Delivery expert system, method and computer program product
View Patent ↗An automated rule-based system for facilitating delivery of a fax document from a source to a destination over a network where an initial delivery attempt has been unsuccessful. Rules may be stored in a database. The database may include rules based on past delivery information or new delivery instructions. When an input condition is determined, the database may be traversed to determine an action based on the set of rules. The actions may include one or more of resubmitting the fax document to the network for a next delivery attempt, cancelling the document, and identifying the destination as a technical problem. The input conditions may include an identification of non-business days and non-business hours.
1. A method for a computing device to facilitate delivery of a document from a source to a destination over a network after an unsuccessful initial delivery attempt of the document to the destination, comprising:
storing a set of rules in a database accessible by the computing device; and
initiating a rule-based process, by the computing device, to determine a next possible action based on an input condition and at least one rule in the set of rules.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
selecting an action based on past delivery.
3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a delivery instruction; and
storing the delivery instruction in the database.
4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
sending a request for an alternate delivery instruction; and
storing the alternate delivery instruction in the database.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the rule-based process comprises traversing a hierarchical decision tree.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the next action comprises one or more of:
resubmitting the document to the network for a next delivery attempt;
canceling the document; and
identifying the destination as having a technical problem.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the document is an email message, a voice mail message, or a fax document.
8. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions translatable by at least one processor to perform:
storing a set of rules in a database accessible by the at least one processor; and
after an unsuccessful initial delivery attempt of the document to the destination, initiating a rule-based process, by the at least one processor, to determine a next possible action based on an input condition and at least one rule in the set of rules.
9. The computer program product according to claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform:
selecting an action based on past delivery.
10. The computer program product according to claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform:
receiving a delivery instruction; and
storing the delivery instruction in the database.
11. The computer program product according to claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform:
sending a request for an alternate delivery instruction; and
storing the alternate delivery instruction in the database.
12. The computer program product according to claim 8 , wherein the rule-based process comprises traversing a hierarchical decision tree.
13. The computer program product according to claim 12 , wherein the next action comprises one or more of:
resubmitting the document to the network for a next delivery attempt;
canceling the document; and
identifying the destination as having a technical problem.
14. The computer program product according to claim 8 , wherein the document is an email message, a voice mail message, or a fax document.
15. A system comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions translatable by the at least one processor to perform:
storing a set of rules in a database accessible by the at least one processor; and
after an unsuccessful initial delivery attempt of the document to the destination, initiating a rule-based process, by the at least one processor, to determine a next possible action based on an input condition and at least one rule in the set of rules.
16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform:
selecting an action based on past delivery.
17. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform:
receiving a delivery instruction; and
storing the delivery instruction in the database.
18. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the rule-based process comprises traversing a hierarchical decision tree.
19. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the next action comprises one or more of:
resubmitting the document to the network for a next delivery attempt;
canceling the document; and
identifying the destination as having a technical problem.
20. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the document is an email message, a voice mail message, or a fax document.