Title of Invention

METHOD FOR NOTIFYING ARRIVAL OF FAX DOCUMENTS

Abstract

This invention proposes a method for notification of arrival of fax documents comprising the steps of: configuring the notification; initiating the notification to the receiver; sending the notification to the recipient of the fax; where in the said notification involves notifying by sending the e-mail, notifying by sending the SMS, notifying by sending the alert messages on PC, notifying by sending the pager, notifying the group about the fax arrivals.

Full Text

FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to the filed of facsimile devices. Further, this invention relates to internet aware facsimile devices and PSTN devices. More particularly, this invention relates to a method for notification of arrival of fax documents. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART In the present facsimile devices, there is no mechanism built in the facsimile devices to indicate the arrival of faxes. In such circumstances, the user needs to keep waiting for the fax documents near the facsimile devices. The sender will have to intimate the receiver that the facsimile has been sent and only the delivery report is generated at the sender's end to indicate to the sender the status of the fax delivery. Further, if the user selects the option to receive the notification using the Group notification then it is not secure. Also, maintenance of the user database is huge, which can be substituted by adding more memory on the System. US patent no. 6,233,317 describes a multiple language electronic mail notification of received voice and/or fax messages. In this invention, when a subscriber of a messaging system receives a voice and/or fax message, an electronic mail message notifying the subscriber of the received message is composed in a language selected by the subscriber, and then sent to the subscriber's electronic mail address. A subscriber to the system can select one of a plurality of different languages in which the subscriber wishes to receive such e-mail notifications. The electronic mail address and an indication of the subscriber's selected language are contained in a subscriber database. Each subscriber can select a different one of the available languages. Such a capability is advantageous in a multiple language environment, and overcomes the problem associated with systems that are capable of generating such messages in only one language. In this a messaging system incorporating the multiple language e-mail notification features of the present invention comprises a voice and/or fax messaging apparatus, the aforementioned database, means for composing an electronic mail message in any one of a plurality of different languages selected by the subscriber, and a server for sending the electronic mail message to the subscriber's electronic mail address. The means for composing an electronic mail message in a subscriber selected language comprises an array having a plurality of columns, wherein each column of the array contains the words of a different one of the plurality of languages from which electronic mail messages can be constructed. The means for composing further comprises program code that selects the array column corresponding to the subscriber selected language, and then composes the electronic mail message from the words in that selected column. In that invention preferably, the array is generated from a flat file containing all of the words for each of the different languages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The primary object of the present invention is to invent a method for notification of arrival of fax documents. It is another object of the present invention to keep the centralized data for fax documents received whereby a report of statistics such as number of fax documents received, no. of pages, resolution, etc. can be generated. A further object of the present invention is to inform/notify the user about the arrival fax document so that the user can collect the documents immediately as result of which the documents are more secure and the user will be informed that he has received a fax document. Using the present method, the user will be notified on reception of facsimile document and also the user will be able to configure the Fax Machines as to the type of notification method he would like to use. Some of the notification methods considered in this invention are: e-mail notification, PC-alert messages, and news messages to the centralized servers, SMS or through pagers. The above invention can be achieved using different mechanisms which are explained in the following sections. The present invention also provides the facility to the sender to select for the notification method. This system provides a system for communicating or interacting with the user. Accordingly, the present invention explains a method for notification of arrival of fax documents comprising the steps of: (a) configuring the notification; (b) initiating the notification to the receiver; (c) sending the notification to the recipient of the fax; wherein the said notification involves (i) notifying by sending the e-mails; (ii) notifying by sending the SMS; (iii) notifying by sending the alert messages on PC; (iv) notifying by sending the pager; (v) notifying the group about the fax arrivals. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING Figure 1 illustrates a typical communication scenario between IAF and other devices. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood however that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. The following description and drawings are not to be construed as limiting the invention and numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention, as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art on how to make and/or use the invention. However in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention in detail. Structure of the System The present systems will have following new features: 1. Addition of the SMS System to the MFP devices for notification: In this art we will be adding the SMS delivery system which will deliver the SMS data from IP network to the Mobile or Wireless networks. 2. The Notification Mechanisms are added to the Fax over IP also for T.37 and T.38; please refer to the Method #1, 2 and 3 for more details of these mechanisms. 3. The selection of notification using the Web Ul and using the User Interface on the MFP is also provided. Operation of the Invention Figure 1 illustrates a typical communication scenario between IAF and other devices. The following are the different steps involved in the operation of the invention: 1. Receiver will configure the notification method and the notification information. Following are the different methods of notification: Notifying by sending the e-mails Notifying by sending the SMS Notifying by sending the alert messages on PC Notifying by sending the pager. Notifying the group about the fax arrivals 1. The receiver will select any one of the above methods for his notification. If he selects e-mail notification, then he will configure his e-mail ID with the fax device, if SMS then the mobile number will be configured, etc. 2. Whenever the fax documents are received by the receiving fax device it identifies whether the fax has received successfully or not. 3. The notification can also be if there are any errors or on successful reception of the fax documents. 