PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8762577-B2
Application Number: US-61051503-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Method and system for providing network synchronization with a unified messaging system

Abstract:
A method for providing network synchronization with a unified messaging system is provided. The method includes receiving and storing message data, such as voice data, for a specified recipient. An enhanced e-mail message is generated for the recipient. The message, which is in hypertext mark-up language (HTML) format, includes the message data and a synchronization link that points to a web server. The message is sent to the recipient through an e-mail server corresponding to an e-mail client associated with the recipient. When the client downloads the message from the server and renders the HTML, the synchronization link is fetched. As a result, the web server receives a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request from the client based on the message and provides network synchronization based on that HTTP request.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for providing network synchronization with a unified messaging system, comprising:
 receiving and storing message data for a specified recipient; 
 generating an enhanced e-mail message, the message comprising the message data and a synchronization link; 
 sending the enhanced e-mail message to the specified recipient; 
 receiving a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request from an e-mail client associated with the recipient, the HTTP request generated by the e-mail client in response to rendering of the enhanced email message by the e-mail client; and 
 providing network synchronization based on the received HTTP request without additional recipient interaction. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , sending the message to the recipient comprising sending the enhanced e-mail message to an e-mail server corresponding to the e-mail client associated with the recipient, the e-mail server operable to send the enhanced e-mail message to the e-mail client for the recipient. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising processing the message data, and wherein processing the message data further comprises marking the message data as read. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , the synchronization link pointing to a web server and receiving the HTTP request comprising receiving the HTTP request at the web server. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , the enhanced e-mail message comprising hypertext mark-up language (HTML) and receiving the HTTP request from the e-mail client based on the enhanced e-mail message comprising receiving the HTTP request in response to the HTML of the enhanced e-mail message being rendered. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising processing the message data by marking the message data as read. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising processing the message data by deleting the message data. 
     
     
       8. A unified messaging system, comprising:
 a media application server comprising a processor coupled to a memory, operable to receive and store message data for a specified recipient and to generate an enhanced e-mail message for the recipient based on the message data, the media application server comprising at least one processor, the enhanced e-mail message comprising the message data and a synchronization link; and 
 a web server coupled to the media application server, the web server operable to receive a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request from an e-mail client associated with the recipient, the request generated by the e-mail client in response to rendering of the enhanced email message by the e-mail client and to provide network synchronization based on the received HTTP request without additional recipient interaction, the synchronization link pointing to the web server. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , the web server further operable to process the message data. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , the web server operable to process the message data by marking the message data as read. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , the web server operable to process the message data by deleting the message data. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 8 , the media application server further operable to send the enhanced e-mail message to the specified recipient via an e-mail server corresponding to the e-mail client associated with the recipient, the e-mail server operable to send the enhanced e-mail message to the e-mail client for the recipient. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 8 , the enhanced e-mail message comprising hypertext mark-up language (HTML) and the web server operable to receive the HTTP request from the e-mail client in response to the HTML of the enhanced e-mail message being rendered. 
     
     
       14. A unified messaging system, comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable storage media; and 
 instructions stored on the computer-readable storage media, the instructions operable for causing the unified messaging system to receive and store message data for a specified recipient, to generate an enhanced e-mail message, the enhanced e-mail message comprising the message data and a synchronization link, to send the enhanced e-mail message to the specified recipient, to receive a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request from an e-mail client associated with the recipient, the request generated by the e-mail client in response to rendering of the enhanced email message by the e-mail client, and to provide network synchronization based on the HTTP request without additional recipient interaction. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , the instructions further operable for causing the unified messaging system to process the message data. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , the instructions further operable for causing the unified messaging system to process the message data by marking the message data as read. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15 , the instructions further operable for causing the unified messaging system to process the message data by deleting the message data. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 14 , the synchronization link pointing to a web server and the instructions further operable for causing the unified messaging system to receive the HTTP request by receiving the HTTP request at the web server. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 14 , the instructions further operable for causing the unified messaging system to send the enhanced e-mail message to the specified recipient by sending the enhanced e-mail message to an e-mail server corresponding to the e-mail client associated with the recipient, the e-mail server operable to send the enhanced e-mail message to the specified e-mail client for the recipient. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 14 , the enhanced e-mail message comprising hypertext mark-up language (HTML) and the instructions further operable for causing the unified messaging system to receive the HTTP request from the e-mail client based on the enhanced e-mail message by receiving the HTTP request in response to the HTML of the enhanced e-mail message being rendered.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to communication systems and, more particularly, to a method and system for providing network synchronization with a unified messaging system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As demand has increased for simplified communication, unified messaging systems have been developed and implemented in order to streamline messaging systems. For example, some unified messaging systems allow voice mail, faxes and e-mail to be combined so that users may receive all of these types of communications through a single application. 
