643,034 B1 12

local messages can be gained by compiling multiple reports and delivering them in bulk as a single call . 11 should be poled that the delivery of reports to an originator is a

cooperative process between the Originate Function and the 5 Answer Function of the originate SAFE The Originate

Function 9 actually generates these reports and passes them through the Local Call Loop-back 13 (76 in FIG. 3) to the Answer Function 12 for delivery as an ordinary fax message.

In addition to Were basic features, the design of the 10 system also provides for a number of additional services and

advantages which are described below.

Message Queuing

As pointed out, all fax messages directed to a particular 15 tckphooenumbcrarespoolcdbytheAnswcrFuuclionofthc

destination SAFF, as detailed in FIG . 4. 7'he Host Computer 85 controlling this function monitors the incoming messages end links all undelivered messages for a given telephone number solo a message Delivery Queue file 88 . The com-

2o purer also compiles a constantly updated, ordered catalog of the file names of the messages waiting for each fax machine.

Consequently, when messages stave at a rate faster than They eau be delivered, for whatever reason, they are held in this queue for delivery. As soon u the destination SAFE

=5 establishes contact with the destination machine, it begins sending the entire queue of messages in a single, essentially uninterrupted transmission . Messages that arrive while the

transmission is in progress are appended to the end of the queue.

30 This scheme eliminates the "trial and error" dial and redial attempts that result from a number of independent incoming calls competing in au uncoordinated way for the single destination line . II can significantly enhance the efficiency of the destination fax machine and the long-

35 distance and local telephone circuits connected to a busy machine. When the queue exceeds a certain limiting sin, the

destioalioo SAFF will periodically insert and send a "Queue

ao Report" (as a fax document) to the destination machine showing a list of the wailing messages . This list shows the originating machine identification, the time entered into the originator SAFF, the number of pages in the document, and

the approximate time that the message will be delivered 45 based on its position in the queue .

The our can advance a particular message to the head of the queue by calling the fax Service Number and supplying the desired message number, by using the voice response menus. The General Service unit 50 directs these instruction

,p to the System Status and Control Unit 11, which in rum directs them to the Answer Function Host BS through its

Status and Control Interface &S . Aliemately, the originator can designate a priority level to

a given fax message al the lime it is dialed in leg. by using

55 a different access code). In This case, the destination SAFF will mach higher priority messages ahead of lower priority messages in the queue as they are received . The originator would normally pay a premium price for this service.

Another originator option is the time of delivery . If

so desired, the originator eau specify the lime of day which the message should be delivered. In this case 16e message is forwarded to the destination SAFF directly, bus is not entered into the queue until the specified time . This can be used in combination wish an assigned high priority to insert

ss the message al the head of the queue al the appointed time .

When messages are finally delivered to the destination machine they are not immediately erased from the spool file

11 instructed by the message wader or the intended recipient . The fax message may be stored in a subscriber's mail box in the system which will be fully discussed later . ID order to provide this service, the SAFF is equipped with suitable software and voice print database that will permit the system to electronically interpret the facsimile message from printed documents to verbal text . The voice mail message transferred to the instructed voice mailbox may be the whole text of the facsimile message or poly a voice message which will verbally identify the originator of the facsimile message, the reading time and the number of papers. The intended recipient can then commence the electronic Iraus-lalion by touch-tone signal and can control the operation in fast forward or reverse through the document by touch-tone command.

Another feature of the system is shat the act of accepting and storing an incoming message at the originator SAFF, and the act of dialing and forwarding that message to the destination by the destination SAFF, can overlap in lime . Thai is, if the originator SAFF has lines available, once the initial connection dialogue between the originator and the SAFF is complete, the SAF'F may immediately make its first attempt to contact the destination SAFE and, thus, the destination machine, while it is beginning to spool the document .

If this immediate contact is successful, then the message is passed front the originator SAFF 8 to the destination SAFF 18 to the destination machine 28 directly from the Originate Host Computer's memory 70 while the two SAFFs are still in the process of spooling the document to disk . "Ibis is facilitated by a "wile-through pipeline" whereby the Originate Host 70 poses the incoming fax data through directly to the Outbound Control unit 74 al the same lime it is being written to mass storage . It is held in a temporary memory buffet in the Outbound unit until it is clear whether or not an immediate connection to the desti-uatioo machine is possible. At [bat point the temporary buffer fax data is either sent and then deleted, or merely deleted . 7Ue net effect is that the spooling process only adds a few seconds delay in the message delivery over the traditional direct machine-IO-machine contact when the des-tioatioo machine is readily available.

On the other hand, if lines are limited, the originating SAFE can choose to delay until suitable lines are available . This has the advantage of improving communications resource management and enhancing the efficiency of the telephone system's line usage over the direct contact scheme . The foregoing describes the basic fax SAFF message

handling system and from this discussion several advantages should be apparent . The originating machine always func-uoas as i( it makes comas and delivers documents on the fast try, thus immediately freeing the machine and the atleudaul personnel for sending or receiving other Iraosmis-sioas. Likewise, the telephone system poly handle one call across ids local and long-distance lines from the originating machine to the destination SAFE, since the stale of the

destination machine has no impact on the call . This signifi-cantly improves the efficiency of line usage when messages are addressed to busy fax terminals.

Although some additional calls are needed to deliver the unions reports, these require very little long-distance lime, as thev tie transmitted over the circuits as highly com-pressed coded messages . It is the nearby originating SAFF that translates them into "plain language" for fax delivery as u local message. As pointed out, additional savings in these

US 6,643,()34 BI 14 . Each . Individual

-FoL, feature worli., in be In 0 0 a -

CXC e code 13 . . signed its Own u

. lie tele one . . of a oraintrimed in , S jbt st t cc e'a to [be

SAYf Rather, they arc 'd of time AFF IS a dicat t 0 a

88 at the &SImallon go for a per, the Or O~dd~i,,(itty'lpotc~alUyuummbc.r) a, , s parale 111)clivcred M05sirge" directory Offered by this action 15 to ,even d . LSI telephone cxc to t M n- All

. hou,s) kicalum . . I of a message Id as if it were a I area cir fax tele-(typically six - ecIvien . , of wor be, exchange lie . V for be subscribing, I fmWard M.Ple from all or given - x . u scrib gindi

opporl"- al COP . redirect . 0" 'Llom- 'her's 10 a . with a Its, ni, is . the subset, numbers

with tha PIC ale

1,9bollc make addition the' destinations , t icIlly selected messages to , . Number and selectmg phone mail c -lie

,be service sy..s, meous id,111 wishing chme) xes, rather

plished by C OM , voi re fax ma in I P"Piate C 1 13 be' Which actually t P ail oxes auto ant line ,CspOndcn1JS c nily Oil Mijuvt nature to than in 30 actual itleph ublished so (hat On

no for 0 items of a is , to 0 M .113" numbers are at in addition, each individual is a" It is not onto late to place . rise them

. b VMI acm

b f, iffli P or he' I It i0c, is may PIN Utah,, wbIC in . the SAFF Maintains be sent y busy Office at the code of " cia Y In a I ion, "'i ~Cuolty ill,, managing indilid"J"s

problem . 0 the tran miss by 0 1 flit b1sA Comp Orions number Wl bef of 0 initially unattended d 'i

, may be stand her box ch fic , I telephone 'in 0 trol , er who Y leaf a lilt llno relates " dc and The rea lbin, is the

ligiriaLO, h a, co at Mrs out

, or who ter the lecirf."y c This default on be sent, mi

ifle the ocu,c p , pper right name, 0, Machine ,ill normally macb faxe, iled up In be default des"nan 15 ine, the

gb ta of which Messages and Capor, default (a' macb,,Ober ihiou led 10 deal one to in addition . lelepbon luricb . hall allemP Pat . Nos :ll when aPP"'P"a"' default voice I'll", or a