4. The user can configure whether he needs the notification for error case or success cases, depending on this the fax machine will send the notification to the user. 5. The system administrator can also configure the fax device such that the device sends the information related to the fax documents arrived. a. The following information can be sent to the centralized servers, like From address (can be telephone number or IP address or Gateway IP address etc,) b. Number of pages received c. Resolution, color, text or images, etc. (the more information will be added) 6. System administrator can also configure the set of users or a group (a set of fax device users). If fax device is not able to identify that the fax document belongs to which received then the notification will be sent to the configured group. Here the configured group can be news groups, email group ID'S or SMS group ID. In this case it will send the sender information also so that the particular user who is waiting for the fax message can go & pick the fax document. The following section explains the different methods initiating the notification to the receiver. Method #1: Indication using Sub-Addressing 1. Whenever a facsimile message is sent using the Sub-Addressing mechanism [ITU-T defined T.38], then the Sub-address will be extracted from the receiver address. 2. Each of these Sub-Addresses is mapped to corresponding User Notification Information. 3. The User Notification Information will contain the following information: a. Notification Method b. Notify for [Success/Error/Failure] c. Notification details [Like E-mail ID, IP-address of a PC for the Alert Messages, Mobile Phone Number, Pager Number, etc] 4. For example the Sub addresses 5550555+3000. Here 3000 is the Sub-address which is similar to the extension. Method #2: Indication using "Non-Standard Commands" 1. By using non-standard commands of T.30, the notification information will be sent from the sender. 2. The receiver will use the information sent by non-standard commands and will be notified the receiver upon receiving the facsimile document. 3. The disadvantage is only the similar facsimile vendor devices can understand the non-standard commands. 4. In this case also the notification method can be any of the notification methods mentioned in the above section. 5. Here the Sender Machine sends indication to the receiving fax machine that indicates the fax arrival to the user. Method #3: Indication using OIS/DCS commands 1. Using DIS/DCS command identifies or initiates the notification to the receiver, receiver information can also be sent using the extension bits in the DIS command. For ex: a. Notification method is e-mail, then e-mail ID will be extracted from the receiver information. b. If notification method is paging, then the pager number will be extracted from the receiver information. c. Same for sending the SMS also 2. Otherwise the DIS/DCS commands can also contain the Extension or Sub-address of the particular user where in the detailed notifications are mapped. 3. The DIS/DCS commands can also contain the "User Name/Nick Name/Any String' (which identifies the receiver) which will be mapped to notification details. The present invention also provides for the following: 1. The System administrator can also configure the Fax Machine so that for each received fax message there will be an entry in the centralized servers. 2. The details of the information can be "receiver name", "no of received pages", "color or black & white", "text or image" etc. 3. The above will helps in generating the different kinds of statistics. 4. The notification method can also be configured as a Group Notification. In this case all the users who are registered in that group receive the notification or alert messages. a. The message information can contain the "sender name/lp address/destination address", no. of pages, or subject information if any. So that if any of the user expecting any fax from that particular sender then that user will collect the fax documents from the Facsimile Devices. The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. Although the invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments thereof, these embodiments are merely illustrative, and not restrictive of the invention. For example, a receiver device can also include other elements such as copier, printer, disk drives etc. Memory also contains additional information such as applications programs, network, communication programs, operating system software data etc. Although the printing the facsimile data is done by exchanging the capabilities between both the devices, namely, sender and receiver and the supporting print server which have been described, it should be apparent that other methods and types of printing can be provided. In the description herein, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of components and/or methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that an embodiment of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other apparatus, systems, assemblies, methods, components, materials, parts, and/or the like. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not specifically shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments of the present invention. A "processor" or "process" includes any human, hardware and/or software system, mechanism or component that processes data, signals or other information. A processor can include a system with a general-purpose central processing unit, multiple processing units, dedicated circuitry for achieving functionality, or other systems. Processing need not be limited to a geographic location, or have temporal limitations. For example, a processor can perform its functions in "real time,' "offline," in a "batch mode," etc. Portions of processing can be performed at different times and at different locations, by different (or the same) processing systems. A "computer-readable medium" for purposes of embodiments of the present invention may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, system or device. The computer readable medium can be, by way of example only but not by limitation, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, system, device, propagation medium, or computer memory. Embodiments of the invention may be implemented by using a programmed general purpose digital computer, by using application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic devices, field programmable gate arrays, optical, chemical, biological, quantum or nano-engineered systems, components and mechanisms may be used. In general, the functions of the present invention can be achieved by any means as is known in the art. Distributed or networked systems, components and circuits can be used. Communication, or transfer, of data may be wired, wireless, or by any other means. It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted in the drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more separated or integrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application. It is also within the spirit and scope of the present invention to implement a program or code that can be stored in a machine-readable medium to permit a computer to perform any of the methods described above. Additionally, any signal arrows in the drawings/Figures should be considered only as exemplary, and not limiting, unless otherwise specifically noted. Furthermore, the term "or" as used herein is generally intended to mean "and/or" unless otherwise indicated. Combinations of components or steps will also be considered as being noted, where terminology is foreseen as rendering the ability to separate or combine is unclear. