Patent Application
20100039661
The subject application is directed generally to remotely-directed retransmission of aborted facsimile messages. The application is particularly useful in connection with facsimile messages that are sent from a station, such as a facsimile-forwarding aggregator or kiosk, when a user has left the station location and is unaware of an erroneous or aborted transmission, thereby allowing the user to correct the situation.
Many facsimile devices are shared, either in a workplace or in a public facsimile station such as an airport or hotel kiosk. When a user approaches a facsimile device and commences a facsimile operation, that user typically steps away from the device prior to completion of the facsimile transmission. In the event that there is an error or aborted facsimile transmission, the user may be unaware of such error for a considerable period of time. The user may also have been assessed a fee for the operation, even though it was not completed. Additionally, the user may not be in a position to correct and retransmit a facsimile message for an extended period of time.
In accordance with one embodiment of the subject application, there is provided a system and method for remote facsimile message retransmission. At least one document is received for facsimile transmission, which document includes at least one of an electronic document and a tangible document, as well as identification data corresponding to a user associated with the facsimile transmission. Address data corresponding to at least one destination for the at least one document is received, and the facsimile transmission is commenced in accordance with the received address data. Whether there is a successful transmission is monitored, and a notification message is generated to the user in accordance with received identification data, which notification message includes information relative to a successful transmission of the at least one document in accordance with an output of the monitoring. Login data is received from an associated thin client interface, which login data includes data associated with the at least one document. Update data corresponding to an output of the monitoring that indicates a failure of a facsimile transmission of the at least one document in accordance with received address data is received via the thin client interface. Thereafter, a facsimile retransmission of the at least one document is commenced in accordance with received update data, an electronic mail transmission of the at least one document is commenced in accordance with received update data, or a storage operation of the at least one document is commenced in accordance with received update data.
Still other advantages, aspects, and features of the subject application will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, wherein there is shown and described a preferred embodiment of the subject application, simply by way of illustration of one of the modes best suited to carry out the subject application. As it will be realized, the subject application is capable of other different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the scope of the subject application. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
The subject application is described with reference to certain figures, including:
The subject application is directed to a system and method for remotely directed retransmission of aborted facsimile messages. In particular, the subject application is directed to a system and method for enabling a user to correct an error or aborted facsimile transmission from a remote location after initially sending a facsimile transmission from a station such as a kiosk. More particularly, the subject application allows a user to retransmit a facsimile transmission after leaving a station such as a kiosk, from which the facsimile transmission was originally sent. It will become apparent to those skilled in the art that the system and method described herein are suitably adapted to a plurality of varying electronic fields employing remote notifications including, for example and without limitation, communications, general computing, data processing, document processing, financial transactions, vending of products or services, and the like. The preferred embodiment, as depicted in
Referring now to
The system 100 also includes a first document processing device 104 and a second document processing device 122, which are depicted in
According to one embodiment of the subject application, the document processing devices 104 and 122 are suitably equipped to receive a plurality of portable storage media including, without limitation, Firewire drive, USB drive, SD, MMC, XD, compact flash, memory stick, and the like. In the preferred embodiment of the subject application, the document processing devices 104 and 122 further include an associated user interface 106 and 124 such as a touch-screen LCD display, touch-panel, alpha-numeric keypad, or the like, via which an associated user is able to interact directly with the corresponding document processing device 104 or 122. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the subject application, the user interfaces 106 and 124 are advantageously used to communicate information to the associated user and receive selections from the associated user. The skilled artisan will appreciate that the user interfaces 106 and 124 comprise various components suitably adapted to present data to the associated user, as are known in the art. In accordance with one embodiment of the subject application, the user interfaces 106 and 124 comprise a display suitably adapted to display one or more graphical elements, text data, images, or the like to an associated user, to receive input from the associated user, and to communicate the same to the controllers 108 and 126, as explained in greater detail below. Preferably, the document processing devices 104 and 122 are communicatively coupled to the computer network 102 via respective communications links 112 and 130. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, suitable communications links include, for example and without limitation, WiMax, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11(x), Bluetooth, the public switched telephone network, a proprietary communications network, infrared, optical, or any other suitable wired or wireless data transmission communications known in the art. The functioning of the document processing devices 104 and 122 will be better understood in conjunction with the block diagrams illustrated in