-Ibis Is , Problem which other,sl,, tdond, U S . also define a Wwomdbyra

fitly of ways For exit

"radio facsimile Posial set May be either a lelcPhol c

the all with in a Va 431 disL'10ses a of do,,Meols to which MaY ed voice roal

box, as 3, kDOWn .in f, d a lot" version

1495 and 3,641, -, d f Inr-manag, 1,, d, Be , he seat 1,594 , ter delivery satel- comp, c, witpbone 15 is Will also Which features 111C monmucatto 'When such a Vol mesSa?,s and mpol ,Ystel - by facsimile vla co 'm for Of specific 3ddMss"ca . 'ded , a replacem fax MCS- 15 of the Various system ewe message merely

lilts 1, 111 . is system, lett"p, e-postalsys"em, r- to this number . to end a % rober at the "me i it be ordinary PC . f , tcmlinals Opt . matof wishw?, I. lepholle no supplemen d from Special Public 3 Vlore An OrIg Mail BOX C the message to the sages Were direCtc central satellite

cab,tabo dials the (fich"Ons Lem diCCCO' ated with kbill I office to a their geographical it" d,e'mclo is The Sys . S",FF "sOci

h d,0119l'on. ared by the P05 woed according to to a satellite M t Box file 89 Or I c Ilos, 85 the mcssa2-cS were o and uplink,119 all Of tile 3 31 . through the

. for CO . .. . tral3o . the' broadcasts number, and the Answer fax, machine , has destination Ill, "Jellile default destination I b... froMbe

. . that area . report to the 3cfawi voice 1, p ,, ,,m, that scrv~cros back to L&rtb the satellite's L'Cal interface

83 . If 31 't this report is I ins,,icl-up!Li,,k,d MeSsagus radio receive' 13 d built dfi,,d in this repo mmingor

also beell ba~ 10 principle, anyone will , of the mesi5ages, so 0 -ve

, the option of pmgra . Comfol So . to ss affy d with the Meet ' to 'umber Ibc user

h I Service

service Uta could acre, 'd machine 35 . Ill, system . throog 'be Cencr a I,, default Voice oil,,, which opera, in , "priva"Y c to '3Y " the dcstf in& both [he default fax an For cxafr`Ple~ 'be ssage to pno in 0 in., than, an

was nothing hive either or the, lumber . require fax or allow the me code Lec'ed fax ""'Ving udcil to a, atity this Privacy ,P,,Ls forw : ling 'Ould pro9pon

In Te Which enables the red version who is travc mouncerotnis to be directed to

. - merely , ratnc "Jouncemcols ad,hessing 519" , b the pefsoo waiting ar WbIll voice a t ,lbo, Bond I system is fax users Y met Mcss&E-c fiber. of the I provided to the Same 4o V telephone 1, the (bum") recipien at the system . restfoly hotel fax or will 91 key to relic Of the services P code function ~ n'tworV.5 Ib, pnvaCY - h f a plurality of fax arc made, the system louchlone the ties-

telephone be, it ,elecm whic 0 Unfortunately' all the option Of Pressing 1, transcribe

as a Itlepboric .. "t i,c the message facing c nt " Often as necessary. h Mail Box queue'

ill actually occtly the , message is in I c machines . "rhy dilemma ,wwccmc 3ae one

his approach It ads to exac

45 sage if mom 11 h,,, the in all lot it -lot actually sent to be

t,l,p Oil fax sefb. 4106,060, , approached the the' his repo the fax documc 'cot back to the

ap at - ~ 0 . - 13C 100 dilclOscs a In order to 9c, do most be

at eTCM Way' tern, the the sec"ty CO his would be done by .1he

a OWCVCT . in his SYS destination, t;F -rYpically, t M ij BOX umber . Sin" roble a , sic - to a op,pc", Post destination SA , bis Of be, own

a ne 34 over fficsi de- 8 ,,,,r mearis borne , dialing ""'Mm" Itlepho t gas a i -ctc be addressee , ddf0ssC aleS from a il ., than he bl.' SAFF

near I ea ,,et, . ra el a j n M es a pare, , this U origin . 40, ra be ()ff-,Ct Incom-

0 f in 5 laces it e CIO .

, an I-ocal Lines . directed 10 Dcoolls r act is 2 ordinary 38 The call 'i SAFF which fu

let c ul it L)1W.. 48 . in the -C control Ry . -rhis unit

cli - it t k e a e and ing Scleene, ailbN %ccvl' . ." and thus Vc

I , ective Vex

L~a el I in cn~urichl,u with a M . I a fax trimsmiss, Tea na to r 1 0 ti e

s hat lilt call is no -, A I ce response System

C 0 'ecognus t . Or to the c I " to S'Nice reque5 ,,rily code - Ill

er I ale .. tfcIM It as a Voice o key in the -%Cc t . are 3 1 time the caller t~ armounce-s the , c on That time ,sed sa

C t Clive Se I hy poible Is be, prompts lied ..the SAFF system c 11 n'the c queuing j cod, is suPP ksifcd, the lots F,

I , it I i . VC . the destination S 'Orre Waiting. and' if J,,m'd in a queue ail f designate be, Of messages j"t, are mron is also

a a 01 V ., he on.ginator Wishes 10 g, Me BUM b Mail BOX COn jbu~l be user 1, 1 ry S1017a : code' of CBC Iiie, ~Po-l fill Within , IAAII 11 es . t d 11 1 lux' 'a be messages d control 'YSM orvily dote e . , SAFF 89 ~,,t as

are temp . of the dltililt'o firmly , reorder I status 'a lis secure function delivered to bit 54, 89 in 'be Answer given the oppor 1b,"gh the System

'4M,il BOX ,,,ad

. of being mi,chm. judi- Box Delivery Vent, W.V a, Other messages j, make a s sent to that 20 in the Sirmt called a report the ziddreSSCO a an . machine . for a Patric "'jis 11 its 9,,Vt G-dtstiriaLAOU Waiting o ,j'a to a m fmally per and " message Is may be If The 'y5le for immeo"t, release, that a sCcu . message in" box, ~y ge calmil . aliv a voice scl., s

addressee ()PIlOn J, such voice tion Of tres~a designated telephone

number, . Control so

the General Se"'ce

US 6,643,034 B1 16

queue manipulations, reading faxes, sending automated fan

or voice responses and so forth. When a fan message is read

by a paperless lenmioal on a screen, the user may elect to

have the message left in the queue for later disposal and to

5 have a cover page added to indicate the date, time and

terminal telephone number from which the fax was originally read . The user may also redirect the message to be printed on an ordinary "hardcopyf" device, such as a (u device or a printer. In addition, this mode will also permit the

in transmission of outgoing fns messages from the paperless terminal and access to the functions of the General Service Control 50, all without the need to wol the system and dial

in again. This permits a single incoming call over a line 40 to permit the user to access essentially all of the services

15 available from the SAFF. In another approach, the paperless fax terminal eau act as

an originating machine and a designation machine, in place of ordinary facsimile machine. Iv this case, the paperlcss (ax terminal may be used in cooperation with a telephone or

20 provided with a sound or gash light generator 192 or 197 as

shown in FIGS . 8 and 9 for prompting the addressee to communicate with the SAFF system for receiving a fac-

simile message while the SAFF attempts to transmit a facsimile message. The SAFF also provides the other ser-

=s vices to the paperless fax terminal as provided to the ordinary facsimile machine. For example, the SAFF will temporarily store the fax message and periodically retry to

communicate with the destination paperless fax terminal if the terminal is busy or otherwise unavailable to receive at

ao this time . A companion aspect of this system is a Mail Box Reader

device 33 u shown in FIG. 9 which is an alternative of the paperless (ax terminal described above. This device is a relatively low-cost adapter which connects the user's tele-

'S phone (o an available ordinary television set m form a simple paperless fu terminal . 77w Reader device 33 contains a modem capable of both computer and fax operations, pro-

grams for these operations, memory 198 to store an incoming document or documents, a processor 195 for controlling

ao the device, a keypad 196 for the input of user commands, a video display generator 199 and a RF modulator 200 suitable for supplying a display signal to the ordinary television set 201.

73e Mail Box Service Control 49 recognizes the Mail 45 Box Reader as a distinct terminal type and supports abbre-

viated command sequences from its more limited keypad . In addition, it supports paging through sections of a document so that a user can view documents which may be too large

so to fit into the Reader's memory in one place.

