Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20040076272?dq=6004266
Timestamp: 2017-09-20 02:25:25
Document Index: 441928004

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 119', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'arty 120', 'arty 120', 'arty 120', 'arty 110']

Patent US20040076272 - Voice mail integration with instant messenger - Google Patents
A method for providing a message to a called party through a network comprised of both a telephone network and a data network, and at least one gateway device connected to both the telephone network and the data network. The method performed by the gateway device includes receiving, through the telephone...http://www.google.com/patents/US20040076272?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20040076272 - Voice mail integration with instant messenger
Publication number US20040076272 A1
Application number US 10/083,792
Also published as US7142646
Publication number 083792, 10083792, US 2004/0076272 A1, US 2004/076272 A1, US 20040076272 A1, US 20040076272A1, US 2004076272 A1, US 2004076272A1, US-A1-20040076272, US-A1-2004076272, US2004/0076272A1, US2004/076272A1, US20040076272 A1, US20040076272A1, US2004076272 A1, US2004076272A1
Inventors Shadman Zafar, Ashequs Samad, Kevin Trottier, Mahesh Rajagopalan
Original Assignee Shadman Zafar, Ashequs Samad, Kevin Trottier, Mahesh Rajagopalan
Patent Citations (58), Referenced by (92), Classifications (21), Legal Events (6)
Voice mail integration with instant messenger
US 20040076272 A1
A method for providing a message to a called party through a network comprised of both a telephone network and a data network, and at least one gateway device connected to both the telephone network and the data network. The method performed by the gateway device includes receiving, through the telephone network, signaling information representing a message from a calling party to a called party and providing the message to the called party via the data network by displaying an instant message containing a notification of the message on a display device visible to the called party.
1. A method for alerting a calling party of a message from a called party via a network comprising a telephone network, a data network, and at least one gateway device connected to both the telephone network and the data network, the method performed by the gateway device comprising:
receiving the message identifying the calling party requesting a call in the voice network to the called party; and
providing the message to the called party via the data network by displaying an instant message containing a notification of the message on a display device visible to the called party.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone network is a public services telephone network.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone network is a wireless telephone network.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the message comprises:
connecting to an intelligent peripheral device in the telephone network, wherein the intelligent peripheral device is connected to a voice mailbox; and
obtaining, via the intelligent peripheral device, the message from the voice mailbox.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the message to the called party via the data network comprises providing the message to a server in the data network associated with the called party; and the server causing notification of the message to appear on a display device visible to the called party.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein providing the message to the server comprises providing the message using an instant messaging server.
7. A method of receiving voice mail and providing voice mail information to a voice-mailbox owner in which a calling party places a telephone call by transmitting signaling information corresponding to a telephone number, and leaves a voice mail message, the method comprising:
registering the voice mailbox owner using an instant messaging server;
receiving from the calling party the signaling information corresponding to the telephone number;
receiving from the calling party the voice mail message;
storing the voice mail message in a voice mail storage memory;
generating a voice mail alert message corresponding to the voice mail message;
transmitting the voice mail alert message to an instant messaging server; and
causing a user terminal of the voice-mailbox owner to display an instant message indicating that the voice mail message has been received.
8. A method for providing voice mail indication to a user in a system comprising a data network and a telephone network, the method comprising:
receiving via the telephone network a voice mail for the user; and
storing the voice mail in a database accessible by the data network.
receiving a request from the user for accessing the voice mail.
receiving a request from the user for manipulating the status of the voice mail.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein manipulating the status of the voice mail further comprises connecting to the telephone network and changing the voice mail status based on the request.
a telephone network for receiving a voice message from a calling party;
a data network for providing indication of the voice message from the calling party; and
a gateway device, connected to both the telephone network and the data network, for receiving, via the telephone network, signaling information representing the voice message from the calling party to a called party and providing the voice message to the called party via the data network.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the gateway device for providing the indication of a voice message from a calling party comprises means for providing instructions that cause a display device visible to the called party to display and instant message.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein the gateway device for obtaining the calling party information comprises a means for connecting to an intelligent peripheral in the telephone network and obtaining the voice message from the intelligent peripheral.