In accordance with one embodiment of the subject application, the document processing devices 104 and 122 each incorporate a control component, designated as the controllers 108 and 126, suitably adapted to facilitate the operations of the document processing devices 104 and 122, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. Preferably, the controllers 108 and 126 are embodied as hardware, software, or any suitable combination thereof configured to control the operations of the associated document processing device 104 or 122, to facilitate the display of images via the user interfaces 106 or 124, to direct the manipulation of electronic image data, and the like. For purposes of explanation, the controllers 108 and 126 are used to refer to any of the myriad components associated with the document processing device 104 or 122 including hardware, software, or combinations thereof functioning to perform, cause to be performed, control, or otherwise direct the methodologies described hereinafter. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the methodologies described with respect to the controllers 108 and 126 are capable of being performed by any general purpose computing system known in the art, and thus the controllers 108 and 126 are representative of such general computing devices and are intended as such when used hereinafter. Furthermore, the use of the controllers 108 and 126 hereinafter is for the example embodiment only, and other embodiments, which will be apparent to one skilled in the art, are capable of employing the system and method for remote facsimile retransmission. The functioning of the controllers 108 and 126 will better be understood in conjunction with the block diagrams illustrated in
Communicatively coupled to the document processing devices 104 and 122 are data storage devices 110 and 128, respectively. In accordance with the one embodiment of the subject application, the data storage devices 110 and 128 are any mass storage device known in the art including, for example and without limitation, magnetic storage drives, a hard disk drive, optical storage devices, flash memory devices, or any suitable combination thereof. In one embodiment, the data storage devices 110 and 128 are suitably adapted to store data records, user information, cellular telephone data, pre-set payment data, document data, image data, electronic database data, or the like. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that, while illustrated in
Illustrated in
The system 100 of
Depicted in
The system 100 illustrated in
The system 100 illustrated in
Communicatively coupled to the server 148 is the data storage device 150. According to the foregoing example embodiment, the data storage device 150 is any mass storage device, or plurality of such devices, known in the art including, for example and without limitation, magnetic storage drives, a hard disk drive, optical storage devices, flash memory devices, or any suitable combination thereof. In such an embodiment, the data storage device 150 is suitably adapted to store software updates, secured electronic documents, text data, data strings, account information, policy information, and the like. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that, while illustrated in
Turning now to
Also included in the device 200 is random access memory 206 suitably formed of dynamic random access memory, static random access memory, or any other suitable addressable memory system. Random access memory 206 provides a storage area for data instructions associated with applications and data handling accomplished by the processor 202.
A storage interface 208 suitably provides a mechanism for volatile, bulk, or long-term storage of data associated with the device 200. The storage interface 208 suitably uses bulk storage, such as any suitable addressable or serial storage such as a disk, optical, tape drive, and the like as shown as 216, as well as any suitable storage medium, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
A network interface subsystem 210 suitably routes input and output from an associated network, allowing the device 200 to communicate to other devices. The network interface subsystem 210 suitably interfaces with one or more connections with external devices to the device 200. By way of example, illustrated is at least one network interface card 214 for data communication with fixed or wired networks such as Ethernet, Token-Ring, and the like and a wireless interface 218 suitably adapted for wireless communication via means such as WiFi, WiMax, wireless modem, cellular network, or any suitable wireless communication system. It is to be appreciated, however, that the network interface subsystem 210 suitably utilizes any physical or non-physical data transfer layer or protocol layer, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. In the illustration, the network interface card 214 is interconnected for data interchange via a physical network 220 suitably comprised of a local area network, wide area network, or a combination thereof.
Data communication between the processor 202, read only memory 204, random access memory 206, storage interface 208, and the network interface subsystem 210 is suitably accomplished via a bus data transfer mechanism, such as illustrated by the bus 212.
Suitable executable instructions on the device 200 facilitate communication with a plurality of external devices such as workstations, document processing devices, other servers, or the like. While, in operation, a typical device operates autonomously, it is to be appreciated that direct control by a local user is sometimes desirable and is suitably accomplished via an optional input/output interface 222 to a user input/output panel 224, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
Also in data communication with the bus 212 are interfaces to one or more document processing engines. In the illustrated embodiment, printer interface 226, copier interface 228, scanner interface 230, and facsimile interface 232 facilitate communication with printer engine 234, copier engine 236, scanner engine 238, and facsimile engine 240, respectively. It is to be appreciated that the device 200 suitably accomplishes one or more document processing functions. Systems accomplishing more than one document processing operation are commonly referred to as multifunction peripherals or multifunction devices.
Turning now to
The document processing engine 302 suitably includes a print engine 304, facsimile engine 306, scanner engine 308, and console panel 310. The print engine 304 allows for output of physical documents representative of an electronic document communicated to the processing device 300. The facsimile engine 306 suitably communicates to or from external facsimile devices via a device such as a fax modem.
