Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~ WO96110314 -1- PCT~S95/10569
1 METHOD OF CERTIFYING AN INFOR~ATION
2 CONTENT OF A TELEPHONIC EXCHANGE
3 Field of the Invention
4 The field of the invention relates to facsimile
machines and in particular to a means of certifying a facsimile
6 transmission.
7 Backqround
8 Facsimile (fax) machines and the fax transmissions
9 originating from such machines are known. Such machines are
typically used to transfer printed and graphical information over
ll great distances via a public switch telephone network (PSTN).
12 Within a fax machine the printed or graphical
13 information is typically converted into an electrical signal
14 using an optical scanner. A sheet of paper containing the
printed or graphical information is fed into a set of transport
16 devices (e.g. rollers) within the fax machines which transports
17 the sheet of paper past the optical scanner. The scanner rapidly
18 scans the width of the sheet transverse to a direction of
l9 movement as the sheet is transported past the scanner. A modem
within the fax machines converts the electrical signal from the
21 optical scanner into a variable frequency, electrical signal
22 typically in the audio range, for transmission through the PSTN.
23 At a fax receiver the variable frequency signal is
24 converted into a variable direct current (DC) voltage which is
then used to electostatically dispose a darkening agent (toner)
26 on a received fax sheet in such a manner as to recreate the image
27 detected by the scanner at the transmitting fax machines. The
28 toner is then fixed to the sheet by the application of heat, or
29 otherwise, to complete the process.
WO96/10314 ~ ~ 9 ~ ~ 8 ~ PCT~S9S/10569
1 To initiate a fax transmission an operator enters a
2 destination telephone number of the fax transmission and loads
3 the material to be faxed into a paper tray on the transmitting
4 fax machine. The transmitting faxthen scans the faxed material
into a memory in anticipation of transmission. Once the material
6 to ~e faxed is loaded into memory, the transmitting fax machine
7 seizes an interconnected telephone line and transmits the
8 destination telephone number to a controller within the PSTN.
9 The PSTN controller through a number of local and remote
telephone switches, interconnects the calling fax to a target
11 fax. A local PSTN controller notifies the target fax of the
12 incoming call by causing a telephone associated with the target
13 fax machine to ring. The target fax detects the electrical
14 pulses of the ringing, seizes the telephone line and establishes
a connection with the transmitting fax machine. The faxed
16 information is then transferred from the transmitting to target
17 fax machine. Upon completion of a transmission, a fax report is
18 printed by the transmitting fax machine listing, inter alia, a
19 target telephone number and number of pages transmitted.
While existing fax machines work well, the prior art
21 has taught that a fax machine can not be relied upon where proof
22 of delivery is required such as for notification of consumer
23 product safety hazards or certain types of court documents.
24 Where proof of delivery is required the prior art has taught that
the only al~ernative is certified U.S. Mail or hand delivery.
26 Because of the importance of certifying delivery of such
27 documents a need exists for a method of certifying fax
28 transmissions.
29 Obiects and Summarv of the Invention
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention
31 is to provide a method for using existing telephone apparatus and
32 equipment, but in an arrangement to enable the exchange of
33 electronic certified or registered telephonic transmissions
34 instead of the use of mailing systems for such purposes.
A further and more particular object of this present
36 invention is to provide the steps of a telephone "certified" or
Wo96tlO314 ~ 8 ~ PCT~S95/lOS69
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1 "registered" transmission system which enables the telephone
2 number of the recipient of the fax to be recorded along with the
3 time and date of the call and the contents of the fax
4 transmission itself.
A further and more specific ob~ect of the present
6 invention is to enable the transmission of a record of the fax
7 transmission to the initiator of the call.
8 These and other objects of the present invention are
9 provided in a method and apparatus of the present invention of
certifying delivery of a facsimile transmission. The method
11 includes the steps of detecting a facsimile transmission from an
12 originating fax machine to a destination facsimile machine,
13 receiving acknowledgement from the destination facsimile machine
14 that a page of the facsimile transmission was received, and
certifying delivery of the page by outputting a copy of the page
16 of the facsimile transmission with indicia of delivery printed
17 thereon.