15. The system of claim 12, wherein the data network for providing the calling party information to the called party comprises a means for causing a display device visible to the called party to display a voice message notification.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the gateway device for providing the voice message notification to the called party via the data network comprises means for providing the voice message notification to a server in the data network associated with the called party.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein the gateway device for providing the voice message notification to the called party comprises means for providing the voice message notification using an instant messaging server.
18. Apparatus comprising:
a first transmitter connected to the telephone network;
a second transmitter connected to the data network;
a gateway connected to both the first transmitter and the second transmitter, said gateway being capable of providing notification of a message to a called party by causing display of an instant message containing the notification of the message on the display device visible to the called party.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first transmitter is capable of receiving signaling information containing notification of the message from the voice mailbox.
20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second transmitter is capable of providing the message to a server in the data network associated with the called party and the server is capable of causing notification of the message to appear on a display device visible to the called party.
21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the server is an instant messaging server.
Applicants claim the right to priority under 35 U.S.C, § 119(e) based on Provisional Patent Application No. 60/272,122, entitled “VOICE MAIL INTEGRATION WITH INSTANT MESSENGER,” filed Feb. 27, 2001; Provisional Patent Application No. 60/272,167, entitled “DEVICE INDEPENDENT CALLER ID,” filed Feb. 27, 2001; Provisional Patent Application No. 60/275,667, entitled “CALENDAR CALLING AGENT,” filed Mar. 13, 2001; Provisional Patent Application No. 60/275,719, entitled “CALENDAR CALLING AGENT,” filed Mar. 13, 2001; Provisional Patent Application No. 60/275,020, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATED BILLING VIA PDA,” filed Mar. 13, 2001; Provisional Patent Application No. 60/275,031, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER VIA INSTANT MESSAGING,” filed Mar. 13, 2001; and Provisional Patent Application No. 60/276,505, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTEXT BASED QUERYING,” filed Mar. 19, 2001, and all of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
The present application also relates to U.S. Patent Application No. (______), entitled “DEVICE INDEPENDENT CALLER ID,” Attorney Docket No. 01-1002; U.S. Patent Application No. (______), entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A UNIFIED COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT VIA INSTANT MESSAGING,” Attorney Docket No. 01-1004; U.S. Patent Application No. (______), entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTEXT BASED QUERYING,” Attorney Docket No. 01-1005; U.S. Patent Application No. (______), entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CALENDARED COMMUNICATIONS FLOW CONTROL,” Attorney Docket No. 01-1007; U.S. Patent Application No. (______), entitled “CALENDAR-BASED CALLING AGENTS,” Attorney Docket No. 01-1008; U.S. Patent Application No. (______), entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATED BILLING VIA PDA,” Attorney Docket No. 01-1010; and U.S. Patent Application No. (______), entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIAL STREAM ANALYSIS,” Attorney Docket No. 01-1013, and all of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
The present invention relates to systems and methods for controlling telephony systems using data processing systems and, more particularly, to the use of instant messaging to provide information relating to voice mail.
When a telephone call is initiated, one person, customarily referred to as a “calling party,” causes a connection to be made to the telephone of a second person or the “called party.” When the called party is not available, the calling party can leave a message for the called party. This message may be in the form of voice mail.
Unified messaging service providers such as uReach™, Onebox™, and Portico™, available at www.ureach.com, www.onebox.com, and www.portico.net, respectively, offer services that include providing web-based access to voice mail. The uReach™ service also provides for a pager alert when a voice mail is received. However, known unified messaging services suffer from two significant limitations. The unified messaging services require a user to acquire an additional telephone number, rather than using a traditional telephone-service customer's existing telephone number. Additionally, none of the known unified messaging systems have the ability to provide information about voice mail via an instant messaging system.
According to its website at www.evoice.com, eVoice, Inc. of Menlo Park, Calif. offers services including voice mail. In a white paper entitled, “Voicemail-Market Opportunities,” eVoice describes a voice mail system that accepts calls that have been forwarded due to a busy condition or the non-occurrence of an answer event. Known systems, such as that described by eVoice provides an Internet Call Waiting (“ICW”) service that alerts a user to the occurrence of a call event when the user is currently using the user's telephone line for dial-up Internet access. The eVoice white paper also describes Internet service providers (“ISP”) and the use of instant messaging. The white paper states “eVoice enhanced messaging, IM and Internet Call Waiting capabilities can provide a compelling product for these ISPs and portals which should allow them to bypass the local phone companies.”