The scanner engine 308 suitably functions to receive hard copy documents and, in turn, image data corresponding thereto. A suitable user interface, such as the console panel 310, suitably allows for input of instructions and display of information to an associated user. It will be appreciated that the scanner engine 308 is suitably used in connection with input of tangible documents into electronic form in bitmapped, vector, or page description language format and is also suitably configured for optical character recognition. Tangible document scanning also suitably functions to facilitate facsimile output thereof.
In the illustration of
The document processing engine 302 is suitably in data communication with one or more device drivers 314, which device drivers 314 allow for data interchange from the document processing engine 302 to one or more physical devices so as to accomplish the actual document processing operations. Such document processing operations include one or more of printing via driver 318, facsimile communication via driver 320, scanning via driver 322 and user interface functions via driver 324. It will be appreciated that these various devices are integrated with one or more corresponding engines associated with the document processing engine 302. It is to be appreciated that any set or subset of document processing operations are contemplated herein. Document processors that include a plurality of available document processing options are referred to as multi-function peripherals.
Turning now to
Also included in the controller 400 is random access memory 406 suitably formed of dynamic random access memory, static random access memory, or any other suitable addressable and writable memory system. Random access memory 406 provides a storage area for data instructions associated with applications and data handling accomplished by processor 402.
A storage interface 408 suitably provides a mechanism for non-volatile, bulk, or long-term storage of data associated with the controller 400. The storage interface 408 suitably uses bulk storage, such as any suitable addressable or serial storage such as a disk, optical, tape drive, and the like as shown as 416, as well as any suitable storage medium, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
A network interface subsystem 410 suitably routes input and output from an associated network, allowing the controller 400 to communicate to other devices. The network interface subsystem 410 suitably interfaces with one or more connections with external devices to the device 400. By way of example, illustrated is at least one network interface card 414 for data communication with fixed or wired networks such as Ethernet, Token-Ring, and the like and a wireless interface 418 suitably adapted for wireless communication via means such as WiFi, WiMax, wireless modem, cellular network, or any suitable wireless communication system. It is to be appreciated, however, that the network interface subsystem 410 suitably utilizes any physical or non-physical data transfer layer or protocol layer, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. In the illustration, the network interface 414 is interconnected for data interchange via a physical network 420 suitably comprised of a local area network, wide area network, or a combination thereof.
Data communication between the processor 402, read only memory 404, random access memory 406, storage interface 408, and the network interface subsystem 410 is suitably accomplished via a bus data transfer mechanism, such as illustrated by bus 412.
Also in data communication with the bus 412 is a document processor interface 422. The document processor interface 422 suitably provides connection with hardware 432 to perform one or more document processing operations. Such operations include copying accomplished via copy hardware 424, scanning accomplished via scan hardware 426, printing accomplished via print hardware 428, and facsimile communication accomplished via facsimile hardware 430. It is to be appreciated that the controller 400 suitably operates any or all of the aforementioned document processing operations. Systems accomplishing more than one document processing operation are commonly referred to as multifunction peripherals or multifunction devices.
Functionality of the subject system 100 is accomplished on a suitable document processing device, such as the document processing devices 104 and 122, which includes the controller 400 of
In the preferred embodiment, the engine 502 allows for printing operations, copy operations, facsimile operations, and scanning operations. This functionality is frequently associated with multi-function peripherals, which have become a document processing peripheral of choice in the industry. It will be appreciated, however, that the subject controller does not have to have all such capabilities. Controllers are also advantageously employed in dedicated or more limited-purpose document processing devices that perform one or more of the document processing operations listed above.
The engine 502 is suitably interfaced to a user interface panel 510, which panel 510 allows for a user or administrator to access functionality controlled by the engine 502. Access is suitably enabled via an interface local to the controller or remotely via a remote thin or thick client.
The engine 502 is in data communication with the print function 504, facsimile function 506, and scan function 508. These functions 504, 506, 508 facilitate the actual operation of printing, facsimile transmission and reception, and document scanning for use in securing document images for copying or generating electronic versions.
A job queue 512 is suitably in data communication with the print function 504, facsimile function 506, and scan function 508. It will be appreciated that various image forms, such as bit map, page description language or vector format, and the like, are suitably relayed from the scan function 308 for subsequent handling via the job queue 512.