18 Brief Descri~tion of the Drawinqs
19 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing transmitting and
receiving facsimile machines interconnected through a telephone
21 network having facsimile certification apparatus in accordance
22 with an embodiment of this invention;
23 FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a local telephone switch
24 and interconnected facsimile certification apparatus in
accordance with an embodiment of this invention;
26 FIG. 3 iS a block diagram of an alternate embodiment
27 under the invention;
2 8 FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the local switch and
29 certified hard copy printer of FIG. 3; and
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the controller and
31 controller and certified hard copy printer of FIG. 4.
W096/10314 ~ 6 PCT~S95/lOS69
1 Brief Descri~tion of a Preferred Bmbodiment
2 The solution to the problem of certifying fax
3 deliveries lies conceptually in interconnecting a fax printer for
4 certification of fax transmissions (certification fax receiver)
with a local telephone switch of the PSTN and printing a copy of
6 each page of the fax transmission along with an indicia of
7 delivery. The indicia of delivery may include a telephone number
8 of a destination fax machine, an indication that the faxed sheet
9 was properly delivered, and a time of document delivery.
An originating fax machine may request fax delivery
11 certification by a particular sequence of dialed digits. For
12 example, a controller of a local switch of the PSTN could be
13 programmed to recognize that where a character on a touch tone
14 phone such as a "#" were pressed twice followed by a telephone
number of a destination fax machine, that such sequence is to be
16 interpreted as a request for fax delivery certification.
17 The controller of the local switch upon receiving the
18 request for fax delivery certification would strip off the first
19 two characters (##) and thereafter handle call routing between
the originating and destination fax machine as under the prior
21 art. One difference, however, is that the certification fax
22 receiver would be added to the call connection under a technique
23 similar to three-party calling.
24 The indicia of delivery of a fax transmission is
information readily available to the controller of the local
26 switch. The telephone number of the destination fax machine is
27 received by the local switch controller during call set-up and
28 is retained in memory of the local switch controller. Time and
29 date are also available within the local switch controller as
part of call billing facilities. The acknowledgement of receipt
31 of a page of a fax transmission, on the other hand, is something
32 that the local switch controller obtains by monitoring the fax
33 transmission.
34 During a fax transmission, the originating fax
transmits information one line at a time until an end of page is
36 encountered at which time the receiving fax machine acknowledges
37 receipt of the page, or the originating fax re-transmits the
~ WO96110314 2 ~ ~ 9 ~ ~ ~ PCT/US9S/10569
--5--
1 page. Under an embodiment of the invention, the local switch
2 controller monitors the fax transmission for page receipt
3 acknowledgements. Upon receipt of a page acknowledgement the
4 certification fax receiver prints the indicia of delivery on a
locally printed reproduction of the fax page thereby certifying
6 delivery of the fax page.
7 FIG. l is a block diagram of a PSTN system showing the
8 fax certification feature in accordance with an embodiment of the
9 invention. As shown, an originating fax 10 is provided with a
telephone interconnect 20 between the originating fax 10 and a
11 local ~witch 12 of the PSTN. A destination fax 16 may be
12 interconnected directly to the same local switch 12 as the
13 originating fax 10 or be interconnected through a second local
14 switch 14 as shown in FIG. 1.
It is to be understood that local switches 12, 14 of
16 a PSTN each have a number of telephone interconnects 20, 24
17 depending on the size of the local switch 12, 14 and the number
18 of local subscribers 10, 16 in the geographic area of each local
19 switch 12, 14. It is also to be understood that local switches
12, 14 of a PSTN are interconnected through a number of trunk
21 groups were the trunk groups provide a means of exchanging
22 communicated information between a first local switch and other
23 local switches in other geographic areas. FIG. 1, in specific,
24 shows a first local switch 12 in a first geographic area
interconnected with a second local switch 14 in a second
26 geographic area through a particular trunk group 22.
27 Each trunk group 22 is made up of -a number of
28 communication channels that, within an integrated services
29 digital network (ISDN), may range from a basic rate interface
(BRI) (with very few channels and fairly low capacity) to the
31 larger Tl lines with capacities in excess of one Megabits per
~32 second. If local switches 12, 14 were of a fairly low capacity,
33 then the interconnecting trunk group 22 may be made up of one or
'34 more BRIs where each BRI consists of 2-B channels (typically used
for the exchange of subscriber traffic information at a rate of
36 64 kilo bits per second per channel) and l-D channel (used for
W096/10314 2 ~ 6 PCT~S9S/lOS69
--6--
1 the exchange of control information between switches at a rate
2 of 15 kilo bits).
