(12) United States Patent
`Merritt et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,421,429 B1
`Jul. 16, 2002
`
`US006421429B1
`
`(54) NETWORK-BASED SYSTEM ENABLING
`IMAGE COMMUNICATIONS
`
`Inventors; Andrew C, Merritt, Basking
`Kenneth H_ Rosen, Middletown, both
`of NJ (Us)
`
`(73) Assignee; AT&T Corporation, New York, NY
`(Us)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/040,719
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Mar. 18, 1998
`
`Related US Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 08/636,200, ?led on
`Apr. 22, 1996, now abandoned, which is a continuation of
`application No- 08/175702: ?led on Dec- 2: 1993: HOW
`abandoned'
`(51) Int. Cl.7 ............................................. .. H04M 11/00
`(52) US. Cl. .............................. .. 37 9/9317; 379/93.15;
`379/1()()_13
`(58) Field of Search ....................... .. 379/9315, 100.13,
`379/8813, 8814, 10008, 10009, 9308;
`707/523’ 526
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,287,199 A * 2/1994 Zoccolillo ............ .. 379/100.13
`5,333,266 A * 7/1994 BoaZ et a1. ............ .. 379/93.15
`5,406,557 A * 4/1995 Baudoin ................ .. 379/93.15
`5,459,775 A * 10/1995 ISOIlO 618.1. ............ .. 379/93.15
`5,524,137 A * 6/1996 Rhee ........... ..
`379/100.13
`5,740,231 A * 4/1998 Cohn et a1. ......... .. 379/9301
`5,872,926 A * 2/1999 Levac et a1.
`379/100.13
`6,119,137 A * 9/2000 Smith et a1. .............. .. 707/523
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Stella W00
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Morgan & Finnegan, L.L.P.
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`
`_
`_
`_
`_
`_
`_
`_
`A system is disclosed WhlCh enables a multitude of d1ss1m1
`lar end-system devices, appliances, and platforms to inter
`change image information. The inventive method utilizes a
`directory database of end-user pro?les> a Session manager> a
`conversion manager, individual conversation processors, a
`queuing database, and a store-and-forWard ?le-folder data
`base. The system accommodates pre-subscribed end-users
`as Well as non-subscription users. The system handles both
`real-time and store-and-forward Communications modes
`The present invention may be practiced as either a one-node
`or a multi-node distributed architecture, Scalable as required,
`and may be either network-based or premises-based, or a
`hybrid combination of these. Communications transport
`both into and out of the node(s) can range from voiceband
`telephone on analog circuits to high speed channel or
`fact-packet protocol communications modes.
`
`5,091,931 A * 2/1992 Milewski ............. .. 379/100.13
`
`25 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`IMAGE CALL ORIGINATION
`CALLING
`DEV|CE(S)
`
`IMAGE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
`OVERALL CONFIGURATION
`
`IMAGE CALL TERMINATION
`CALLED
`DEV|CE(S)
`
`ORIGINATING
`
`TERMINATING
`
`10
`
`[22
`IMAGE COMMUNICATIONS
`SESSION MANAGER
`II
`[26
`
`IMAGE FORMAT
`IMAGE
`AND
`PROFILE
`PROTOCOL CONVERSION
`DATABASE
`CONTROL PROCESSOR
`r271 / I /272\ [271 |
`CONVERSION
`CONVERSION
`CONVERSION
`
`SESSION
`STORAGE
`
`PROCESSOR
`
`PROCESSOR - - - - ' PROCESSOR
`
`I
`
`1
`
`AT&T - Exhibit 1005
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 16, 2002
`
`Sheet 1 0f 9
`
`US 6,421,429 B1
`
`FIG. 1A
`NETWORK-BASED IMAGE PRoTocoL
`AND
`FILE FORMAT DATABASE
`
`f '3
`CALLING
`PARTY
`
`f 12
`NETWORK-BASED
`IMAGE
`PROCESSING
`NODE
`
`,20
`CALLED
`PARTY
`
`|
`
`DATABASE INQUIRY
`FOR cALLED PARTY
`PREFERRED
`IMAGE PRoTocoL
`AND
`FILE FORMAT
`
`'
`
`A
`
`I
`
`,6
`/
`I
`NETWORK-BASED
`IMAGE
`CONVERSION
`SERVER
`
`DATABASE
`
`14
`
`2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 16, 2002
`
`Sheet 2 0f 9
`
`US 6,421,429 B1
`
`FIG. 1B
`
`J10!