The job queue 512 is also in data communication with network services 514. In a preferred embodiment, job control, status data, or electronic document data is exchanged between the job queue 512 and the network services 514. Thus, suitable interface is provided for network-based access to the controller function 500 via client side network services 520, which is any suitable thin or thick client. In the preferred embodiment, the web services access is suitably accomplished via a hypertext transfer protocol, file transfer protocol, uniform data diagram protocol, or any other suitable exchange mechanism. The network services 514 also advantageously supplies data interchange with client side services 520 for communication via FTP, electronic mail, TELNET, or the like. Thus, the controller function 500 facilitates output or receipt of electronic document and user information via various network access mechanisms.
The job queue 512 is also advantageously placed in data communication with an image processor 516. The image processor 516 is suitably a raster image process, page description language interpreter or any suitable mechanism for interchange of an electronic document to a format better suited for interchange with device functions such as print 504, facsimile 506, or scan 508.
Finally, the job queue 512 is in data communication with a parser 518, which parser 518 suitably functions to receive print job language files from an external device such as client device services 522. The client device services 522 suitably include printing, facsimile transmission, or other suitable input of an electronic document for which handling by the controller function 500 is advantageous. The parser 518 functions to interpret a received electronic document file and relay it to the job queue 512 for handling in connection with the afore-described functionality and components.
Turning now to
A notification generator 610 is then employed to generate a notification message to the user, e.g. a text message or electronic mail message to the user device 140 or the mobile user device 144, such that the notification message indicates the success or failure of the facsimile transmission of the document. Upon a failure message, the associated user, via the remote interface 612, instructs a retransmitter 614 to retransmit the document to the destination device 608. According to one embodiment of the subject application, the user, via a thin client interface associated with the remote interface 612, communicates retransmission instructions to the server 148, which functions as the retransmitter 614 to send the facsimile transmission again. In accordance with such an example embodiment of the subject application, the functioning of the server 148 as the retransmitter 614 is suitably accomplished via a fax forwarding service resident thereon. According to another embodiment of the subject application, the remote interface 612 supplies update data in the form of an electronic mail address, whereby the retransmitter 614 communicates the electronic document to a destination electronic mail address, e.g. destination device 608 becomes representative of an electronic mail account. In a further embodiment of the subject application, the update data supplied by the remote interface 612 corresponds to a destination storage location, wherein the retransmitter 614 forwards the electronic document to the storage destination, e.g. the destination device 608 becomes representative of a storage device.
Referring now to
Monitoring 710 is then performed as to whether a successful completion of the facsimile transmission 708 occurred. A notification message 712 is then generated, indicating the status of is the facsimile transmission 708 based upon the monitoring 710, i.e. whether the facsimile transmission 708 failed or was successfully completed. Preferably, such notification message 712 is communicated to an associated user, e.g. electronic mail or text message to the user device 140 or mobile user device 144. Thereafter, login data 714 is received from the associated user via the thin client interface 716. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that such a thin client interface 716 is capable of operation via the user device 140 or the mobile user device 144 such as, for example and without limitation, a web-browser. Update data 718 representing a corrected destination address, an electronic mail destination address, or a storage destination address (storage location), is received via the thin client interface 716 and thereafter a retransmission 720 is performed of the document to the destination based upon the received update data.
The skilled artisan will appreciate that the subject system 100 and components described above with respect to
At step 804, identification data corresponding to the user associated with the facsimile transmission is received via the user interface 106, the kiosk 114, or other suitable component associated with the first document processing device 104. Address data is then received at step 806 corresponding to a desired destination for the document from the associated user. The skilled artisan will appreciate that such address data is capable of including, for example and without limitation, a telephone number associated with the second document processing device 122, a facsimile address associated with the second document processing device 122, or the like.
A facsimile transmission is then commenced at step 808 in accordance with the received address data. That is, the first document processing device 104 generates image data corresponding to the received document and forwards such data to the server 148 along with the received identification and address data for facsimile transmission by a facsimile service of the server 148 to the designated addressee. According to one example embodiment of the subject application, the controller 108 or other suitable component associated with the document processing device 104 initiates a facsimile transmission to the second document processing device 122 associated with the received address data. In accordance with one embodiment of the subject application, the server 148 receives the facsimile transmission from the first document processing device 104 and facilitates the delivery of the transmission to the second document processing device 122 designated by the address data. The server 148 then monitors, at step 810, whether or not a successful facsimile transmission has been completed to the second document processing device 122.