3 FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the local switch 12 and
4 fax certification printer 18 of FIG. 1. As shown, the local
switch 12 has a matrix switch 26 and local switch controller 28.
6 During normal operation of the PSTN the local switch controller
7 28 periodically monitors local telephone interconnect 20 for call
8 requests. Upon receipt of a call request, the controller 28 by
9 reference to a called number received from the originating fax
machine 10 on a telephone interconnect 20 determines by reference
11 to a memory 30 that the target of the call request (destination
12 fax 16) may be accessed through a particular trunk group 22 and
13 local switch 14. To establish a connection between the
14 originating fax machine 10 and destination fax machine 16 the
local switch 12 of the originating fax machine 10 (requesting
16 switch 12) seizes a D channel of the trunk group 22 and transmits
17 an access request to the local switch 14 of the destination fax
18 machine 16 (destination switch 14). If the destination fax 16
19 is not occupied by a prior call (telephone interconnect 24 busy)
and a subscriber traffic channel (B channel) between the
21 requesting switch 12 and destination switch 14 is available, then
22 the destination switch 14 responds by transmitting an access
23 grant back to the requesting switch 12 identifying an allocated
24 traffic channel to be used during the fax transmission. The
destination switch 14 also signals the destination fax 16 of the
26 incoming call. When the destination fax 16 answers the call,
27 switch 14 connects telephone interconnect 24 wit.h the identified
28 traffic channel of the trunk group 22.
29 The controller 28 of the requesting switch 12, in
response to the access grant and to the destination fax answering
31 the call, directs the matrix switch 26 to provide an connection
32 between the allocated traffic channel of the trunk group 22 and
33 the telephone interconnect 20 of the originating fax 10.
34 Immediately after answering the call, the destination
fax 16 begins transmitting a connect tone. When the end-to-end
36 connection of the duplex channel between the originating fax 10
37 and destination fax 16 is completed, the originating fax 10
WO96/10314 ~ PCT~S9~/10569
--7--
1 answers the connect tone and a negotiation of fax transmission
2 protocol and transmission baud rate follows. Following
3 completion of set-up of originating fax 10 and destination fax
4 16, the transmission of the fax message may begin.
Where the call request received ~rom the originating
6 fax 10 contains a request for fax certification, the controller
7 28 of the requesting switch 12 also instructs the matrix switch
8 26 to provide a three-party connection among the telephone
9 interconnect 20 of the originating fax 10, the allocated traffic
channel of the trunk group 22 and the interconnect 30 of the
11 certification fax 18. During fax set-up the certification fax
12 18 by monitoring the exchange between the originating fax 10 and
13 destination fax 16 is set up substantially the same as the
14 destination fax 16.
Interconnect 30, under the invention, is in the nature
16 of a simplex connection allowing one-way transmission of fax data
17 to the certification fax. The certification fax is not allowed
18 to request a re-transmission of lost data from the originating
19 fax 10.
Since the certification fax does not participate in the
21 negotiation of fax protocol or speed and since the certification
22 fax must accommodate the capabilities of originating and
23 destination fax machines, the certification fax may be of a
24 somewhat greater level of sophistication than the originating or
destination fax machines. In all other regards, the
26 certification fax may be selected from any of a range of
27 commercially available fax machines.
28 Under an embodiment of the invention, provisions are
29 made to avoid printing the indicia of delivery on top of the
contents of each page o~ the fax transmission. Under such an
31 embodiment an oversize paper tray (e.g., for 17 inch by 23 inch
32 paper) is used to supply the certification fa~. The oversize
33 supply sheet is queued in a normal manner with the information
~34 of each page of the fax transmission printed at the top of the
oversized sheet within the certification fax machine. At the
36 output end of the certification fax machine an appropriate
37 printer (e.g. a laser printer) is provided for printing the
WO96/10314 ~ PCT~S9S/10569
1 indicia of delivery on the bottom of each oversized sheet.