Therefore, there is a need in the art for providing voice mail alerts from within a voice network via instant messaging on a data network without the need for additional add-on services, such as eVoice.
In accordance with the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides for processing voice mail in a network.
An embodiment consistent with the principles of the present invention provides a method for providing a message from a calling party to a called party through a network comprised of both a telephone network and a data network, and at least one gateway device connected to both the telephone network and the data network. The method performed by the gateway device includes receiving a message identifying a calling party requesting a call in the voice network to a called party and providing the message to the called party via the data network by displaying an instant message containing a notification of the message on a display device visible to the called party.
In accordance with another embodiment consistent with the principles of the present invention there is provided a method of receiving voice mail and providing voice mail received information to a voice-mailbox owner by way of a voice mail gateway in which a calling party places a telephone call by transmitting signaling information corresponding to a telephone number, and the calling party leaves a voice mail message. The method comprises: registering the voice mailbox owner using an instant messaging server; receiving from the calling party the signaling information corresponding to the telephone number; receiving from the calling party the voice mail message; storing the voice mail message in a voice mail storage memory; generating a voice mail alert message corresponding to the voice mail message; transmitting the voice mail alert message to an instant messaging server; and causing a user terminal of the voice-mailbox owner to display an instant message indicating that the voice mail message has been received.
In accordance with another embodiment consistent with the principles of the present invention a method for providing voice mail indication to a user in a system comprising a data network and a telephone network comprises: receiving via the telephone network a voice mail for a user; and storing the voice mail in a database accessible by the data network.
In accordance with another embodiment consistent with the principles of the present invention a system comprises: a telephone network for receiving a voice message from a calling party; a data network for providing indication of a voice message from a calling party; a gateway device, connected to both the telephone network and the data network, for receiving, via the telephone network, signaling information representing the voice message from a calling party to a called party and providing the voice message to the called party via the data network.
In accordance with another embodiment consistent with the principles of the present invention an apparatus comprises: a telephone network; a first transmitter connected to the telephone network; a data network; a second transmitter connected to the data network; a gateway connected to both the first transmitter and the second transmitter, the gateway being capable of providing notification of a message to a called party by causing display of an instant message containing the notification of the message on a display device visible to the called party.
[0018]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data processing and telecommunications environment, in accordance with methods and apparatus consistent with the principles of the present invention;
[0019]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a user terminal, in accordance with methods and apparatus consistent with the principles of the present invention;
[0020]FIGS. 3a-3 m are exemplary screen shots of user interfaces in accordance with methods and apparatus consistent with the principles of the present invention;
[0021]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a service center, in accordance with methods and apparatus consistent with the principles of the present invention;
FIGS. 5 is a data structure used for voice mail notification, in accordance with methods and apparatus consistent with the principles of the present invention;
[0023]FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a voice network, in accordance with methods and apparatus consistent with the principles of the present invention; and
[0024]FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of providing voice mail alerts in accordance with methods and apparatus consistent with the principles of the present invention.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, information indicating a voice mail from a telephone network, is provided to a called party via a data network using a unified communications service. The unified communications service receives, from the telephone network, information representing a voice mail intended for a called party. The unified communications service then provides the voice mail information to the called party via the data network.
[0027]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data processing and telecommunications environment, in accordance with methods and apparatus consistent with the principles of the present invention. The data processing and telecommunications environment 100 may include a data network 102, a voice network 104, a service center 106, and a service center database 108. As shown, a user 110 may use a user terminal 112 to interface data network 102. In addition, user 110 may use phones 114, 116, and 118 to interface with voice network 104. For example, calling party 120 may use phone 122 to call user 110 at any one of phones 114,116, and 118.
Voice network 104 provides telephony services, for example, to allow calling party 120 to place a telephone call to user 110. For example, voice network 104 may be implemented using a network, such as the Public Switched Telephone Network (“PSTN”). Alternatively, voice network 104 may be implemented using voice-over Internet Protocol (“VolP”) technology. In addition, voice network 104 may be implemented using both the PSTN and VolP technology consistent with the principles of the present invention. Voice network 104 is described in further detail with reference to FIG. 6.