     However, existing unified messaging systems often use software on the e-mail client, which is generally expensive from a support perspective, or require direct connectivity to an e-mail server that hosts the client, which requires that the system have access to the server and know the user&#39;s password, in order to synchronize network content with the e-mail infrastructure. In addition, accessing the e-mail servers in conventional network configurations is problematic due to network topology and security issues. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the present invention, a method and system for providing network synchronization with a unified messaging system are provided that substantially eliminate or reduce disadvantages and problems associated with conventional methods and systems. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing network synchronization with a unified messaging system is provided that includes receiving and storing message data, such as voice data, for a specified recipient. An enhanced e-mail message is generated for the recipient. The message, which is in hypertext mark-up language (HTML) format, includes the message data and a synchronization link that points to a web server. The message is sent to the recipient through an e-mail server corresponding to an e-mail client associated with the recipient. When the client downloads the message from the server and renders the HTML, the synchronization link is fetched. As a result, the web server receives a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request from the client based on the message and provides network synchronization based on that HTTP request. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, a unified messaging system is provided that includes a media application server and a web server. The media application server is able to receive and store message data for a specified recipient and to generate an enhanced e-mail message for the recipient based on the message data. The enhanced e-mail message includes the message data and a synchronization link that points to the web server. The web server is coupled to the media application server and is able to receive a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request from an e-mail client associated with the recipient based on the enhanced e-mail message and to provide network synchronization based on the HTTP request. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a communication system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the Media Application Server of  FIG. 1  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for providing network synchronization with the unified messaging system of  FIG. 1  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1 through 3 , discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present invention in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present invention may be implemented in any suitably arranged communication system. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a communication system  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As described in more detail below, the communication system  100  is operable to provide network synchronization for processing e-mail messages without the need for additional software at the e-mail server or user interaction. Thus, the communication system  100  may allow unified messaging to be implemented using any conventional e-mail server without hosting the e-mail on the unified messaging platform. 
     The communication system  100  is shown including a network  102 , a unified messaging system  104 , at least one e-mail server  108  and at least one e-mail client  110 . The communication system  100  also includes a plurality of communication devices  112  and may include at least one mobile switching center (MSC)  120  and at least one public telephone network  122 , such as a public switched telephone network (PSTN). 
     The network  102  is coupled to the unified messaging system  104  and the e-mail server  108  and may also be coupled to the mobile switching center  120  and/or some of the communication devices  112 . In this document, the term “couple” refers to any direct or indirect communication between two or more components, whether or not those components are in physical contact with each other. 
     The network  102  is operable to facilitate communication between components of the communication system  100 . For example, the network  102  may communicate Internet Packets (“IP”), frame relay frames, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (“ATM”) cells, or other suitable information between network addresses. The network  102  may include one or more local area networks (“LANs”), metropolitan area networks (“MANs”), wide area networks (“WANs”), all or portions of a global network such as the Internet, or any other communication system or systems at one or more locations. 
     The unified messaging system  104  is shown including a Media Application Server  126  and a web server  128 . The Media Application Server  126  and the web server  128  may communicate with each other. According to one embodiment, the unified messaging system  104  is operable to provide enhanced e-mail functionality for any e-mail client  110  from any communication device  112  in the communication system  100 . As used herein, “enhanced e-mail” means e-mail comprising an audio message, such as a voice message, and/or a video message. For this embodiment, the unified messaging system  104  is operable to receive message data from a communication device  112  for a particular recipient, to store the message data, and to generate an enhanced e-mail message for the recipient based on the message data. 
     The enhanced e-mail message generally includes the audio message and/or video message as an attachment. However, it will be understood that the enhanced e-mail message may include the audio message and/or video message in any suitable form. According to one embodiment, the audio message and/or video message may be included as an attachment in a compressed format. 
     The enhanced e-mail message is constructed to include a hypertext mark-up language (“HTML”) body having a synchronization link. A synchronization link comprises a hypertext transfer protocol (“HTTP”) uniform resource locator (URL) with message-specific header data pointing to the web server  128 . The Media Application Server  126  is operable to send the enhanced e-mail message over the network  102  to the recipient. For example, the Media Application Server  126  may be operable to send the message to an e-mail server  108  for a corresponding e-mail client  110  associated with the recipient. 