71e Mail Box Reader itself has a "zoom" mode (hat magnifies the image on the screen by mapping a smaller segment of the Reader's memory to the saeeu. This permits

one to overcome the fact that the resolution of the television 55 set may be too limited for a readable display of some of the

finer-detailed features of some fax images . The Reader's keypad 196 permits scrolling through messages, both vertically and horizontally in both the normal and zoom mode . Vertical scrolling is transparently coordinated with the Mail

ao Box Service Control's paging functions so that if am scrolls

off the cod of the segment of a long document stored in memory, the Mail Box Service Control will automatically supply the next segment.

65 Broadcasting

The queuing, Mail Boxes, noel security codes are all

derivative benefits of the spooling of messages at the des-

15 opportunity to "redirect" Them m a fax machine 3 other than the default machine over ordinary local lines 39 . The SAFF then releases the selected documents and moves them to the head of the appropriate destination Delivery Queue 88 for immediate delivery . As described earlier, the recipient of the various message may then choose to provide automated fax or voice replies to selected messages .

When messages are accepted into the SAFF system and art rve at a mail box, The Answer Function of the destination SAFF issues a "Posting Report" which is directed back to the Originator in the manner described for other reports . The report is similar to a Delivery Report, except that it indicates that the message has been received by the mail box. When the Mail Sox Queue is actually mad by the addressee the Destination SAFE seeds an actual Delivery Report to the originator indicating the date and time of delivery and so forth.

Mother advantage of the Mail Box system is that it can provide a convenient way for individuals who are away from then "home" machine to still have access to their docu-meois. Such individuals may call in to their Mail Box number to hear from the voice response unit whether they have any messages wailing. By use of the redirection feature, messages sent to a fax Mail Box can be accessed by an individual with the security code from any telephone with a fax machine.

For example, a person on a business trip can have all his or her fax documents directed to their Mail Box. Upon artiving al a hotel that has a fax machine, the traveler places a call to the Mail Box number and supplies the information outlined above, including the telephone number of the hotel fax machine. The SAFE then calls the hotel machine and dumps the queue of waiting documents. Another aspect of the Mail Box function is support for

paperless fax terminals 33, such u those which provide a volatile display of the fax image on a computer display. Typically, this terminal is shown in FIG. 8 which includes a small, modem-equipped personal computer 191 and a com-puter display 194. The terminal can also include a keyboard 193 for entering necessary access code or other information .

to this circumstance, the paperless terminal initiates the Mail Box transaction operating as a computer terminal (rather than a fax terminal), using a computer terminal emulator program such as those well known in the nn . The incoming call from au ordinary line AO is recognized by the Off-oel Incoming Scrcener 48 u not being a fax traasmis-sion and is passed to the Mail Box Service Control 49 . This unit recognizes the call u a computer, rather than voice call and enables a computer, rather than voice, response system .

The user and the Mail Box Service Control 49 then communicate by way of some computer communications code such as ASCII.

The system presents the same security code requests u the voice system and provides the same buts user options including message queue listings, queue reordering and so forth. Unlike the voice system, however, it is not necessary

w redirect the fax messages to another telephone. The

paperless terminal software recognizes simple code sequences sent by the Mail Box Service Control 49 and can

be switched under Mail Box Service control from the ASCII

computer terminal mode to the fax terminal mode .7'hus, the user may select messages from the queue in the computer mode and then the Mail Sox Service system will auiomati-cally switch the terminal to fax mode, scud the fax messages, and then return the terminal to computer mode .

In This way, the paperless terminal user can engage in an ongoing dialogue with the Mail Box Service Control, doing

linaron gq~; C 17 US 6,643,034 B? S~'Fm ~'nsaios

"'"Pan advan~ e i a COP1, to Y of n, each mes'~ Sic I~

the originator long-distaoce

U ~u Cbe~~t m~gu10 mulOph~CS4naGU¢s .in

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call, which arrive over an av t~ reinitiated in

liVany

r RjLe Un ~~~ ~ ~~ an to to tha t Me be 0 It, -~,g

apaches ILe ~~Wle }lost 70

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br ~ f Point, 8~natc F °asea ~R

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long y~ ~NLo s astir ~PCUa~

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as ~e ~ ~ ~a~ ~ [hc o

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and Detailed Hillipg hed4ud to

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of the o . Diver of I ake ~e is o

v~ nall necriu our machioeumcrelaakdr~~ n misaa~quoa~morcy0~~p

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. =5 ~'h ~~1tSP ;o~on muclhBow~Por7s oce'mind mesa

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s lo en4cala fo~~ vb scri Life

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.bar exchange

m W'ilhin P at ~h ;hsu ~Fe ed SC~r

Fheth~ n'bcr cysts m ~ e ~~ S~ .vsnvina~c, yMSWCf,~a~~f~° m ~1 For Mat exams 'ns ~~~d-nee s°stcro netw they ~be hrough the ~o ell ns the the °a other irons y MIDI P~. ttrey malbe 1�,Iy lCan ocal

rrive b~eY~m~ ~c, es +rin -d orberSAj,l,, .

taer lis t tasks which

fish th c 8~o S Control 15.sWhl1c

Processors -service reyufst'szmi~

deli~e~~o ~C`I~ CtfaXrFonvar ~S K the messages to their

US 6,643,034 B1 20

available, it will immediately attempt to connect with the

destination SP.EF, otherwise it will defer she call until a

book is available . In the event of a broadcast message, the Outbound Controller will select the number of trunks to use

s simultaneously based on the percentage of the Inuaks already in use, in order to avoid tying up all of the SP.FF's outgoing capacity with a single message last: . Other considerations can affect these usage choices depending on the details of the setting of the system .

10 The Host then enters a loop which gem the incoming fax data 125 (FIG . 56) from the OD-net 64 or Off-net 65 lolerfaa's buffer and store each byte in the fax data file 126 while sending another copy 127 to the Outbound controller 74 until the incoming data is complete 128. The Host then

1s checks 129 with the Outbound controller to see if it was successful in making immediate conoecuou with the desu-natioo machine. If it was successful and a satisfactory transfer occurted, then a Delivery Report is sent back 132 to the originating machine before it leaves the line . Otherwise,

Zo an Acceptance Report is sent 131, and in either case the outcome is reported 133 to the Transaction File and the call is terminated 134. A complementary set of activities occurs in the Answer

Function of 16e destination SAFF as described in FIGS . 6a 's and b. Here an incoming call is detected 136 by the Inbound

Control 92 (FIG . 4) . The Answer Host Computer 85 then opens a new fax data and Transaction file for the message it there is no current queue for that destination machine, or it prepares to append the data to an existing queue 137. The

~~ various call and file parameters are linked and shored 138 and the call parameters are passed through 139 to the Local Interface 83, which then decides 141 whether the call is addressed to a "real" fax number, or a fictitious number terminating in a mail box. If the number is real the Local

35 Interface attempts to contact the deslinaiiou machine for

immediate delivery.

The Host then enters a loop where it gels the incoming data 147, stores it 148 in the fax Delivery Queue, and pries

40 ii through 14910 the Local Interface buffer. When the Host determines that the fax transfer is mmplele 150, it Iheu checks In (FIG . 66) to see if the Local Interface has been able to make immediate delivery. If it has, the Host initiates the transmission of the Delivery Report 167 back through its Status and Control Interface 84 to the System Control and as Status null ll, which in turn updates the Transaction File and sends it back to the originator SAFF over Trunk 15 . It is this communication which ultimately results in the immediate Delivery Report described previously . The traosaclion in

50 then terminated 169.