`CALLER INITIATES
`IMAGE COMMUNICATION
`
`r103
`1
`COMMUNICATION ROIJTED
`TO NETWORK NODE
`
`1
`
`{105
`
`QUERY DATABASE FOR
`SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION
`
`YES
`
`107
`
`NO
`
`I 109
`CONVERT IMAGE
`
`[111
`1
`COMMUNICATE IMAGE
`TO DESTINATION
`
`3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 16, 2002
`
`Sheet 3 0f 9
`
`US 6,421,429 B1
`
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 16, 2002
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`US 6,421,429 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 16, 2002
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`US 6,421,429 B1
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 16, 2002
`
`Sheet 6 of 9
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`US 6,421,429 B1
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 16, 2002
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`Sheet 7 of 9
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`US 6,421,429 B1
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 16, 2002
`
`Sheet 8 0f 9
`
`US 6,421,429 B1
`
`9
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`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 16, 2002
`
`Sheet 9 0f 9
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`US 6,421,429 B1
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`
`US 6,421,429 B1
`
`1
`NETWORK-BASED SYSTEM ENABLING
`IMAGE COMMUNICATIONS
`
`This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.
`08/636,200, ?led Apr. 22, 1996, ABN Which is a continua
`tion of application Ser. No. 08/175,022, ?led Dec. 29, 1993,
`ABN.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates generally to a method for
`image communications, and more particularly, to a method
`and system for communicating images across a netWork
`among users With disparate end systems running potentially
`dissimilar image protocols and formats.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The problem of image ?le format compatibility has been
`an issue since the beginning of computer-based processing
`of even the most basic graphics. Each computer and soft
`Ware vendor developed a different approach to representa
`tion of graphics and images, often suited to a particular
`application area. For example, vendors of Word processing
`systems each developed their oWn approach for the repre
`sentation of pictorial information that could be incorporated
`in ?les generated by their platforms.
`As end users began to netWork microcomputers, ?rst over
`departmental local area netWorks, and then over Wider area
`netWorks, the problem of ?le format compatibility began to
`groW. Today, With the Widespread introduction of image,
`multimedia, and video systems, ?le format compatibility is
`a major issue in system development and operation.
`A number of solutions to this problem have been intro
`duced or proposed. At the applications level, ?le import and
`?le export functions have been added Which accommodate
`a feW formats that are different from the active format of the
`application platform itself. The second solution has been the
`introduction of softWare Which does nothing but convert one
`?le format to another. A third solution is to convert all ?les
`to an intermediary format, Which then can be used as the
`“universal language” among dissimilar systems, and then
`converted to a different native ?le format at a receiving
`end-user.
`These approaches have proved useful in and of them
`selves for a number of situations, but as imaging applica
`tions become more prevalent, image processing softWare
`continues to evolve, image communications becomes more
`feasible over a Wider range of system applications, and
`concomitantly as the need for and use of image communi
`cations increases, it becomes ever more dif?cult and costly
`for users to maintain updated premises softWare. Further, the
`requirement of converting betWeen a multitude of formats
`and protocols serves as an impediment to Widespread access
`and use of image communications.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention overcomes the above, and other,
`limitations by providing a system Which enables a multitude
`of dissimilar end-system devices, appliances, and platforms
`to interchange image information. In an embodiment of the
`present invention, a netWork-based image processing system
`includes a netWork-based data base Which holds pro?les of
`the end users. The pro?les typically include the capabilities
`of the end systems of the subscribing end users for storing,
`processing, and displaying images, preferably including the
`acceptable and preferred image protocols, compression
`
`10
`
`15
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`2
`methods, and image formats for each user. Acommunication
`of an originating image from a calling party to a called party
`is diverted to the netWork-based image processing system.