Phones 114,116,118, and 122 interface voice network 104. Phones 114, 116, 118, and 122 may be implemented using known devices, including wireline phones and mobile phones, such as wireless phones. Although phones 114,116,118, and 122 are shown directly connected to voice network 104, any number of intervening elements, such as a private branch exchange (“PBX”), may be interposed between phones 114,116,118, and 122 and voice network 104.
[0037]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a user terminal, in accordance with methods and apparatus consistent with the principles of the present invention. As shown, user terminal 112 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 200, a memory 202, a storage module 204, a network interface 206, an input interface 208, an output interface 210, an input device 216, and an output device 218.
[0045]FIGS. 3a-3 m illustrate exemplary screen shots of user interfaces to implement voice mail integration with instant messenger. As shown in FIG. 3a, the screen shot provides a current location portion 300 for indicating that communications should be directed to the “AT HOME” location. Current location 300 may also indicate other locations, such as, for example, “AT WORK, “IN CAR”, and “ON TRAVEL.” Such locations can be based on predetermined choices or user configurable choices. The screen shot also provides a new message portion 302 that lists the number and type of new messages. In particular, new message portion 302 shows that there is “1 New EMAIL”, “2 NEW VOICE MAILS”, “2 NEW NOTIFICATIONS”, and “3 NEW CALLS RECEIVED”. New message portion 302 can also provide the last phone numbers dialed and the date they were dialed.
The screen shot also provides a search portion 304 that allows a user to search for contact information regarding a particular person. For example, search portion 304 provides “FIRST NAME”, “LAST NAME”, “CITY”, and “STATE” search inputs to find contact information of a particular person. The screen shot also provides a tools portion 306 that gives a user options to modify various aspects of the communications service. These options may include “REACH ME”, “ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT”, and “PROFILE” options. The “REACH ME” option allows a user to change where a user is to be contacted shown in the current location portion 300. The “ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT” option allows a user to modify information such as billing information associated with a called party. The “PROFILE” option allows a user to modify how communications are forwarded.
As shown in FIG. 3b, the screen shot shows a user interface for a device manager. The screen shot shows a device manager portion 310 that allows a user to view and to change phone number settings. For example, the user can change at “WORK” and “AT HOME” phone number settings. Device manage portion 310 also provides a “CURRENT FEATURES” option that lists features being used. Such features include “CALL FORWARDING”, “69”, and “CALL WAITING”. The user also has the option to “ADD FEATURES” or “ADD NUMBERS”. The screen shot also provides a other devices portion 312 that allows a user to manage devices which are not associated with a particular location. Other devices portion 310 lists “CELL PHONE”, “PAGER”, and “HANDHELD” devices as other devices in which a user can manage. For each device, a user can view the number for the other device and associated “CURRENT FEATURES” for the other device. Other devices portion 310 also provides a “SYNCHRONIZE” option and “ADD DEVICE” option for the user.
As shown in FIG. 3c, the screen shot shows a user interface for an address book. The screen shot shows an address list portion 315 that lists contact information for the user. For example, the contact information may include “NAME”, “ADDRESS”, “EMAIL”, and “INSTANT MESSENGER” information. The screen shot also shows a record information portion 317 that displays a specific record for a contact. The user has the option to “UPDATE” the record. The screen shows also provides a search window to search for contact information and a calendar.
As shown in FIG. 3d, the screen shot shows the user interface of FIG. 3c with a pull-down menu 320 that provides a number of options for a user to contact a selected person consistent with the present invention. For example, the user can contact the selected person using such options as “SEND PAGE”, “CALL”, “EMAIL”, and “INSTANT MESSAGE”. Pull-down menu 320 also provides a “REMOVE” and “UPDATE” option to modify contact information in the address book.
As shown in FIG. 3e, the screen shot shows the user interface of FIG. 3c with a pop-up window 325 that provides a number of inputs to modify contact information for a person in the address book. Pop-up window 325 is shown to update a record for “TOM SERVINI” using, e.g., “NAME”, “EMAIL”, and “PHONE NUMBER” inputs. Pop-up window 325 may also provide a “COMMENTS” window for the user to input a comment.