If immediate connect is not established a Retry Report is sent 153 back through the System Status and Control unit and the Retry sequence begins . The Retry criteria can be varied 154, both in place and with the SAFF salting. For

Ss example, if the SAFF is integrated into a local exchange, the SAFF can actually monitor the desired line and simply wail for it to become available . In other settings it will be necessary for the SAEF to actually radial at proscnbed intervals . In any case attempts to connect are made 155 and

bo if they are not successful 156 a counter or timer is checked 159 to sec if the entry limit has been exceeded . IC not, the process is repeated and if so, a Failed Delivery Report 160 is sent back through the system and the effort terminated 170.

e5 IF the retry effort is successful, the Delivery Queue is retrieved 158 and message by message 162 the queue is dumped, with a pause 163 after each message In confirm

19 destinations . The general software organization of these principal activities is shout/ is FIGS . 5, 6, and 7. It should be noted that these figures are simplified and intended to be geocrally descriptive . For example, some procedures illus-trated here s5 sequential (for the sake of simplicity) eau actually be performed coocurteotly . Likewise, not every function of the system is represented in detail. Generally speaking, similar results also can be obtained with a number of other obvious arrangements of the functional blocks.

Broadly speaking, fax messages addressed to the Origi-nate Function of a SAFF arise either through the special SAFF Directed Local Lines 4 (FIGS. 2 and 3) u a resell of direct connection or dialing a special access node, or they arise from Ordinary Local Lines (off-net lines) 39, 40, 61 . now which grove via off-net lines are processed first by the Off-net Saceuer 48, which may direct them to either the Originate Function 9 or to Mail Box Service 49 . FIG. 5, therefore combines all three of these relayed functions.

AI the outset, one of the two incoming call interfaces 63 and 65 signals the Hall Computer 70 that it u beginning to process a cell at 100 in FIG. 5a . These units have their own buffer capability and eau tolerate some delay before the Host responds. Ultimately the Host must decide whether it is responding io an on-net or off-net call 101 . IC it is an off-net call there are two possibilities (excluding wrong numbers) 102: it may either be a fax call, in which case it is from a ono-subscriber to a subscriber, or it is a mail box service call . If it is a fax call then the billing for services must be directed to the subscribing destination addressee 112. From That point ii is handled like au on-act call as will be described shortly.

IC it is not a fax call, then it is presumed to be a mail box service call 103, and the system then determines whether ii is a computer or voice-based request. The caller is presented with a voice response menu or computer menu 104 for such service, u appropriate. The user responds to these prompts with a louchlone keypad, verbally, or with computer key-strokes 105 and a decision ladder, shown succinctly as 107

selects the desired implementation routine 108,109,110 (for brevity only throe typical choices are shown, and this element is actually a loop which will permit multiple commands). The chosen routine passes parameters to a command parser 121 (FIG . 56) which prepares a command statement which is then sent 122 to the System Status and Control unit ll, through the interface 72 . This command will be passed to the Answer Host 85 through its interface 84 for actual action on the Mail Box Queue 89 . If the service requires a response to the caller the transmission path is reversed . When the operation is completed 123 the call is terminated .

1(00 the other hand, the original call is found al 101 to be an on-oel call, billing is generally directed al the originator 113 and the Host 70 begins the opening digital dialogue 114 with the calling machine, acting in place of the destination machine. This dialogue includes gathering and storing the fax identifications, originating and destination telephone numbers and so forth 116. The Host opens a Trausactioo File and links it to a data file 117 for the expected data, and Then stores all of the call and file information 118 keyed to the Message Code . The destination telephone number and other information arc passed almost immediately 119 to the Out-bound Controller 74, which then opens a temporary buffer to hold the fax message in case immediate contact can be established, and it attempts to establish that contact through the destination SAFF.

to pursuing this contact, the Outbound Controller 74 examines she status of available trucks . IC trunks are

"Ceeipl, send 21 US 6,643,034,31 queue 165 Ira Dj '~Vty ;?CPI 164

mesug, falls d and 10 Check for end Of Process lee at 154 1, I"'nig the bee repeated to resumed at th f 1 9ucuc dump the 3, 7bc method 22

n received , a concl"i C allin, I Coormume'l ot claim 2. In'th 168 "faclority, I on When the 1, PoIn' and the facRi .. if If if he jr SIM .... g, has Lag to The paperle, Cr

comprising a S,Cp Of is dfemu. an5actio, I, f, Call, a loop tried It 141 (PIG

leimin facility Cssages SuOld in th , "C"fruile de, ated e t"Simile We a it 143 h is entered hu h ' 5 4 The to tlis, of

MI e appyo . C gets ' 60) that thi C . Priaic M,il )3 the f S the trans Method of hUm 2 fu and rward

Fness-&C is ~,, afidal, t3amailb" M?Iting step I rther COW through the "cled 144 Ox 142 and St... Simile device ( j . Of: receiv , a Post Queue When th least one cast ,, M9 from Phe"g Staps, after

F, system and 458 RIP11 141.5 end of additional f additi,Dal Paperl .. fac. Mach th

in' . 'OUgh 1ht`S)ML"'agC Waiting ' is Sent hack C Slot, and to aesimile Message "rY req ... t in Report 146 . ~0 one addi, a 10 is Iomj fa rward fac"lly" and stored General S, 'be d1fairlif Mor, and f, il filing 10 the rac-

Cam, C S, the al IC&SI Lines 5 U `vfCC call, a1wYS a Eon lOrward F. rward respon POO dejection and rrrvc oa Ord, acilify I facility from Died I' the f 13m, CSC Menu . 5 7be . 0 the papedos, f, the facSimij, acsimae is presented 173 answering 172 1~, Local Method

ore CSC be include' of and

174,,dad' . lIX-rk to the in the ,,, sronqg the f Claim 1, aesimile device

suctlecls'01 Izidd OYS in reI, Ser. 'le, bo... Where

routine Pause, D, with The Aflil 15 associated -'simile r, M The Storing top the

If, 177 , er 175 id - gives 6. 7be With Pas-tic', CSSag,, in tra Possible Cho 78 entifi" the d them oraU, before th method of el Subscribers. csitude mad. ,OF 179 Ii esired se,,' , aw loop fees h, C en Co,

out f"lcc facs-m-1 e transinjujo "in 5, further Ifi UCV,,,, lecle I step or, PrIs if CCC re if Dr to i of Particular Warn trot, It, a step, lion faCS11011C Y Coal, Mquimof ,,, epaperles,

C Vii 7 71,C mailbox en rates c 20 in, method of access

C ssages ,,0, el a Cie filled 'In S. where

it all 1, "Qu'le Dailbo, unewith a subs,'it, or mu"Ok-I for elf (A . on . Method ft,,th jaled cr are Stored describe " Ca is I, Ila I a PdPerlc,, I

. cr Comprises

with ube subsnh, in a fac-co a System are the P esenqV retem, maldsoj cLRWe device' a Step Of , - r, wherein the

d elb r p 'living from 'he C rv" Mleracli Od f 25 "ge, Cflmg for deliv mailbox Mani SYS(c C i"S vt jacj .. Or provi in a

2 5 aimed Cry a sub Pb witch message rar-smiltm In the f. Set of The I-

net W thute m1my td 'Clepho management 9 step in, musurrile Mail Acsimil, mes-method me In iodin 12C nCIW Subset of f fudus fra,," be', and Possible with Catioaslathe Ork.lishOuld acimile Iffing wherein the and senix of (be - out Sync 8. 111 mes" What is I . olveriflo deparlm In Ind 1b, e method f ges. only the Sel,,,~d A C aimed is n 9 From the m, t associating a . 0 claim 1, hrih,

0 Spirit 30 put,, 'I uajq,, r <,in I Method f

Crag, dev mailbox defined prising be Step Of Or - oroperali PluralitV. - XC with ea cli In At least one aCtlitaic f ng a Facsinn, include' 01 Subscribers PartiwI, so corn COMP,isi, acsirmile com c Store and h S ( 1, . . and h . Oscribe, of th-9 step., of. re""ed "I the Ste ere, C Providing , t- . ' mume"lu". aid mewtht P Of direct- Said

th IuMbox a,,oQ aled - 9 telephone,

9 Step Mugh a

aes - ImIfe'tore and to, overam orighlati, Log rac "Indc message, assign Switched uj, ardf, 1- 35 the "Sp, with the Pan . ca