2 Together, the certification fax machine and certification printer
3 comprise a certification fax printer 18 providing a degree of
4 reliability of delivery of fax transmissions not available from
other sources.
6 The certification printer is programmed in a known
7 manner to print the indicia of delivery in a non-interfering
8 location of the printed document certifying fax delivery. The
9 indicia of delivery are transferred to the certification printer
from the local switch controller 28 via an appropriate data
11 interface (e.g., RS232 or a LAN). The controller 28 may provlde
12 the indicia of delivery such as the telephone number of the
13 destination fax 16 based upon the destination telephone number
14 included in the original access request, or may query the
destination switch 14 over an appropriate D channel of the trunk
16 group 22 after each page of the fax transmission to determine
17 where that page of the fax transmission was sent for purposes of
18 providing additional certainty in the verification process.
19 Following completion of the documents certifying the
delivery of a fax transmission, copies of the document may be
21 sent via regular mail to the originating fax operator, with the
22 original documents held in secure storage. Holding the original
23 documents in an area of secure storage allows for a greater
24 reliability against alteration. Such a method also allows for
a fax certification system operator to later offer testimony in
26 a court of law, or otherwise, as to the methods used in
27 certification and to the reliability of such services.
28 In another embodiment of the invention, the
29 certification fax machine and certification printer are combined
into one device. Under such an embodiment a page of fax material
31 is compressed in size to occupy 3/4 of a standard size fax page
32 with indicia of delivery occupying the remaining 1/4 of the fax.
33 Data delivery to the certification fax under the embodiment is
34 accomplished through use of a data buf~er in series with the
interconnect 30 and with a data switch interposed between the
36 buffer and certification fax under the control of the controller
37 28. During transmission of a page of ~ax information the
~ W0 96/10314 ~ 8 ~ PCT/US9S/lOS69
_ g _
1 controller 28 instructs the data switch to pass fax information
2 from the buffer to the certification fax. When the controller
3 28 detects an end-of-page message from the originating fax 10 and
4 a page acknowledge message from the destination fax 16, the
controller 28 instructs the data switch to interrupt the transfer
6 of data from the buffer to the certification fax and, instead,
7 pass indicia of delivery from an output of the controller 26
8 while the buffer accumulates any new data from succeeding fax
9 pages. Once the data switch transfers the indicia of delivery
from the controller 28 to the certi~ication fax followed by a
11 locally generated end-of-page, which indicia is printed on the
12 bottom quarter of the fax page, the controller 28 again instructs
13 the data switch to pass data from the buffer.
14 In another embodiment of the invention, the fax
transmission is not printed immediately with indicia of delivery
16 associated with each page but, rather, the entire fax
17 transmission is stored as a common file with indicia associated
18 with the entire file stored in conjunction with the file as a
19 composite file. As with above embodiments, the composite file
is stored in a secure facility with a single summary page printed
21 after creation of the composite file and sent to the operator of
22 the originating fax machine for record keeping purposes. Should
23 a need arise for proof of delivery, the entire composite file is
24 printed upon demand.
In another embodiment, the invention is extended to
26 electronic mail (E-mail) systems operating upon PSTN. Under the
27 embodiment the controller 28 of the switch 12 detect-s the request
28 for such transmission through identifying digits using in
29 con~unction with a target address. An E-mail printer associated
with the switch 12 monitors the transmission through a three-
31 party connection. As above, indicia of delivery are printed on
32 a copy of the E-mail message (preferably in a different color).
33 Under another embodiment of the invention, a composite
'34 file is generated and stored within the originating fax machine
as a read-only file using well-known programming techniques. The
36 read-only file is generated using a randomly generated access
37 code known only to the originating fax machine and which machine
WO96/10314 ~ 8 ~ PCT~S9S/10569 ~
--10--
l allows for printing of the composite file with indicia on each
2 page or in summary form or, alternatively, allows for deletion
3 of the entire file under operator control.
4 In another embodiment of the invention, certification
of delivery is extended to information exchanged between two
6 parties communicating between an originating telephone and a
7 destination telephone (calling and called party) under a
8 multitude of formats (e.g., spoken words, dual tone multi-
9 frequency (DTMF), amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation
(FM), etc.). Since a telephone voice channel is typically
ll constructed to exchange signals in the audio range (i.e., 0-20
12 kHz) an audio recorder may be used to record exchanged
13 information along with indicia of delivery. The recorded
14 information may later be converted and transcribed to a visually
readable form along with the indicia of delivery.