As shown in FIG. 3f, the screen shot shows a user interface for a message center panel having a summary portion 330 that lists messages received in a “RECEIVED:” column, the subject of the received messages in a “SUBJECT:” column, and the name of the persons who sent the messages in a “FROM:” column. Summary portion 330 may also provide other types of information such as the date/time the message was received, the data size of the message, or an attachment indicator. Additionally, summary portion 330 may provide a summary of recent e-mails or instant messages received by the user. Summary portion 330 also provides a number of options to process the messages. For example, the user may select a “PRINT MESSAGE”, “FORWARD”, “REPLY”, “REPLY ALL”, or “NEW MESSAGE” option for the listed messages in summary portion 330. The screen shot also shows a detail view portion 332 that provides the details of a selected message. For example, the details of an email message from “KEVIN.TROTTIER” are shown. Detail view portion 322 also provides a “REPLY” option to reply to the viewed message.
As shown in FIG. 3g, the screen shot shows a user interface for a message center panel having a summary portion 340, which is similar to summary portion 330 of FIG. 3f. Summary portion 340 provides summary information applicable to voice mails in a “NUMBER:”, “FROM:” and “RECEIVED:” column. The screen shot also shows a detail portion 342 that allows a user to playback the voice message. Detail portion 342 also allows the user to “DELETE” or “SAVE” the voice message.
[0053]FIG. 3h shows a screen shot of a message center panel having a message summary list portion 350 that lists a summary of messages received. The screen shot also shows a message detail portion 352 that displays detail of a message. FIG. 3i shows a screen shot of a user interface having a device summary portion 355 that lists the devices in use by the user and a device detail portion 357 that allows the user to configure a particular device. For example, the user may configure the number of times to ring the “HOME 1” or “CELL PHONE” device.
[0054]FIG. 3j shows a screen shot of the user interface of FIG. 3i having a pop-up window 360 for adding a device. The screen shot also shows a detail portion 362, which is similar to detail portion 357 of FIG. 3i. FIG. 3k shows a screen shot of the user interface of FIG. 3i having a pop-window 370 that provides an “UPDATE RECORD” option for a user to modify the sequence of devices being called.
[0055]FIG. 31 shows a screen shot of a user interface for account management having an overview portion 380 allow a user access to summary information regarding a user's account. For example, overview portion 380 a user to access “PREVIOUS BALANCE”, “CURRENT CHARGES”, “BASIC CHARGES”, “LONG DISTANCE CHARGES”, and “WIRELESS CHARGES” summary information. The screen shot also shows a message portion 382 displays messages regarding the user's account. For example, a message such as “Your bill is past due” can be displayed in message portion 382.
[0056]FIG. 3m shows a screen shot of a user interface for profile management having a customer profile portion 390, which displays a customer's profile. The customer's profile may include information such as “Customer Name:”, “Account Number:”, “Address” and “Phone:” information. The screen shot also shows a personal profile portion 392 that displays a user's personal profile. The personal profile may include “Name:”, “Address”, etc. information. The screen shot also shows a business profile portion 394 that displays a business profile. The business profile may include information such as “Company”, “Job Title:” etc. information. These profiles can be kept confidential and updated to include any other type of profile information.
[0057]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a service center, in accordance with methods and apparatus consistent with the principles of the present invention. Service center 106 is a gateway device, connecting voice network 104 to data network 102. As shown, service center 106 includes firewalls 400 and 402, a data interface server 404, a management server 406, a voice interface server 408, a calendar server 410, and a voice mail notification server 415.
Firewalls 400 and 402 provide security services for communications between service center 106, and data network 102, and between service center 106 and voice network 104, respectively. For example, firewalls 400 and 402 may restrict communications between user terminal 112 and one or more servers within service center 106. Any security policy may be implemented in firewalls 400 and 402 consistent with the principles of the present invention. Firewalls 400 and 402 may be implemented using a combination of known hardware and software, such as the Raptor Firewall provided by the Axent Corporation. Furthermore, firewalls 400 and 402 may be implemented as separate machines within service center 106, or implemented on one or more machines external to service center 106.
Voice mail notification server 415 determines when a user receives a voice mail through voice network 104 via voice interface server 405. Voice mail notification server then notifies a user terminal on data network 102 of the voice mail using data interface server 404.
Although FIG. 4 shows separate servers within service center 106, service center 106 may be implemented using any combination of hardware and software. For example, service center 106 may implement data interface server 404, management server 406, voice interface server 408, calendar server 410, and voice mail notification server 415 as software applications installed on a single machine. In addition, service center 106 may access one or more servers remotely across a network.