09 to each Phone D C, fly act; Clive d 1 1, the

Ctwlrk, CSS1,61, Dumbe, - 'a do,, ofth Jeular Sob Scribe,

system lubse Sys"'I Sub IS a. Cd . C Unique d"rizz to whom

numb nbcrs a SCMbCr of 9 . 7be Me SSIgn

leleph er, where uniq', d,sl . a PIIL,,djJy Of includes thod of claim It lepbone one m the diah mallo, I I Ass,, .

ere, th ,he related number of eac

09 of the in t cPhone d0firred fmg- With Parnell, C step of asoc

. b system 'que dCstill'timi 40 "I'd &, In a Compute aI` sub - laling

tek-pho telephone " if beig

SM Suh~-Irbc, r -storage d .

sc,16CM, rusilbox tie network I felted b result, I, Wn the to, evj" CS prhung he I and fam,ad f, ge0grap 0 be 'J", and y a Stop of di, se

receiving over I hically .

plarably,jr, I c a' The store I'd forward r, switched the Store and to ectigg , r - "CIll?, and

. Pit- f ACilify

computer rward f, - aciumile m farther ",-lel,p

c acilify to Cssage received at

file 'Ey OC,,,LbePb`M'Cah`1,1iicb ., Orw3rd facility Store Storage device a rrailbD, by I mg switched I ofsoidplo,abi a 4.5

and im.,

IiSciiderd"j . Switch 0 The si, yor 10 -1b ard facility. geographically S.P. in the

0 telephone le and Iom d win e method of Claim 8 w

rat from the

umbers' C of? , - network , ar . PTISC,% the S, h be 0ouque dc,uIan, result of IS still I', - 0

art lefe at IC Ing rr.clj,,d do . rig), D g

by each such received

a kkpben, Jig. Werem IbC Method further rev.. hone

ep Offorward hil, , fa c i

asl So 'lug an or- Cstmil, Me, Sa go

jv 19 durj, con, Call re.sWL. tactility t me Of the mmage r, Igniaing. CAU C'Doccti~o 11 tion % 1, an

Conne'a . Cos the erg being made Ii 50 geu 0 at least , DID it, S,

t I fa ma , graphically se second SI Ore and to lelephon 11 . fb, Nrated f Ore and f. rwad M, .1 Csimile I

a d C call Method of CS from forw,ard facility achmes; an filing includes be u, claMmEou the Stoll and fi "Td facility

"OrIng the ra, facsimile D"Itticalic, 5

P0fLrjw,,,- -, Whrem [be I-OrWardracilIfy. Mimic in

- J11mg by a most Orwardin forward r"Ibly; c8sagCs at (he r, L, The mechanism . 9 step

receiving at the facs . . CS or k. core and

55 Mehl d ""ad ofCj.j,, expedient COm-fro, , finite "o, CS deliv

Paperl,,, e and fDmaol 13. 73e Method cry the

switched t(c+n the

forwardin8 sIe tran Store smitting

untie Mile device ; y~ facilil)' a call m14~5 delivery emplod;m

lB, whe~cia ephone the fo

network F dall

~h Ft~^>' ~tltc fxsr}rztle 'tell and 6n

trans, tacs~

tnstm q

digita common, l lu ~g°~ g step 1, r7h

Method xCili~y o

before the vanStuff of clam I. fi,n6er co device . Maillz,x to a fa

smile messages storeed

from a Subscriber ~ facsimile device al ttipR sleP, Off , Pric111941, ~scTiber '