`The netWork-based image processing system ascertains
`Whether the originating image ?le format and protocol
`matches the called party preferred ?le format and protocol,
`Which is stored in the data base. If there is no match, the
`processing system appropriately converts the originating
`image ?le to the format and protocol of the called party. The
`image ?le is then communicated to the called party. A
`handshake-like exchange may be used to enable image
`communications of parties that are not subscribers and do
`not have pro?les in the database. In a further embodiment,
`the netWork-based nodal image processing system provides
`for ?le return to the called party. The method and system of
`the present invention may be applied in systems ranging
`from local premises-based communications to Wide area
`communications on either private or public netWorks.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The invention Will be described in greater detail beloW by
`Way of reference to the accompanying draWings, Wherein:
`FIG. 1A shoWs a generic con?guration of an image
`communication system in accordance With practicing the
`present invention;
`FIG. 1B is an operational ?oW chart of an exemplary
`process for image communications, in accordance With the
`present invention;
`FIG. 2 shoWs a con?guration of an image communication
`system in accordance With practicing the present invention;
`and
`FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6
`illustrate different information How sequences in accordance
`With practicing the present invention for the system depicted
`in FIG. 2.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`FIG. 1A diagrams a generic system con?guration in
`accordance With practicing the present invention, and is not
`limited to any particular netWork, but may represent for
`example, a private/premises-based netWork, or a public
`netWork such as a public sWitched telecommunications
`netWork (PSTN). As shoWn in FIG. 1A, a netWork-based
`image communications processing system 10 includes an
`image processing node 12, a database 14, and an image
`conversion server 16. Preferably, the database 14 maintains
`information for image service subscribers. As understood by
`one skilled in the art, such a system may be implemented as
`either a one-node or a multi-node distributed architecture,
`scalable as required, and may be either netWork-based or
`premises-based, or a hybrid combination of these. In a
`multi-node distributed architecture, preferably a plurality of
`image processing nodes 12, each Which supports the image
`communications protocol, Would access a centraliZed data
`base 14, While a separate image conversion server 16
`preferably Would be located at each node and be accessible
`to other nodes via a gateWay or bridge. If the netWork Were
`to represent the AT&T interexchange netWork, for example,
`in addition to other possible netWork elements that are
`knoWn to one skilled in the art, such a node may be
`implemented in accordance With one or more of the folloW
`ing elements: an adjunct processor
`(e.g., a netWork
`services complex “NSCx”), a netWork sWitch (e.g., 4ESS or
`5ESS), and a service control point (SCP) (e.g., a netWork
`control point “NCP”). Such elements are Well knoWn in the
`
`11
`
`

`
`US 6,421,429 B1
`
`10
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`3
`art, as is their adaptation for implementing functions and
`services. As understood by one skilled in the art, overall
`system requirements Will affect the preferred physical imple
`mentation of a netWork-based image communications
`system, and there are many variations and adaptations
`Within the purvieW of the present invention.
`In accordance With the present invention, FIG. 1B illus
`trates an operational ?oWchart for a method of image
`communications. In step 101, a calling party 18 initiates an
`image communication to called party 20. This communica
`tion arrives at the netWork image processing node 12 (step
`103), and the originating party’s sending ?le format and
`protocol is compared to the preferred pro?le for the termi
`nating party through a look-up procedure in the netWork
`based database 14 (step 105). Next, in step 107, if the
`originating and terminating ?le formats match, then a direct
`communications channel (e. g., virtual circuit or direct circuit
`sWitched) is established betWeen the respective parties (step
`111). If the originating and terminating image ?le formats do
`not match, hoWever, then the netWork-based service Will
`invoke and attach image converter server 16 Which Will
`perform the necessary ?le format and protocol conversions
`(step 109), folloWed by establishing a connection to the
`called party (step 111) for communicating the converted ?le.
`The foregoing sequence of events may occur in real-time or
`may be implemented in a “store-and-forWard”
`communications, in Which the image data to be sent to the
`called party is temporarily stored Within the netWork, and
`forWarded to the called party at a later time. It is further
`understood that the netWork may determine the format and
`protocol of the calling party image either by looking up this
`information in the database 14 during communication setup,
`or directly from the image data transmission, using either
`in-band or out-of-band signaling.
`It is also understood that routing of the initial communi
`cations to the node in step 103 may occur in a variety of
`Ways depending on the type of netWork With Which the
`present invention is practiced, as Well as the communica
`tions protocol. For example, if the netWork is the AT&T
`netWork and the calling device includes a modem, for
`example, then nodal access may occur via sWitched access
`using, for example, an 800 number or other special access
`code, or via a direct-netWork connection. On the other hand,
`if the netWork is a private netWork, then a special access
`code also may be used or the communications protocol may
`include a means for indicating that the data to be commu
`nicated is image data.