The server 148 or other suitable device coupled to the computer network 102 and monitoring such facsimile transmissions then generates a notification message at step 812 incorporating information relative to a successful transmission of the document. When the notification message generated by the server 148 indicates that the facsimile transmission of the document was unsuccessful, the user is capable of requesting retransmission from the server 148 to the second document processing device 122. Thus, at step 814, login data is received from the user via a thin client interface, including data representing the document of the facsimile transmission. That is, the user logs onto the server 148 via a thin client interface, e.g. web-browser, operable on the user device 140 of mobile user device 144. Update data is then received at step 816 from the user via the thin client interface. Thereafter, a facsimile retransmission of the document, an electronic mail transmission of the document, or a storage of the document is commenced by the server 148 at step 818 based upon the received update data.
Referring now to
At step 906, address data is received from the user corresponding to the destination, e.g. intended recipient, of the facsimile transmission. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that such address data includes, for example and without limitation, a facsimile telephone number, a recipient device address, or the like. The skilled artisan will further appreciate that such address data is capable of being received via user input from the user interface 106, the kiosk 114, from an address database of the data storage device 110, from address information retrieved from the server 148, or the like. For example purposes only, reference is made hereinafter with respect to
At step 910, the controller 108 or other suitable component associated with the document processing device 104 then calculates and assesses a fee associated with the facsimile transmission requested by the associated user. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that such fee is capable of being paid by the user via credit card, debit card, pre-paid account, billing account, or the like. The controller 108 or other suitable component associated with the document processing device 104 then generates, at step 912, a receipt corresponding to the assessed fee. The skilled artisan will appreciate that such receipt is capable of being issued by the server 148 and communicated to the user via the first document processing device 104, an electronic mail account associated with the user, or the like.
The server 148 or other suitable device coupled to the computer network 120 then monitors the facsimile transmission at step 914 so as to determine, at step 916, whether the facsimile transmission was successfully completed. That is, the server 148 attempts to communicate the document to the second document processing device 122 as a facsimile transmission in accordance with the address data received from the first document processing device 104. Upon a determination at step 916 that the facsimile transmission has been successfully completed, flow proceeds to step 918. At step 918, the server 148 or other suitable component monitoring the facsimile transmission then generates a notification message to the associated user inclusive of information relative to the successful transmission of the document. In accordance with one embodiment of the subject application, the server 148 generates an electronic mail message, a text message, or the like and communicates this message to the user device 140, the mobile user device 144, a cellular telephone associated with the user, or the like.
Upon a determination at step 916 that the facsimile transmission failed, flow proceeds to step 920. At step 920, a notification message is generated to the user inclusive of information relative to the failure of the facsimile transmission. According to one embodiment of the subject application, the server 148 or other suitable component associated with the system 100 generates an electronic mail message, an instant message, a text message, or the like to the user device 140, the mobile user device 144, or the like indicating that the facsimile transmission of the document was not successful.
Login data is then received from the associated user at step 922 that includes data associated with the document. Preferably, the login data is received via a thin client interface operable on the user device 140, the mobile user device 144, or the like, such as a web browser. The server 148 receives such login data at step 922 and a determination is made at step 924 as to whether the user has selected retransmission of the facsimile. When the user desires to retransmit the facsimile, flow proceeds to step 932, whereupon corrected address data is received from the user via the thin client interface of the user device 140 or mobile user device 144. Retransmission of the facsimile is then commenced by the server 148 in accordance with the corrected address data at step 934. Operations then return to step 914, whereupon the server 148 or other suitable device coupled to the computer network 102 monitors the facsimile transmission as set forth in greater detail above.
Upon a determination at step 924 that retransmission is not selected by the user, flow proceeds to step 926. At step 926, a determination is made as to whether the user has elected to electronically mail the document or store the document. That is, the user is presented with the ability to electronically mail the document to a desired recipient instead of faxing the document, or storing the document on the server 148 without transmitting the document. Preferably, the user is capable of selecting such an operation via the thin client interface operable on the user device 140 or the mobile user device 144. In the event that the user selects the electronic mail or storage operations, flow proceeds to step 928, whereupon the server 148 communicates the document to a designated mail addressee or stores the document on the data storage device 150 in accordance with the user instructions. The skilled artisan will appreciate that storage is also capable of being accomplished via the data storage device 110, the data storage device 128, or other such data storage device. Upon a determination at step 926 that the user has not selected an electronic mail or storage operation, flow proceeds to step 930. At step 930, a refund of the assessed fee is generated to the user in accordance with the failed facsimile transmission. Thereafter, operations with respect to
The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the subject application has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the subject application to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the subject application and its practical application, to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to use the subject application in various embodiments and with various modifications, as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the subject application as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.