~o the 4~i1, d ~o that Sub " marina

d"sigaaged by se fi be r', step, 15. 1~ meI than

b s eceiviog from ~6e Prless aw,.,~~~8 his mai]bo ~

csimilr message least stored in

one the delivery

facsi~]e store and to 1) 65 1119 his Claim of claim 5 few

, 8, u~6erei; a x 6y g Paperlcss fecsimi e device

c~l for at taut v

~~~Res sfor

acilily.

tvrther comprising ly~

evict ma Y ~ in hip ~s . la~sorg pectivc the

mail whe slaps of a panicular~suAscriberb~s

US 6,643,034 B1 23 24

defined in a mass storage remote to the store and forward during the communication session, transmitting fac-facilily, and directing the facsimile message to a mailbox simile messages stored in a particular subscriber's defined in the mass storage remote to the store sod forward mailbox to the remote paperless facsimile device . facility. 25 .'Ibe method of claim 24, and wherein the granting and

17 . The method of claim 5 or 8, wherein the mailbox of s transmitting steps are performed only after receipt at a store a particular subscriber is defined iv a mass storage local to and forward facility of a unique PIN number of the sub-a semod store and forward facility geographically separated scriber associated with the respective mailbox. from the stole and forward facility, and (unbar comprising 26 . The method of claim 24, further comprising the step the steps of directing the facsimile message to a mailbox of providing to a subscriber al the remote paperless facsimile defined in the mass storage local to the second store and io device, duringlhecommunicaiionsessioo,aplwalilyofuser forward facility .

18 . The method of claim 5 or B, wherein the step of options selected from the group consisting of dewing a

receiving a call from a paperless facsimile device comprises queue of facsimile messages in the particular subscriber's

the steps o(: mailbox; selecting facsimile messages from the queue;

establishing a modem connection between the sore and deleting messages from the queue; arranging the queue

forward facility and a paperless facsimile device, al the j5 according to priority; reading fax messages in the particular

initiation of the papedess facsimile device ; and subscriber's mailbox; redirecting a facsimile message in the

wherein the transmitting step includes, particular subscriber's mailbox to any facsimile device ; and

granting to the paperless facsimile device access to a redirecting a facsimile message in the particular subscriber's

particular subscriber's mailbox; mailbox to a printer.

allowing a user at the paperless facsimile device to '° 27 . The method of claim 26, crud wherein the granting,

view a facsimile message stored in the respective irmismiltiug crud providing steps are performed only after

mailbox; receipt al a store crud forward facility of a unique PIN

and then redirecting the fu message to a remote number of the subscriber associated with the respective

facsimile device in response to commands issued mailbox.

from the papcrless facsimile device . =5 28 . The method of claim 24, further comprising the steps

19 . The method of claim 18, and wherein the granting, ofproviding toasubscriber allheremote paperlessfacsimile

allowing and redirecting steps are performed only after device, during the communication session, al least the user

receipt at a store and forward facility of a unique PIN options consisting of : viewing n queue of facsimile mes-

oumber of the subscriber associated with the respective sages in the particular subscriber's mailbox; selecting fac-

mailboz. !o simile messages from the queue; deleting messages from the

20 . The method of claim 5 or 8, wherein the step of queue; arranging the queue according to priority; and read-

receiving a call from a paperless facsimile device includes i°g fix messages in the particular subscriber's mailbox.

The steps of : 29 .71ie method of claim 28, and whereto the granting and

granting to a remote paperleu facsimile device access to providing steps are performed only after receipt at a store

a particular subscriber's mailbox; and the transmitting 35 and forward facility of a unique PIN number of the sub-

step includes scriber associated with the respective mailbox.

allowing a user at the remote paperless facsimile device 30 . The method of claim 5 or B, further comprising the

to view a facsimile message stored in the particular step of, in response to instructions received from a

subscriber's mailbox. subscriber, transmitting facsimile messages stored in that

21 . The method oCclaim 20, and whereto the granting and ~ subscriber's mailbox, via the public switched telephone

allowing steps tie performed only after receipt al a store and network, to any particular facsimile device designated in the

forward facility of a unique PIN number of the subscriber instructions by the subscriber, whereby a subscriber who is

associated with the respective mailbox. traveling or otherwise away from the fixed location of his

22 . The method of claim 5 or 8, wherein the step of facsimile device may have facsimile messages collected in

receiving a call tom a paperles5 facsimile device includes : °5 his mailbox, and retrieve them from any location where any older facsimile device is situated .

a call al the store and forward facility over the .

itched telephone network from a remote paperless 31 . The method of claim 30, and whereto the transmitting

switched facsimile device; and

step is performed only after receipt at at least one store and forward facility of a unique PIN number of the subscriber

granting to the remote paperless facsimile device access 50 associated with the respective mailbox. to a particular subscriber's mailbox; and 32. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step

the transmitting step includes steps of allowing a user at of, in response to instructions received from a subscriber, the remote paperless facsimile device to view a fac- transmitting facsimile messages stored in that subscriber's simile message stored in the particular subscriber's mailbox at the second store and forward facility, via the mailbox . 55 public switched telephone network, to any particular fac-

73 . The method of claim 22, and wherein the granting and simile machine designated iv the iuslructions by the allowing steps are performed only after receipt al a store and subscriber, whereby a subscriber who is traveling or other-forward facility of a unique PIN number of the subscriber wise away from the fixed location of his facsimile machine associated with the respective mailbox. may have facsimile messages collected in his mailbox, and

24 . The method of claim 5 or 8, wherein the step o[ so retrieve them from any location where any other facsimile receiving a call from a papedess facsimile device includes : machine is situated .

granting to a remote paperless facsimile device access to 33 . The method o(claim 32, and whereto the iransmitling a particular subscriber's mailbox during a commuuica- step is performed only after receipt at a store and forward lion session initialed by the remote paperlecc facsimile facility of a unique PIN Dumber of 16c subscriber associated device ; and 65 with the respective mailbox.

the transmitting steps includes, in response to instructions 33 . The method of claim 16, further comprising the step received from the remote papedess facsimile device tit, in response to iaslmcuoos received from a subscriber,

US 6,643,034 131 26 e in gee

subscriber mailbox; r~u~lia8 a

facsimile messeF

a4cimile mesv8es stored in that

subseriizi s s Mailbox

to a facsimile device; and

g f via 1~Public switched p~~~lar

wbs~rice[ theP~~~acsubscn~ ~ s

~isog the steps ro

`dcp�o whereby a m~b°z io

a printer. 41 ~~~r ~ mP Sacs+ e remote s~o~a8e"

telephone ~cuehvork, to a°~

in°i~+~uons

particular by the

way from ~

au's~il°~om mac4~e

[edirccu~8 a facsimil° Message ~

mailtwx at the

~1 transmitting

of providing to the subsc~bzr

al 16c F al least t 1x ~

desiguaIcdin

nc me~~ °f claim

o is traveling ~T olhe[wiw

apetlcss

subscTil~°~ "'n ach~n° may have Sacsimile

~~ device . dun°B the

communication qe~iouio of facsimile m

scriber s x' ' fmm the

siwated. options

' mail 4%lectiog fac-

sled ~ h~

Consisting Of, vice

f g~aud read"

mailbox, ~~a the 4°eue: deleting ~° o location o his facsimile

m ~d ~°~'°ve sages in ilie P~

other facsimile machiuc is flung simile mes+agcs

from according X . acd ~n attan~aS ~~~

queue acco~h~~yci s.ma ~ ca8es colle note and

torw' yucuc; ~c particular su ~t B l~at I Ion here any 35-Tye method

of dam 3'~~ and W'he~eio the

trsnsu~

~o~d only after receipt at a Store her ~iated

~g fax m~Sthod iof claim ~~ ~n~r `°mP,

a s~ to

un;catson ,svoo, ~~?`R°g

stop is Fe delivery w

ao outb~u[~ facility of a umq. mailbox

45 The me

wig ~e relive mailbox-

45 . ~ ~

. 7te method of claim B 5'n6er

ineludiu8 t~ steps o F . If, d�n°g ~~ ~°mm,

articular telephone call ~'~^t~~~

to Cite aI'd Eorv~s~ facility tro~° the

paper facsimile devu:e ~

-y oin8 E~aimile message ~1NCUOa received from

uausmittiog the Cacsim~e °~

36 that a p

storo and furwud facility by ~~

switcCed telephone l outg

network as a result of aicleParticular

phone Particular subsc~~r

dating his dcss destination

t nod, in acsimil

resVo~

rccog~'y~ng ng

cgablishi¢S a mailbox cout[ol

sea- sage. from the sloe and

(onward Lacility to the outlx~

unique destination

number, is nut a fax part

c device .

rising t~ steps

imitation Mile device an ystnsession, ieCeiV ln '6 dcsUdestination,

anic ula~subsc dbe~du during 6thema+