16 Alternatively, the exchange information may be decoded
17 on-line using decoding devices that are well known in the art.
18 Where the information is exchanged verbally, a voice recognition
l9 unit may be used to drive a printer to provide a certi~ied hard
copy along with time and date of the information exchange. Where
21 the information is exchanged under a frequency modulated format,
22 a modem may be used. In general, a controller of a certified
23 hard copy delivery system recognizes the format of the
24 information exchange and allocates the resources to convert the
exchanged information into a ~orm (e.g., RS232) recognizable by
26 a printer.
27 FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the certified information
28 exchange system 50 in accordance with the invention. As with
29 previously described systems (i.e., FIG. l) an originating
telephone 52 requests information exchange certification by use
31 of a particular sequence of dialed digits. A controller 64 (FIG.
32 4) by reference to memory 68 recognizes the sequence as a request
33 for certification, strips off the certification request digits,
34 and forwards the re-formatted call request to a local switch 56
of the destination phone 58 for call set-up. The controller 64
36 also instructs the matrix switch 62 to establish a connection
~ WO96/10314 , ~ 6 PCT~S9S/10569
--11--
1 30a,30b between the certified hard copy delivery system 60 and
2 the duplex voice channel 20,22.
3 To eliminate confusion as to the source of certified
4 information, the duplex voice connection on voice paths 20 and
22 is divided into a first unidirectional (simplex) voice path
6 30a (i.e., from originating phone (calling party)) 52 to
7 destination phone (called party) 58 and a second unidirectional
8 (simplex) voice path 30b (i.e., from destination phone 58 to
9 originating phone 52). Dividing the duplex voice connection
20,22 as to source allows the source of the information presented
11 on the certified hard copy printout to be precisely identified.
12 Where an optional recorder 66 is used, the information
13 on the first and second unidirectional voice paths are stored on
14 a first and second recording channels with indicia of delivery
(e.g., time, originating and destination telephone numbers)
16 stored on a third recording channel. The indicia of delivery can
17 be stored on the third recording channel under a voice format
18 with the voice signal originating from a voice synthesizer (not
19 shown), within the controller 64. Alternatively, the
certification hard copy printing system 60 certifying an
21 information content of a telephonic exchange could be a secretary
22 listening to the channels and reducing the recorded information
23 to a certified hard copy.
24 Where the optional recorder 66 is not used (or is
simply used as a device for delaying, some inputs to the
26 certification hard copy delivery during periods of heavy use),
27 the delivery of the certified hard copy may be provided through
28 automated processes. Under the embodiment, decoding units such
29 as a voice recognition unit (VRU) 74 and modem 72 continuously
sample the first and second voice paths 30a,30b of the duplex
31 voice path 20,22 for communicated information. The controller
32 64, in turn, analyzes output buffers (not shown) of the VRU 74
33 and modem 72 for intelligible information (i.e., information that
34 the VRU 74 or modem 72 are able to decode). Where the controller
64 detects intelligible information, the controller transfers
36 such information either directly to the printer along with
W096/10314 ~ ~ PCT~S95/lOS69
l indicia of source (i.e., source phone or destination phone) or
2 to memory 76 for printout at a later time.
3 Under the invention, a certified printout of a
4 communicated exchange begins wi-th a page header listing
originating and destination telephone numbers and date and time
6 of_day. Transmissions (whether covering a portion of a page or
7 many pages) are always prefaced with a source identifier (i.e.,
8 originating or destination telephone) and the time the
9 transmission began. Pages are numbered with a non-repeatable
sequence number.
ll Specific embodiments of a novel system for
12 certification of an information context of a telephonic exchange
13 have been described for the purposes of illustrating the manner
14 in which the invention may be used and made. It should be
understood that the implementation of other variations and
16 modifications of the invention in its various aspects will be
17 apparent to those skilled in the art, and that the invention is
18 not limited to the specific embodiments described. It is
l9 therefore contemplated to cover by the present invention any and
all modifications, variations, or equivalents that fall within
21 the true spirit and scope of the basic underlying principles
22 disclosed and claimed herein.
