Patent ID: 7149300
Filing Date: 2006-12-12
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A messaging system implemented as a service to a subscriber by a telephone service provider of the subscriber, the messaging system for enabling a calling party calling the subscriber to opt to be transferred to a transfer station designated by the subscriber or to leave a voice message for the subscriber, the messaging system including: a switching mechanism for receiving the call from the calling party to the subscriber, the switching mechanism being connected to a network; an application server connected to the network and running a routing application, the switching mechanism for notifying the routing application that the calling party is to be connected to a messaging platform; wherein the messaging platform is for transferring the calling party to the transfer station, wherein the messaging platform is connected to the network, wherein the notified routing application is adapted to direct the switching mechanism to establish communication between the calling party and the messaging platform by way of the network, wherein the switching mechanism is adapted to establish such communication, and wherein the messaging platform is for enabling the subscriber to determine when the calling party may opt to be transferred to the transfer station, wherein the messaging platform is adapted to send a transfer message to the routing application by way of the network in response to the signal for transferring to the transfer station, the transfer message including a transfer telephone number corresponding to the transfer station, wherein the routing application is adapted to receive the transfer message and to direct the switching mechanism to disconnect the calling party from the messaging platform and to connect the calling party to the transfer station by way of the transfer telephone number; and wherein the transfer message also includes bookmark information relating to a current state of the messaging platform with regard to the calling party, wherein the bookmark information includes the routing application for receiving and storing the bookmark information, the switching mechanism for determining that the calling party is to be re-connected to the messaging platform and thereafter notifying the routing application of same, the notified routing application for directing that the calling party be re-connected with the messaging platform and sending the stored bookmark information back to the messaging platform, and the messaging platform employing such bookmark information to re-establish the current state of the messaging platform.