`The present invention may further be understood With
`reference to the embodiment shoWn in FIG. 2, Which further
`illustrates elements of a nodal image communications
`system, and particularly a netWork-based image communi
`cations processing system 10, in accordance With practicing
`the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, at a netWork node,
`a number of discrete servers are netWorked on a data link
`such as an Ethernet or FDDI (i.e., ?ber distributed data
`interface) bus. As schematically depicted, more than one
`calling device 30 may access the netWork by any of a variety
`of means, including sWitched access or direct-netWork
`connection, and the netWork may connect to a called device
`40 by any of a similar variety of means. It is understood that
`the servers, schematically depicted in FIG. 2A, generally
`comprise one or more physical devices having hardWare
`and/or softWare to accomplish the herein described func
`tions. In a most basic implementation, a single netWork node
`includes all servers; more generally, the servers may be
`distributed as determined by existing or desired system
`architecture, desired system performance, etc. Preferably,
`each of the servers include the folloWing respective func
`tions.
`
`40
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`
`4
`The session manager server 22 provides for input/output
`queuing of image conversion requests, and for login and
`passWord management of the incoming (call originating)
`party. It also stores (queues) the incoming image ?le(s) until
`processing is required (e.g., conversion), as Well as the
`output ?le(s), Which may be either held in session storage
`device 28 for future store-and-forWard to the called party, or
`sent immediately after processing is completed. As an
`example of the types of hardWare and softWare that must be
`supported to implement these functions, the session manager
`server 22 includes modem banks, e-mail support softWare,
`interfaces to voice-mail, memory storage devices, one or
`more programmable computers or Workstations, program
`mable sWitches, etc.
`The pro?le database server 24 provides a platform for the
`Subscriber Pro?le Database. This database contains a multi
`parameter ?eld for each subscriber, the elements of Which
`describe the image ?le formats and protocols that can be
`accepted by this subscriber, as Well as the preferred ?le
`format and protocol.
`As may be appreciated, and as Will be more fully under
`stood beloW, from among the image ?le formats and/or
`protocols that can be accepted by the called party, the
`preferred ?le format and/or format indicated by accessing
`pro?le database server 24/Subscriber Pro?le Database (e.g.,
`step 105 of FIG. 1B) may depend on one or more of various
`parameters, including the calling party image ?le format and
`protocol, the type of image (e.g., medical image, black and
`White photograph, graphics, text, etc.), minimum acceptable
`quality (e.g., spatial resolution, color resolution, etc.) for a
`given image type and/or format, desired transmission time
`for a minimum acceptable quality, etc. Based on the relevant
`ones of such parameters, Which may be stored in the
`Subscriber Pro?le Database (netWork-based database 14)
`and/or obtained by querying the called party, netWork imag
`ing processing system 10 determines the preferred or opti
`mum image format and/or protocol from among the image
`?le formats and/or protocols that are supported by the called
`party. Such processing to determine the preferred ?le format
`may be logically implemented by using one or more look-up
`tables Which account for the possible combinations of these
`parameters, and may be appropriately partitioned in various
`Ways betWeen or among various elements of netWork image
`processing system 10, including image processing node 12
`and database 14 of FIG. 1A, or session manager 22, image
`pro?le database 24, and control processor 26 of FIG. 2.
`For instance, each pro?le in the Subscriber Pro?le Data
`base of image pro?le database 24 may be structured itself as
`a look-up table logically indexed by such parameters, such
`that the preferred format and/or protocol is directly elicited
`by querying the Subscriber Pro?le Database (netWork-based
`database 14) and is dependent on such parameters as pro
`vided (explicitly or as a coded index) by session manager 22
`(netWork image processing node 12) to pro?le database 24
`for accessing the Subscriber Pro?le Database. In such an
`implementation, session manager 22 or pro?le database 24
`may appropriately generate from the parameters an index
`used to access the look-up table of the Subscriber pro?le
`database. In an alternative implementation of the partition
`ing betWeen netWork session manager 22 (and/or control
`processor 26, or generally image processing node 12 of FIG.
`1A) and pro?le database server 22/Subscriber Pro?le Data
`base (or generally netWork-based database 14 of FIG. 1A) of
`the processing required to determine the preferred format
`and/or protocol, each pro?le may store information identi
`fying the supported formats and/or protocols and preferably
`also other user-speci?c parameters or preferences (e.g.,
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`maximum transmission time for certain image types, pre
`ferred default format and/or protocol, etc.), and pro?le
`database server 24 and/or session manager 22 and/or control
`processor 26 may implement a routine (e.g., using look-up
`tables indexed by the accessed pro?le information) to deter
`mine the preferred format and/or protocol as a function of
`one or more of the above parameters (i.e., format and/or
`protocol of the originating image, image type, etc.) and the
`information accessed from the given pro?le of the Sub
`scriber Pro?le Database (i.e., available or acceptable image
`?le formats and/or protocols supported by the called party,
`and any other user preferences, etc.).
