Patent ID: 6529587
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
A method for screening an active incoming message in a voice mail system at a telephone set remotely connected to the voice mail system and associated with a subscriber to the voice mail system, comprising the steps of:detecting, by the voice mail system, presence of an incoming communication connection from a calling party and intended for the subscriber; determining by the voice mail system, when the presence of an incoming communication connection is detected, whether the telephone set associated with the subscriber is in an on-hook or an off-hook condition; transmitting to the subscriber telephone set an incoming voice mail message as the incoming voice mail message is received by the voice mail system; routing, by the voice mail system and in response to a determined on-hook condition of the subscriber's telephone set, the incoming voice mail message to the subscriber's telephone set; detecting presence of voice on a communication connection connecting the voice mail system to the subscriber's telephone set; and broadcasting the routed incoming active voice mail message through a speaker in the subscriber's telephone set as the incoming active voice mail message is received by the voice mail system.