Configurable document server

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10587772-B2
Application number	US-201614992880-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2016
Priority date	Aug 2, 2006
Publication date	Mar 10, 2020
Grant date	Mar 10, 2020

Abstract

A configurable document server is described. In some embodiments, the configurable document server can enable administrators to set an option that prevents documents from being routed to users when the configurable document server experiences some types of errors. When the configurable document server determines that such an error condition exists, it may prevent the routing of the corresponding document. By preventing documents causing errors from being routed, the configurable document server enables administrators to improve the accuracy of document workflow and thereby improve productivity of users.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of routing documents in a network environment, the method comprising:
receiving a transmitted document at a document server after the document has been transmitted by a sender of the document, wherein the document server is distinct from the sender and an intended recipient; and
after the document has been transmitted by the sender and received at the document server;
determining by the document server integrated with workflow operations, the workflow operations comprising multiple workflow steps, actions or tasks according to specified workflow requirements and embodied on a server machine, whether an error condition exists in association with the transmitted document received at the document server based on error detection made by a facsimile board, facsimile software, or a hardware or software component connected to the document server, in association with receipt of the transmitted document at the document server by the facsimile board, facsimile software, or a hardware or software component;
if an error condition exists, the document server determining whether a configuration option is set to prevent routing of the received document on error;
if the configuration option is not set to prevent routing on error, the document server routing or forwarding the received document to a target over a network; and
if the configuration option is set to prevent routing on error, the document server invoking a routine, the routine preventing the received document from being routed or forwarded to an intended recipient and causing the performance of at least one of:
notifying a workflow process involving the document,
suspending the workflow process relating to the document, or
archiving a workflow task involving the document.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
routing the document to an administrator when the configuration option is set to prevent rowing on error and an error condition exists.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the target is determined based on metadata, document type, or other attributes relating to the document.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the target comprises a public switched telephone network (PSTN), another document server, a board server, a document transport module, a multi-function device, a network service, or a network device.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an error condition exists when the document could not be converted from one format to another, when a facsimile transmission error occurs, or when another error condition relating to the document server occurs.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the document comprises an email, a voice message, a scanned document, or a facsimile message.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the document enters the document server after the document is scanned.

8. A system for routing documents in a network environment, the system comprising:
a document server integrated with workflow operations, the workflow operations comprising multiple workflow steps, actions or tasks according to specified workflow requirements and embodied on a server machine, the document server configured for:
receiving a transmitted document after the document has been transmitted by a sender of the document, wherein the document server is distinct from the sender and an intended recipient:
after the document has been transmitted by the sender and received at the document server:
determining whether an error condition exists in association with the transmitted document received at the document server based on error detection made by a facsimile board, facsimile software, or a hardware or software component connected to the document server, in association with receipt of the transmitted document at the document server by the facsimile board, facsimile software, or a hardware or software component;
if an error condition exists, determining whether a configuration option is set to prevent routing of the received document on error;
if the configuration option is not set to prevent routing on error, routing or forwarding the received document to a target over a network; and
if the configuration option is set to prevent routing on error, invoking a routine, the routine preventing the received document from being routed or forwarded to an intended recipient and causing the performance of at least one of:
notifying a workflow process involving the document,
suspending the workflow process relating to the document, or
archiving a workflow task involving the document.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the document server is further configured for routing the document to an administrator when the configuration option is set to prevent routing on error and an error condition exists.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the target is determined based on metadata, document type, or other attributes relating to the document.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the target comprises a public switched telephone network (PSTN), another document server, a board server, a document transport module, a multi-function device, a network service, or a network device.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein an error condition exists when the document could not be converted from one format to another, when a facsimile transmission error occurs, or when another error condition relating to the document server occurs.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the document comprises an email, a voice message, a scanned document, or a facsimile message.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the document enters the document server after the document is scanned.

15. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions translatable by a server machine embodying a document server for routing documents and integrated with workflow operations, the workflow operations comprising multiple workflow steps, actions or tasks according to specified workflow requirements, the server machine operating in a network environment, the instructions when translated by the server machine;
receiving a transmitted document after the document has been transmitted by a sender of the document wherein the document server is distinct from the sender and an intended recipient; and
after the document has been transmitted by the sender and received at the document server:
determine whether an error condition exists in association with the transmitted document received at the document server based on error detection made by a facsimile board, facsimile software, or a hardware or software component connected to the document server, in association with receipt of the transmitted document at the document server by the facsimile board, facsimile software, or a hardware or software component, the document server integrated with workflow operations;
if an error condition exists, determine whether a configuration option is set to prevent routing of the received document on error;
if the configuration option is not set to prevent routing on error, route or forward received the document to a target over a network; and
if the configuration option is set to prevent routing on error, invoking a routine, the routine prevent the received document from being routed or forwarded to an intended recipient and causing the performance of at least one of:
notifying a workflow process involving the document,
suspending the workflow process relating to the document, or
archiving a workflow task involving the document.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 ,

Assignees

• Open Text Sa Ulc

Inventors

• Webster Jason K
• Riedel Michael
• Hunt Jr Byron D
• Rebert Treber
• Isabelle Jonathan
• Harman William R

Classifications

• H04N1/0022

  involving facsimile protocols or a combination of facsimile protocols and computer data transmission protocols · CPC title

• H04N1/32427 Primary

  Optimising routing, e.g. for minimum cost · CPC title

• H04N1/32411

  Handling instructions for routing or relaying · CPC title

• H04N1/324

  intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange · CPC title

• H04N2201/0039

  Connection via a network · CPC title