`The image ?le format conversion server converts the
`calling party image ?le to the acceptable or preferred image
`?le format of the called party, depending on the option(s)
`selected by the calling party. This server preferably includes
`conversion control processor 26 and one or more conversion
`processors 271, 272 .
`.
`. 27”. Additional image servers may
`provide other services, such as Image Catalog, Optical
`Character Recognition, Archiving, image enhancement, face
`recognition, image transformation (e.g., special effects,
`color changes, etc.), Image Transaction Processing such as
`conversion to EDI (Electronic Data Interchange, CCITT X.
`12 Standard) or to batch data ?les for host entry, image
`groupWare and image Work?oW, and bridging for image
`conferencing. Such applications may be provided by com
`mercial application programs eXecuted by the servers, or
`special purpose application softWare and hardWare may be
`developed as necessary. As can be appreciated by one skilled
`in the art, the nodal service permits a large library of image
`processing softWare to be maintained and shared economi
`cally by many users.
`In addition, the nodal image communications system may
`include other servers for providing additional functionality
`and services. For instance, an e-mail con?rmation-back
`server may be used for sending out an e-mail message to the
`calling party regarding the disposition of the image being
`sent to the called party. Namely, that a ?le conversion Was
`needed, Was executed successfully, Was forWarded to the
`calling party, and Was received (?le accessed) by the calling
`party. Also, as an adjunct or alternative to the e-mail
`con?rmation-back server, a voice-mail con?rmation-back
`server may inform the calling party of the same or similar
`actions, but through voice-mail messaging.
`The nodal image communications system also preferably
`includes a gateWay/bridge for connection to other netWork
`nodes Which also provide netWork-based image processing.
`Such gateWays provide for load distribution and balancing,
`but also for some specialiZed image processing services. The
`gateWays may also connect to eXternal systems.
`In addition to the above Server functions, there are several
`access modes for the image nodal processor depicted in FIG.
`1A. A preferred implementation is access from a PC or
`Workstation, utiliZing a protocol such as TCP/IP
`(Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). This
`access could be through a router/hub interface or directly
`from the Workstation utiliZing softWare such as SLIP (Serial
`Line Interface Protocol). At the loW end, access into the
`nodal server is via a FAX/modem, in CCITT (ITU) Group 3
`?le format. In this case, there Would preferably be provided
`an audio response unit Which receives multifrequency tone
`(e. g., DTMF) entries from the calling party, and issues voice
`messages that elicit these tone responses. Whatever the
`access into the nodal server, these various front-end imple
`mentations pass ?les to the session manager 22.
`In accordance With the present invention, image commu
`nication preferably occurs in one of tWo modes—the real
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`time mode or the store-and-forWard mode. Real time implies
`that once the image data is transmitted from the calling
`device, there is no storage of the image data, or its
`derivatives, for transmission at a predetermined later time.
`In contrast, in the store-and-forWard mode ?les converted at
`the node are held at the node until a predetermined later time
`at Which they are sent to the designated called party.
`Designating one of these modes may be an option available
`to the caller, although the netWork itself may determine the
`mode according to factors such as traf?c and/or queue
`conditions on the netWork, and the amount of image pro
`cessing required. In addition, the store-and-forWard mode
`may be the default mode, or presented to the caller as an
`option, When a connection cannot be made to the called
`party (e.g., busy signal). Also, the mode may be designated
`as a preferred mode of reception option that is speci?ed by
`a subscriber and stored in the image pro?le database.
`The present invention, and the foregoing system elements
`and their related functions, may be better understood With
`reference to FIGS. 3A—6 Which further illustrate nodal
`image communications according to the present invention.
`FIG. 3A illustrates the signaling Which occurs When a calling
`subscriber 30 initiates an image communication With an
`image ?le match to the called device 40, and Wherein the
`communication occurs in real time. Such a call may be
`initiated via in-band or out-of-band signaling, and is routed
`to the image nodal processor (e.g., a netWork node). The
`image communications session manager 22 accesses the
`image pro?le database 24 to ascertain Whether the originat
`ing image format and protocol matches that used or pre
`ferred by the called device. In this instance, since there is a
`match, the image communications session manager 22
`establishes a connection betWeen the calling device 30 and
`the called device 40, and the image is transmitted according
`to the predetermined transmission protocol using the origi
`nating image format.
`FIG. 3B illustrates the signaling Which occurs When a
`calling subscriber initiates an image communication With an
`image ?le match to the called device, and Wherein the
`communication occurs using the store-and forWard mode.