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, "a", "an", and "the" includes plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed herein. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes only, various equivalent modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate. As indicated, these modifications may be made to the present invention in light of the foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention and are to be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of embodiments of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth. Therefore, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the essential scope and spirit of the present invention. It is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular terms used in following claims and/or to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include any and all embodiments and equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims. GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND THEIR DEFINITIONS IAF Internet Aware Facsimile Device IP Internet Protocol PSTN public switched telephone network SMS Short Messaging Service T30 ITU-T Recommendation Procedure for exchanging the fax between 2 endpoint in PSTN T38 ITU-T Recommendation Procedure for exchanging the fax between 2 endpoint in IP network (using T38 gateways) ITU-T International Telecommunication Union - Telecommunication WE CLAIM 1. A method for notification of arrival of fax documents comprising the steps of: (a) configuring the notification; (b) initiating the notification to the receiver; (c) sending the notification to the recipient of the fax; wherein the said notification involves (i) notifying by sending the e-mails; (ii) notifying by sending the SMS; (iii) notifying by sending the alert messages on PC; (iv) notifying by sending the pager; (v) notifying the group about the fax arrivals. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein configuring the notification method is done by the sender. 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein configuring the notification method is done by the receiver. 4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein configuring the notification method is done by a system administrator. 5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the notification mechanisms are applied to the Facsimile over Internet Protocol (IP). 6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein for notification through SMS, the SMS delivery system deliver the SMS data from IP network to the Mobile or Wireless networks. 7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein configuration of notification is done using the Web User Interface (Ul). 8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein configuration of notification is done using User Interface on the facsimile device. 9. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein if notification is by e-mail, the e-mail ID of the recipient is configured with the facsimile device. 10. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein if notification is by SMS, the mobile number of the recipient is configured with the fax device. 11. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein if notification is by alert messages on PC the IP-address of a PC for the Alert messages is configured with the fax device. 12. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein if notification is by pager, the pager number of the recipient is configured with the fax device. 13. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the notification is generated on an error or on successful reception of the fax documents. 14. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein sending the notification to the recipient involves sending the information of telephone number of the sender. 15. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein sending the notification to the recipient involves sending the information of IP address or Gateway IP address of the sender. 16. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein sending the notification to the recipient involves sending the information of number of pages received. 17. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein sending the notification to the recipient involves sending the information of resolution and/or color of the received document. 18. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein sending the notification to the recipient involves sending the information of the type of the document whether text or image. 19. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein configuration of notification done by system administrator involve configuring the set of users or a group wherein if the fax device is not able to identify that the fax document belongs to which recipient then the notification is sent to the configured group. 20. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the configured group can be news groups, email group ID'S or SMS group ID. 21. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein initiating the notification to the receiver involves indication using Sub-Addressing. 22. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein initiating the notification to the receiver involves indication using "Non-Standard Commands". 23. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein initiating the notification to the receiver involves indication using DIS/DCS commands. 24. A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the Sub-address will be extracted from the receiver address when a facsimile message is sent using the Sub-Addressing mechanism. 25. A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein each of the Sub-Addresses is mapped to corresponding User Notification Information. 26. A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the User Notification Information contain the following information such as Notification Method, success, error, failure delivery notification and notification details such as email-id, IP address, Mobile number, pager number. 27. A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the receiver uses the information sent by non-standard commands and notify the receiver upon receiving the facsimile document. 28. A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the Sender Machine sends indication to the receiving fax machine that indicates the fax arrival. 29. A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein, receiver information is sent using the extension bits in the DIS command. 30. A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein if notification method is e-mail, then e-mail ID is extracted from the receiver information. 31. A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein if notification method is paging, then the pager number is extracted from the receiver information. 32. A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein if notification method is SMS, then the phone number is extracted from the receiver information. 33. A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein DIS/DCS commands contain the Extension or Sub-address of the particular user where in the detailed notifications are mapped. 34. A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein DIS/DCS commands contain the "User Name/Nick Name/Any String" which identifies the receiver which is mapped to notification details. 35. A method for notification of arrival of fax documents substantially as herein described particularly with reference to the drawings.

