Patent ID: 6580787
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
For use in a communications network wherein calls are transmitted from a first party to a second parts within an organization, and wherein a status message is provided from said second party to said first party when said second party is unavailable to receive an incoming call, a system for automatically updating the status message of the second party, said system comprising:input means for entering status information of the second party for use when the second party is unavailable to receive an incoming call; personal calendar means coupled to said input means for storing the status information of the second party for a selected period, wherein said personal calendar means includes a memory for storing status information of plural parties for use when one of the plural parties receives an incoming call and wherein said personal calendar means includes a calendar server and said telephone network includes a voice mail server; communications means coupled to said personal calendar means for providing the first party with a message of the status of the second party when the second party is not available to receive an incoming call; scanning means for periodically accessing said personal calendar means and providing an updated message to the first party via said communications means of the status of the second party when the second party is not available to receive an incoming call; and wherein said memory stores first and second status information for one or more of said plural parties and the first party is defined as inside or outside of the organization, and wherein said first status information is provided if the first party is inside said organization and said second status information is provided if the first party is outside said organization.