`As discussed above, the store-and-forWard mode may be
`selected by the calling party, or may occur as in response to
`a failed attempt in connecting to the called party. For
`instance, in response to the call arriving at the image nodal
`processor, the image communications manager 22 may
`direct an audio response unit to prompt the caller to enter the
`preferred communications mode using the touch-tone key
`pad on a telephone station or by entering a response from the
`keyboard of the calling device (e.g., personal computer,
`Workstation, etc.). The sequence of events initially proceeds
`as in the case illustrated in FIG. 3A, With a match being
`indicated by the query of image pro?le database 24.
`HoWever, instead of immediately establishing a connection
`to the called device, the image communications session
`manager establishes a connection from the calling device to
`the session storage device Which stores the converted image
`data. The image communications session manager then
`initiates a communication, by voice-mail and/or e-mail for
`eXample, to the called device station using a station identi
`fying number (e.g., phone number) stored in the image
`pro?le database 24. This communication indicates that an
`image ?le is stored at the image nodal processor.
`Preferably, in order to retrieve images from the image
`communications system, the user accesses the image nodal
`processor via a special access number (e.g., an 800 number)
`or, in alternative embodiments, via an internet address. Once
`the user is connected to the image nodal processor, the user
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`US 6,421,429 B1
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`7
`may be identi?ed by entering a personal identi?cation
`number (PIN) in response to a prompt by the audio response
`unit, or a distinguishable 800 number may be assigned to
`each user. The caller then interacts With the image nodal
`processor, again preferably via the audio response unit or a
`terminal connection, to access any ?les stored in the user’s
`?le-folder. The selected ?les are then retrieved from the
`storage device and transmitted to the user.
`FIG. 4A illustrates the information How Which occurs
`When the originating image does not match the format and
`protocol of the called device. In this case, since access of the
`image pro?le database 24 indicates that there is no match,
`the image communications session manager 22 provides the
`image format and protocol conversion process controller 26
`With the format and protocol of the called device. The image
`communications session manager 22 then routes the origi
`nating image to the image format and protocol conversion
`process controller 26 Which, in turn, routes the image data to
`an appropriate conversion processor. The conversion pro
`cess controller 26 selects an appropriate conversion proces
`sor based on factors such as functionality, as Well as avail
`ability and load balancing (e.g., queue management).
`Originating image data that has been converted is then
`routed to the called device via the conversion process
`controller 26 and the image communications session man
`ager 22. If such a call occurs in the store-and-forWard mode
`then the converted data is output to the session storage
`device 28 (FIG. 4B), and the image communication session
`manager 22 then initiates a communication to the called
`device (e.g., voice-mail or e-mail) indicating that a ?le has
`been stored.
`FIG. 5 illustrates the information How Which occurs When
`the originating image does not match the preferred format
`and/or protocol of the terminating device, and the ?le cannot
`be converted by the nodal image processor. In such an
`instance, as above, the communications session manager 22
`?rst receives the originating image communication, and
`queries the image pro?le database 24, determining that a
`conversion is required. The conversion information and the
`originating image are provided to the conversion process
`controller 26 Which ascertains that the originating image
`cannot be converted by the conversion processors due to
`incompatibility or error. The conversion process controller
`26 signals this error condition to the communications ses
`sion manager 22 Which then launches an e-mail or voice
`mail message to the calling device 30, indicating that the
`communication could not be completed because the ?le Was
`non-convertible.
`Another illustration of the processing and signaling per
`formed by the netWork-based image processor is illustrated
`by FIG. 6, Wherein a subscriber attempts to send an image
`to a non-subscriber. In this case, the query to the image
`pro?le database 24 indicates that the called party is not a
`subscriber, and therefore, since there is no information
`regarding protocol and format of the called device 40 a
`conversion (if required) and communication is not per
`formed. Avoice-mail or e-mail message, or both, indicating
`an attempted image communication thereto, is sent to the
`called device 40. A message back to the calling device,
`indicating the failed attempt, is also preferably communi
`cated via e-mail or voice-mail. In a further embodiment,
`before leaving a voice-mail or e-mail message, the commu
`nications session manager 22 may attempt to complete a call
`to the called device 40 and, via the audio response unit,
`indicate that an image communication is pending from
`calling device 30 (e.g., using calling party automatic number
`identi?cation “AN I”), and inquire Whether receipt is desired,
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`and if so, What type of format and protocol is desired for
`receiving the image communication. Then the nodal image
`processor may