Mailbox I'beme th

odofc lai mdl~further ' °mP

va¢sm~ssioa, a¢ d

x o oL during d tacilily ftomag° PaPea~~ rv to an outbound

Sion ; and viding to the Pg o[ u+e~ ~Pti~uc

selected of facsimile ~S ~ ~

taa~mile message tot fiction received

film the

pro Control

Plurality

the grow "A i s mailbox

: sekci- destination and. in cesP , w ins the tacsimilc

p Consisting of: viewing . a 4

in ~c paAi l fr the 9ucue: dclctinR° a zS paper loss,

the store t a J facility ~ ~e Outbound

;og facsimile messa8 the queue

axoedi B

ueuc : arranging . y~

mailloxes of

sages from the 9 eswdes ~° the particular

'o ; a destination, ~t claim 41, wherein

user n e vice

priority.; r° s~~8 ~display .

ulerlerm . 4? . The method ~ a ~ p slora8

in& obey . cribe~s are

~, yge stored m ~4e Particular subs 5 particular 'uM the stoic

sail forward facility .

scritxr's maillx~x~ at a come

mailbox ; redirecting a (acsimi~~

messsB° in the far- geog~aphicallY ~Parsted from tra nsmitting

ility teaSeIatsimile m

¢cula[ s~b`'s mai1M'z ~o a

fa~imile device; and ?~ a~ ,Nyere~ ~~

transmitting stop lud e slra

EHCry[,~~si cnileme s 'a8 c~thep~x ~~la

csub-fac simileMessage ~from a~

box inthe~ mPu

' s mailbox to a plinmc

geographically szPa[nteA from

the store and forwent

w ~e subsu'n~r

L a~llwx of the

hod of clam 36, wherein

the m 48 . The me7hod

of claim 36 . wheTCiu the p~ovidiu'6

x~Control

tcdvecuoS

;ncludes she step of providing a;Ibn

auseroPcun si s

37 . The met wage device : v~ewul~

.Mi~vlac suUscrilXr Lc defined

in a' mPuter

s~n~~ from the stove and forward

~ "' slity'S paper csimi ledev ice during t ~ m

the . li a8ofsra

hical lY`<'4.telephone ccalCollection l

`N~ session , a~lcas, l6° m e~6esl~NCU&1~am s

g~B P . Originating

the III neel::

pa'jiwilY~ wh ich I hr onS queue of (a~simil

the mailWx of the mailbox;

uk~~8 ta`simile messages a g he queue

L device deleting Message, from the

9ueuc: ~ °a~es in the

made . hod of ~~~ ~6 " whe[ein apd reading fax

3&1`41 met a comPuter sweag' ntlx steps

T"Sticu10 I'll s ¢iailbo

staled from the swee aod~` Nlihed`d'ty °"

according Subscribe' f�nher come v ag at a store

par~ieulac subscriber is

oed in

'With aP~ca ~e mailbox convsell ei session is ~he p vidinF step 49, The melh0d of

clam session, device an

the PaF'ecless fa~:simrec ile o u

~o~,ed only it" ~e~iPt at a store nail

torv+aid facility of during the mulbox

~°48, u°I ~

~vcd f 39.'~e method of claim 36, wherein

~tU° -

is P~ cumber of the pacticulu subs-fiber

. acd facility from (or delivery ~° a

of a uo~9ue YIN y~ d where the suoee and as ~~~oin~ fscsimile

message

qp, The me .11, of claim 36, all~onnectioo+~ d~stiuaiina ~d " N f~~~

to 105INCiio' ce' i1z mes

the stove and ,,,aid facility

with which the p

facsimile device, transmitting e tacsim

forward i scilifyX

fs~iliiy w the outbound

16 which the orWinatin'6

made a e from ~e ~o~e

nail feM'a~d

Ea`simile communications

the transmitting ~tinauon ion is estagblished

. ~ ~°tml session

41~ ~° meths ~f cla

im- 5 ~r

imitation session - S~ . p me~~d fur

facili~aun8 at least o~°

Mailbox wherein

comb°~5 t~ s~cp , during a ~° elating ~ s between a t~aosmitung

facsimile machi~~nsing steps of:

a~ facility ne`n°g a Eorv+ of the stets

~pitiated by a paPe~lcss fg~imile device

op seep

cumPuter cotnmu°~cation mod"

trnusmittingtacsimil to the

e mes" pap e~kss (acnmile m~~°e'

providing operation

tuh,eci6ei s ma+lt~x P~Perless

roai~'aB

d hav mg Mass storage

sages stored « that . ,

at least one store ~

facvmile device ethod for of d

vsPla claim

on a scro~os Computer means tot

cootrollin6 ns fo r

d w6eeeio ~6e d ~ransroit~iu8 `'and tonv~d facility a¢ facsimile

messages; bar of a plurality of

storin8 sVStcm subscri telephone m 41. an . ceceiPt a~ a To an

forwar d N yssigoinB i° ege6

~ Unique destination

42 . 'Clem destination

sleP ~rfo~mcd ila device of a u¢ique

uve system 'uh`cribers If i~ unique

pym~r, wherein the Dialing

sem wb~a:fS,er sculls in

facility from the pape[IesS

fats im

number of the s~bscri~r °'S°~inteA

wild the cespu

~~pg lit Steps e pumU~r of zach SY ~ ~tcheA by a

switched

Mailbox 41 . further mmP facsimile

lelephon talcbone call bein¬ forwanj

~. ~~ ss tic related nPo ~ to the at least one

sore and

a ede method u( claim I be a( providing l°

the aubsaibeioo Fssioo,P Plurality of u~era hone ~

dLVi~1dur ~8ty,;comm a totality telephone

facility

led from 11~c Soup cAOSStinB of :

facsimile m~sa~es in the P'~ti~lsr

subse~cerl` the of Icast one ~ -lore an

for d facility t° a

the q switched telephone

nztwo[k tar receiving

es trom die queue :

queue itlio6 facsimile

machines ;

queue of

coupling

lecung facsimile menses

from the queuel os

tscsimilc

optioo~

dcletW¢ ~~~' ~

uwlar m.~bes

Vom lrans~

mailbox: ~ arranging

according

messages to the pa c

o8 ~° prior, reading tax

recEiviuB over time 27 US 5,643,Q34 f31 a~ °~ty oft clcp oft clephoaa calmic Lss~ore ad forward as to ~a~ Facilit by the c~ ~~°8 'Mile

can of said mailbox ~o a fa ~' 28 resccl(are .e~ mb~~,

whereby

rolep no ~ (wo store

g'~ 7~6e ~ ~ Instructions achi

cc dysignaled b ~~°Phome

Cau6emade~~ ~ origj~aling ~ ~~ h each the

U ucb reexived s maY view tm~x Yoa PaP eras Wherein a subs~nber~a'

besimile facsim~ access-vinp duri recei

n8 the p

One call conpepioa box. messages stored ' ile to ~~°~

m"mad-IRS. y~pe 58. iLc method op clai

connecliorigina4px lele ~

his ~SPeclive

rec e~gr~rimd~ yes from stransm~, ng ~~s ~Lj , ~o Step

, at least am '~cludes dsir'the ,

q,og°~°^ce"dsrd faces y e°rage, ~ote~o rive traas~mirti w~ °~a~iuQRes in 1 be mass storage f~ CPS at d,fi

means toge~e~g ~q e +m

cb icatiog the r ~e

n 39. 7Sem Method of

forage t Female o ~GecsaB~~ o e Sc

~RSINC C(lfl] ass,,- Wag f In gfacsimi7et6Pmcularsysem"maass~r~e~me'°S :s+nu8ilbmi'hg~~s~

claio~~fivrLer prism

subscribers messases for 5~~'be~.apdsta~ ~ele ~x at the remjore ~,Sesuoredaarom a transmitting

~bscril,er~ m IGe' dose or- Phone network

Storage that Qknber v yes Particular ' , ~p , via ~b e

public 's mfacsimile~ respective nose and

System dey aled in the ipsi+uc~Y Panicular to ed u Switch nice', Paper k 8 Samoa s � hscri in berw6o' Uoosb 6 a~mile t ~ includ' Ss rock, the "a~ storage p I0xali°~ of his facs im il e

av ~°E ur olh c s

eiwy~ nber, w subscnbc macLlne ~8 steps of ~ r~ 8 facsimile sages Cane copec mach' away

from ,bar sub- r" trausmittin

Puose to initiation machines, , foca~~o 1~ ~° his ~°e may have

her ["led in itia l

associated mailbox ~ hMile

~mi~~acsm+Ieaem step Play Pedormc~ofclaim 9 end � cfiine IWI ne~from facsimile

to i Iruc4o or In Ie

ailbox ~g~¢~miJe me,m ~'2c~'ther Cam

And forward ~ved m

particular re csi public

'Switched , ek d ~ lIIe~ubscn sub

, is th

edcvice~ghove ~~~ ao S in then `Bore

~d 8 ~h~ ~ cn~ a ~ d Mass

~~ ~l~z Ria the ~~r' do

Signaled Whby ork, to ~u Y. and S~ local d away

alb~x, ad havcmm 57m .&x~clxa4 ~hof tiu Faclsi8 or ]7 f~62.t'jbe ~

1hod8e

loca]mp the second sire 10, ~ prising the

m 61 f

s'epis

f~ ~e aoVF 1 ~~m52 tand~e

local when: n1 y as mailbox

Public - a ~~~

ons~m~~8ec~itd~'I~mra~~hserforward

~~a~ o~~~ With the

only rem~'~1 uat a, lea . cast

Subscribe, n~ and subscribe ide

~°c a ;wo(~ ba aYfp~ hscrihe

qua p ly, via he 53 . 7 thud ~es~tive ~~ ~r

Of the wise rc6Y a Subscribe b° Instruct' ~ Cac-inclued

or claim

ofso, yd ~ away ~~m

t4e ~~whu ' og by the des at layer the step

be'. s ao May have ~edloc ~s ~velin receiv over an on ~~rectin or~8 s1e retrieve mile m of yys

r other

the respective with pa~ti °~ call cec4o g~ Machine

situated o where h~ maitbia *se facsimile Machine

Luiae~ d~~

Wthc uocula ~b

bar ~~7numi"Pecti~he 63 . The~mmet ~an~ a~ ~collecqrc ai~n5'

ocher ec~im~7e of,3~t

. The moth ofd

transmittinStep

I, P"jor

°niust ~m o ' ~uMctdcom

ation 41eph~m ys With y~o~~~~4 c F

only IN o

after umbe~~P~heecuoreeat~d to....

8 faa' ~cU ~iv Pris~ B /K s!e box f.'simo~drrcP~ ,he Publi ~ U granting ~ to arPaperle e ~~

further wmbp lie SubsczibCr

c mae'pj~~ d~~~a ~d network c~~~bany 'c de"~

6e . wfaeteby a subslocati cribe o . a~~uclion~abY

We allown~m~ ~,sleP inclu'des~~mailbuxa oda b

. ...... k2se away from the fixed wherein the mlreve tLe aV~ sm ao ae mcSS284c Collected, ~ n

his' Mile

other- rig ~a machine~ibsc

W' 'he

a Facs+ P

milc' Message tar

User Machine Y localio mail ParticWar mipa7

forwa rding, drd~°8 qd ~ alai aim

It mescan Prising (he

smile 5~ dao wing step,

v ~~ of ~,~~ d ~u Y aRe wherein he grim ~R and

received bile a f com tonv P~rfor

facility mlu~gle.sst ~g~hefatgleaxt ooeec7ion. a~ leasispm~ ~o`

:cc IS still b ijhe reef od of

rh the

,SAeq~ "mallbmbercuf

lpt [hecsubxNier~

f 6 T6ctme(h~Par'1e Gym the ata~~~ a a~f a

~~ ~~ ~ ~feciL'ry Overcall at the a~

~t her

comprising it, Step,

+a and forward hens ~G~ to 7uc1?m

S0. fiulher inclu ~Ferlcss tacs+m~"1c~t~~ ~elePhooe'ore .~1 .~ inst ,~~ re din etgranting gran ti ng Zer oe step of 10 M-21 S (ncsimik messages~or d inom 8 subsen~ber, " 5.s access to

d~he Particular

Paperle,S a maclu~pe; and otk from a

that Subscriber's ~~xer df~ treRS[¢ittingstunscribety m~l~bo~d a~achine he Paperlecs

facsimile erminulumach

US 6,643,034 B1 30

the group consisting of : viewing a queue of facsimile messages in the particular subscriber's mailbox;

selecting facsimile messages from the queue; deleting messages from the queue; arranging the queue accord-

5 ing to priority ; reading fu messages in the particular subscriber's mailbox; displaying al a computer terminal a facsimile message stored in the particular subscriber's mailbox; redirecting a facsimile message in the particular subscriber's mailbox to a facsimile