FIGS. 5 is a data structure 500 used for voice mail notification, in accordance with methods and apparatus consistent with the principles of the present invention. Data structure 500 is shown as a table having a Time 520 column, a Date 522 column, a Caller ID 524 column, and an Audio File 526 column. Each row of data structure 500 represents a voice message record. For example, the first row of data structure 500 includes a record with “10:55 PM”, “02.09.01 ”, “Brian Roberts”, and “voice1.wav” in the above columns. An audio file listed in the Audio File 526 column can be a .wav file, a MIDI file, or any other type of digital audio file.
[0067]FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a voice network, in accordance with methods and apparatus consistent with the principles of the present invention. As shown, voice network 104 includes a service control point (“SCP”) 600, service transfer points (“STP”) 602 and 604, service switching points (“SSP”) 606, 608, 610, and 612, and a configuration database 614.
STPs 602 and 604 relay SS7 messages within voice network 104. For example, STP 24 may route SS7 messages between SSPs 606, 608, 610, and 612. STP 602 and 604 may be integrated as adjunct to an SSP, e.g., SSPs 606, 608, 610, and 612, or may be implemented as a separate machine. In addition, STP 602 and 604 may provide security functions, such as security checks on incoming/outgoing SS7 messages. STP 24 may also provide other functions, such as acquisition and storage of traffic/usage statistics. STP 24 may be implemented using known hardware and software from manufacturers such as NORTEL™ and LUCENT Technologies™
SSPs 606, 608, 610, and 612 provide an interface between voice network 104 and phones 114,116,118, and 122, respectively, to setup, manage, and release telephone calls within voice network 104. SSPs 606, 608, 610, and 612 may be implemented as a voice switch, an SS7 switch, or a computer connected to a switch. SSPs 606, 608, 610, and 612 exchange SS7 signal units to support a telephone call between calling party 120 and user 110. For example, SSPs 606, 608, 610, and 612 may exchange SS7 messages, such as TCAP messages, within message signal units (“MSU”) to control calls, perform database queries to configuration database 614, and provide maintenance information.
[0074]FIG. 7 is flow diagram illustrating a method of providing voice mail alerts consistent with the present invention. Voice network 104 detects a voice mail for a called party (step 710). A voice mail may be detected by configuring SSP 606 to trigger an alert to be sent to SCP 600 whenever a call is attempted to a user phone, such as phone 114, or whenever a voice mail is left at the voice mail server. Alternatively, service center 106 may monitor the SMDI of the voice mail server. In the event of a voice mail event, the voice mail server may send information, e.g., IP packets and XML information to service center 106 via the SMDI.
Voice mail notification server 415 receives a voice mail (step 720). The voice mail server may forward the voice mail information to the voice mail notification server 415, or may archive the voice mail information within service center database 108 and provide a notice to the voice mail notification server 415 of the archived voice mail.
Gateway device, i.e. service center 106, determines if the called party is a subscriber to voice mail notification service (step 730). If the called party is a subscriber to voice mail notification service, then service center 106 provides the called party access to the voice mail at the user terminal via an IM message (step 740). For example, voice notification server 415 may transmit the voice mail information to data interface server 404 using IM. Subsequently, data interface server 404 forwards the voice mail information within an IM message to user terminal 112 where it may be displayed or otherwise presented to called party 110. The voice mail information provided to the called party includes information from table 500, such as information time column 520 and date column 522, and information from caller ID column 524, and audio file 526.
Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art form consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only.
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U.S. Classification 379/88.13, 379/88.17
International Classification H04Q3/00, H04M3/537, H04L12/58, H04M7/00
Cooperative Classification H04L51/24, H04M3/537, H04M2203/2072, H04Q3/0045, H04Q2213/13336, H04M2203/4536, H04Q2213/13196, H04Q2213/13377, H04L51/04, H04M7/0054, H04M7/128, H04M7/126, H04M7/1255
European Classification H04Q3/00D3H, H04M3/537
Owner name: VERIZON DATA SERVICES INC., TEXAS
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Owner name: VERIZON DATA SERVICES LLC, FLORIDA
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Jul 28, 2014 AS Assignment
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