Documents:

158-CHE-2005 AMENDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION 31-07-2013.pdf

158-CHE-2005 AMENDED CLAIMS 31-07-2013.pdf

158-CHE-2005 EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECEIVED. 02-07-2013.pdf

158-CHE-2005 AMENDED CLAIMS 02-07-2013.pdf

158-CHE-2005 AMENDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION 02-07-2013.pdf

158-CHE-2005 EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECEIVED 31-07-2013.pdf

158-CHE-2005 FORM-1 02-07-2013.pdf

158-CHE-2005 FORM-13 02-07-2013.pdf

158-CHE-2005 FORM-5 02-07-2013.pdf

158-CHE-2005 OTHER PATENT DOCUMENT 02-07-2013.pdf

158-CHE-2005 POWER OF ATTORNEY 02-07-2013.pdf

158-CHE-2005 POWER OF ATTORNEY 31-07-2013.pdf

158-CHE-2005 ABSTRACT.pdf

158-CHE-2005 CLAIMS.pdf

158-CHE-2005 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS.pdf

158-CHE-2005 DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

158-CHE-2005 DRAWINGS.pdf

158-CHE-2005 FORM 1.pdf

158-CHE-2005 FORM 13 09-06-2006.pdf

158-CHE-2005 FORM 18 04-12-2007.pdf

158-CHE-2005 POWER OF ATTORNEY.pdf