Abstract: A method and apparatus for assisting delivery of fax documents over a value-added network, such as a store-and-forward network. If an initial delivery attempt is unsuccessful, the network automatically sends an e-mail to the sender of the fax document indicating the status of the fax delivery and reasons for the document's non-delivery. The sender of the fax is prompted to choose from selectable options included in the e-mail which provide instructions to resolve the delivery problem. Upon receipt of an e-mail response, the network automatically decodes the selected options and uses the chosen options to resend the fax document and automatically resolve the delivery problem.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 10, 1997
Date of Patent:
August 4, 1998
Assignee:
Unifi Communications, Inc.
Inventors:
Douglas J. Ranalli, Thomas P. Sosnowski, Robert Huebner
Abstract: An apparatus and method for qualifying telephone numbers for a telephone network according to whether the telephone network services the particular area associated with a dialed telephone number, and whether the dialed telephone number is associated with a particular type of terminal equipment. The method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: monitoring a telephone line for outgoing calls; intercepting an outgoing destination telephone number on the telephone line; comparing the outgoing destination telephone number to at least one destination telephone number stored in a database; making a connection between the telephone line and a selective telephone network if the outgoing destination telephone number matches the at least one stored destination telephone number; and making a connection between the telephone line and a standard telephone network if the outgoing destination telephone number does not match the at least one stored destination telephone number.