10 device ; and redirecting a facsimile message in the particular subscriber' s mailbox to a printer.

76 . The method of claim 75, wherein the mailbox of the particular subscnber is defined in a computer storage device geographically separated from the store and forward facility with which the originating telephone call connection was made .

77 . The method of claim 75, wherein the mailbox of the particular subscriber is defined in a computer storage device geographically separated from the store and forward facility with which the mailbox control session is established.

io 78 . The method of claim 75, wherein the providing step is performed only after receipt at a store and forward facility of a unique PIN number of the particular subscriber.

79 . The method of claim 75, end wherein the store and forward facility with which the originating call connection is

25 made and the store end forward facility with which the mailbox control session is established tie the same store and forward facility.

80 . The method of claim 75, wherein the providing step includes the step of providing to the subscriber a1 the

30 paperless facsimile terminal machine, during the mailbox control session, at least the user options consisting of: viewing a queue of facsimile messages in the particular subscriber's mailbox; selecting facsimile messages from the queue; deleting messages from the queue; arranging the

35 queue according to priority ; and reading fax mesas in the particular subscriber's mailbox .

8l . The method of claim 80, (unbar comprising the steps of, during the mailbox control session, receiving at a slow and forward facility from the paperless facsimile device au

e0 outgoing facsimile message for delivery to an outbound destination and, in response to instruction received from the paperless facsimile device, transmitting the facsimile message from the store and forward facility to the outbound destination .

as 82 . The method of claims 50, wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of, during a communication session initialed by a paperless facsimile terminal machine operating in a computer communication mode, transmitting facsimile messages stored in that subscriber's mailbox to the paperless

so facsimile terminal machine for display on a screen . 83 . The method of claim 82, and whereto the transmitting

step is performed only after receipt at a store and forward facility from the paperless facsimile terminal machine of a unique PIN number of the subscriber associated with the

55 respective mailbox. 84. The method of claim 82, further comprising the steps

of providing to the subscriber al the paperless facsimile terminal machine, during the communication session, a plurality of user options selected from the group consisting

so of : viewing a queue of facsimile messages iv the particular subscriber's mailbox; selecting facsimile messages from the queue; deleting messages from the queue; arranging the queue according to priority ; reading fax messages in the particular subscriber's mailbox; redirecting a facsimile mes-

es sage in the particular subscriber's mailbox to a facsimile device ; and redirecting a facsimile message in the particular subscriber's mailbox to a printer .

29 view a facsimile message shred in the particular sub-scriber's mailbox.

67 . The method of claim 66, and wherein the granting and allowing steps tie performed only after receipt al a store and forward facility of a unique PIN number of the subscriber associated with the respective mailbox.

68 . The method of claim 50, further including the steps of associating, with particular subscribers, mailboxes defined in a computer storage device geographically separated from the al least one store and forward facility, end directing facsimile messages to a mailbox defined in the computer storage device geographically separated from the al least one store and forward facility .

69 . The method of claim 50, further comparing she steps of:

granting to a paperless facsimile terminal machine access to a particular subscriber's mailbox during a commu-uicaliou session initiated by the paperless facsimile terminal machine; and

the transmitting step includes, in response to instructions received from the remote paperless facsimile terminal machine during the communication session, Iraosmii-Iiug facsimile messages stored in a particular subscrib-er's mailbox to the paperless facsimile terminal machine.

70 . The method of claim 69, and wherein the granting and transmitting steps are performed only after receipt at a store and forward facility of a unique PIN number of the sub-scriber associated with the respective mailbox.

71 . 7Le method of claim 69, further comprising the step of providing to a subscriber al the paperless facsimile terminal machine, during the communication session, a plurality of user options selected from the group consisting of : viewing a queue of facsimile messages in the particular subscriber's mailbox; selecting facsimile messages from the queue; deleting messages from the queue; arranging the queue according to priority ; reading fax messages in the particular subscriber's mailbox; redirecting a Facsimile mes-sage in the particular subscriber's mailbox to any facsimile device ; end redirecting a facsimile message in the particular subscriber's mailbox to a panzer .

72 . The method of claim 71, and wherein the granting, transmitting and providing steps are performed only after receipt at a store and forward facility of a unique PIN number of the subscriber associated with the respective mailbox.

73 . The method of claim 69, further comprising the steps of providing to a subscriber at the papedess facsimile terminal machine, during the communication session, at taut the user options consisting of: viewing a queue of facsimile messages in the particular subscriber's mailbox; selecting facsimile messages from the queue; deleting mes-sages from the queue; arranging the queue according to priority ; and reading fax messages in the particular subscrib-er's mailbox.

74 . The method of claim 73, and whereto the granting and providing steps tie performed only after receipt at a store and forward facility of a unique PIN Dumber of the sub-scriber associated with the respective mailbox.

75 . The method of claim 50, further including the steps of: recognizing that a particular telephone call switched to a

store and forward facility by the switched telephone network as a result of a particular subscriber dialing his unique destination telephone number, is not a fax transmission, and establishing a mailbox control ses-sion ; and

providing to the particular subscriber during the mailbox control session a plurality of user options selected from

US 6,643,034 B1 31

85 . The method of claim 82, further comprising the seeps of providing to the subscriber at the paperless facsimile terminal machine, during the communication session, al least the user options consisting of. viewing a queue of facsimile messages in the particular subscnbei s mailbox; selecting facsimile messages from the queue; deleting mes-sages from the queue; arranging the queue according to priority ; and reading fax messages in the particular subscrib-er's mailbox.

86 . The method of claim 95, further comprising the steps of, during the communication session, receiving at a score and forward facility from the paperless facsimile lermioal machioew outgoing facsimile message for delivery to an outbound destination and, in response to inslruciion received from the paperless facsimile terminal machine, transmitting the facsimile message from the stole and forward facility to the outbound destination. ~ r s ~

32 87 . The method of claim $2, further comprising the seeps

of, during the communication session, receiving al a store and forward facility from the paperless facsimile terminal machine an outgoing facsimile message for delivery to an

5 outbound destination and, in response to instruction received from the paperless facsimile Ielminal machine, transmitting the facsimile message from the shore and forward facility to the outbound destination .

88 . 7'he method of claim 82, wherein mailboxes of to particular subscribers are in a computer storage device

geographically separated from the at lease one store and forward facility, and wherein the traasmilling seep includes transmitting a facsimile message from a mailbox in the computer storage geographically separated from the at least

15 one store and forward facility.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA

ATLANTA DIVISION

AUDIOFAX IP LLC,

Plaintiff,

AVAYA INC.,

Defendant.

FILE NO. 1 :03-CV-3066-CC

63583A00006 ATLANTA 447321v I

CIVIL ACTION

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

The undersigned counsel hereby certifies that a true and correct of the

foregoing First Amended Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial was served via

First Class Mail on the following:

James L. Ewing, IV, Esq . Kilpatrick Stockton LLP 1100 Peachtree Street, Suite 2800 Atlanta, Georgia 30309

This 10`h day of November,

William M. RaKand, Jr . HUNTON & WILLIAMS LLP 600 Peachtree Street, Suite 4 100 Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Telephone : (404) 888-4000 Facsimile: (404) 888-4190

Counsel, for Plainti ff AudioFAX IP LLC

Case 1:03-cv-03066-CC Document 4 Filed 11 ... - RPX Insight

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