Patent ID: 6748056
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: H04L,H04M,H04Q

Abstract:
A method for coordinating a telephone handset session with an e-mail session in a universal messaging system that comprises a voice messaging platform integrated with an electronic mail (e-mail) messaging platform, wherein the voice messaging platform interfaces to a telephone network to process calls from subscribers connected to the telephone network via telephone handsets, said method comprising the steps of:(a) receiving a call on the voice messaging platform placed by a subscriber from a telephone handset connected to the telephone network and processing the call on the voice messaging platform in accordance with a first call flow, the subscriber having an account on the e-mail messaging platform; (b) invoking from the first call flow, a second call flow that initiates access to the subscriber's account on the e-mail messaging platform, said second call flow executing in parallel with, and asynchronously of, said first call flow; (c) continuing to execute the first call flow while said second call flow is executing; (d) determining at a given state of the first call flow whether a response is available from the second call flow and if a response is available, then processing the response, but if a response from the second call flow is delayed and thus not presently available at said given state of the first call flow then playing one or more prompts by the first call flow to mask at least a portion of the delay experienced in receiving a response from the second call flow, wherein said one or more prompts provide an indication to said subscriber that a wait is in progress.