     Thus, when the e-mail client  110  downloads the enhanced e-mail message from the e-mail server  108  and renders the HTML, the synchronization link is fetched and the web server  128  identified in the header data is accessed. The URL includes information that is unique to the message that is to be synchronized: to the e-mail client  110 , an HTTP URL is being fetched, and to the web server  128 , an HTTP request with additional header information is being received. In this way, network synchronization may occur, which allows the Media Application Server  126  to mark as read, delete, and/or process the message in the Media Application Server  126  in any other suitable way. 
     According to one embodiment, the Media Application Server  126  includes one or more processors  130  that are operable to execute instructions and one or more memories  132  that are operable to store instructions and data used by the processors  130 . One embodiment of the Media Application Server  126  is shown in  FIG. 2 , which is described below, and in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/610,511 entitled “DISTRIBUTED ARCHITECTURE SUPPORTING COMMUNICATION SESSIONS IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD” and filed on the same date herewith, and which is incorporated herein by reference. The microprocessor(s)  130  is generally understood to be a device that drives a general-purpose computer. It is noted, however, that other processor devices, such as microcontrollers or ASICs, can be used as well and achieve the benefits and advantages described herein. 
     The Media Application Server  126  and the web server  128  may comprise logic encoded in media. The logic comprises functional instructions for carrying out program tasks. The media comprises computer disks or other computer-readable media, application-specific integrated circuits, field-programmable gate arrays, digital signal processors, other suitable specific or general purpose processors, transmission media or other suitable media in which logic may be encoded and utilized. 
     The e-mail server  108  is operable to provide e-mail services for one or more e-mail clients  110  that are operable to support HTML e-mail messages. The e-mail server  108  may comprise Outlook, Lotus Notes, Netscape Mail, or the like. The e-mail client  110  may comprise Microsoft Exchange, IPlanet, or the like. The e-mail server  108  and the e-mail client  110  may communicate using Post Office Protocol (POP), Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP), or any other suitable protocol. 
     Each communication device  112  may comprise any suitable device that is operable to communicate audio data, such as voice or other audio data, to the Media Application Server  126  through the network  102 . As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the communication devices  112  may comprise wireless communication devices  112   a  that are operable to communicate with the network  102  through a mobile switching center  120 , wired Internet Protocol (“IP”) phones  112   b  that are operable to communicate directly with the network  102 , personal computers  112   c  with microphones for capturing audio data that are operable to communicate directly with the network  102 , telephones  112   d  that are operable to communicate with the network  102  through a public telephone network  122 , and/or any other suitable communication device. 
     The network  102  and the PSTN  122  may use different protocols to communicate. Thus, in order to facilitate communication between these networks  102  and  122 , a gateway  134  that is operable to translate between the different protocols may be used to couple the network  102  to the PSTN  122 . 
     In addition, the Media Application Server  126  may be coupled to the PSTN  122  or the gateway  134 . For this embodiment, the Media Application Server  126  is operable to receive message data for an enhanced e-mail message from a communication device  112  without the message data being routed through the network  102 . 
     The various components of the communication system  100  may be coupled to each other via communication lines  140 . The communication lines  140  may be any type of communication links capable of supporting data transfer. In one embodiment, the communication lines  140  may comprise, alone or in combination, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), T1 or T3 communication lines, hardwire lines, or telephone links. It will be understood that the communication lines  140  may comprise other suitable types of data communication links. The communication lines  140  may also connect to a plurality of intermediate servers (not illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) between the components of the communication system  100 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the Media Application Server  126  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, although the following describes the Media Application Server  126  in connection with the communication system  100 , it will be understood that the Media Application Server  126  may be included as a part of other suitable systems without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the Media Application Server  126  includes a media conductor  202 , a media controller  204 , two media processors  206   a - b , and a content store  208 . 
     The media conductor  202  is operable to process signaling messages received by the Media Application Server  126 . For example, a communication devices  112  may communicate the signaling messages directly (or via a gateway, which serves as an entrance/exit into a communications network) to the Media Application Server  126 . In other embodiments, the communication devices  112  communicate signaling messages indirectly to the Media Application Server  126 , such as when a Session Initiation Protocol (“SIP”) application server  210  (that received a request from a device  112 ) sends the signaling messages to the media conductor  202  on behalf of the communication device  112 . The communication devices  112  may communicate directly with the SIP application server  210  or indirectly through a gateway, such as gateway  134 . The media conductor  202  processes the signaling messages and communicates the processed messages to the media controller  204 . As particular examples, the media conductor  202  may implement SIP call control, parameter encoding, and media event package functionality. 
     The media controller  204  is operable to manage the operation of the Media Application Server  126  to provide services to the communication devices  112  and/or other devices such as video clients and the like. For example, the media controller  204  may receive processed SIP requests from the media conductor  202 . The media controller  204  may then select the appropriate media processor  206  to handle each of the calls, enforce licenses controlling how the Media Application Server  126  can be used, and control negotiations based on the licenses. The negotiations may include identifying the CODEC to be used to encode and decode audio or video information during a call and/or other suitable services. 
     The media processors  206   a - b  are operable to handle the exchange of audio and/or video information between clients involved in a call. For example, a media processor  206  may receive audio and video information from one client involved in a call, process the information as needed, and forward the information to at least one other client involved in the call. The audio and video information may be received through one or more ports  212 , which couple the media processors  206   a - b  to the network  102 . Each port  212  may comprise any suitable structure that is operable to facilitate communication between the Media Application Server  126  and the network  102 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, each media processor  206  provides different functionality in the Media Application Server  126 . For example, the first media processor  206   a  may provide interactive voice response (“IVR”) functionality in the Media Application Server  126 . As particular examples, the media processor  206   a  may support a voice mail function that is able to record and play messages and/or an auto-attendant function that is able to provide a menu to direct callers to particular destinations based on their selections. The media processor  206   b  may provide conferencing functionality in the Media Application Server  126 , such as by facilitating the exchange of audio and/or video information between clients. 
     The content store  208  is operable to provide access to content used by the various components of the communication system  100 . For example, the content store  208  may provide access to stored voice mail messages, access codes used to initiate or join conference calls and/or any other suitable information. The content store  208  may comprise a conventional database or any other suitable data storage facility. 
     According to one embodiment, a Java 2 Enterprise Edition (“J2EE”) platform  214  may be coupled to the Media Application Server  126 . In a particular embodiment, the J2EE platform  214  may correspond to the web server  128 . The J2EE platform  214  is operable to allow the Media Application Server  126  to retrieve information used to provide services to users in the communication system  100 . For example, the J2EE platform  214  may provide audio announcements used by the interactive voice response media processor  206   a . The J2EE platform  214  represents one possible device used to serve audio or other information to the Media Application Server  126 . However, it will be understood that any suitable device may be used to provide information to the Media Application Server  126  without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     In a particular embodiment, the various components of the Media Application Server  126  comprise software processes that may be executed by the processor  130  of the Media Application Server  126 . While the components  202 ,  204 ,  206   a - b  and  208  have been described as being executed by a Media Application Server  126 , it will be understood that the software processes may be executed by any other suitable computing device without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Although  FIG. 2  illustrates one example of a Media Application Server  126 , various changes may be made to  FIG. 2  while maintaining the advantages and functionality recited herein. For example, any number of media processors  206   a - b  may be used in the Media Application Server  126 . Also, the functional divisions shown in  FIG. 2  are for illustration only. Various components can be combined or omitted or additional components can be added according to particular functional designations or needs. 
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating a method for providing network synchronization with the unified messaging system  104  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The method begins at step  300  where the Media Application Server  126  receives and stores message data for a recipient associated with a specified e-mail account and client  110 . As used herein, “message data” means audio data and/or video data for an enhanced e-mail message. At step  302 , the Media Application Server  126  generates an enhanced e-mail message with the message data and a synchronization link pointing to the web server  128 . 
     At step  304 , the Media Application Server  126  sends the enhanced e-mail message to the e-mail server  108  that hosts the specified e-mail client  110 . The specified e-mail client  110  downloads the enhanced e-mail message from the e-mail server  108  and views the message. This results in the HTML of the enhanced e-mail message being rendered, causing the synchronization link to be fetched so that the web server  128  receives an HTTP request from the specified e-mail client  110  at step  306 . The HTTP request identifies the specified e-mail client  110  and the enhanced e-mail message in the header data. 
     At step  308 , the web server  128  provides network synchronization based on the HTTP request and processes the enhanced e-mail message. For example, the message may be marked as read, deleted, or processed in any other suitable way. 
     In this way, the unified messaging system  104  may be implemented, resulting in network synchronization without the need for additional software or user interaction. In addition, because the synchronization is accomplished through an HTTP request, there is no need to modify firewalls or existing security systems. 
     It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and if the term “controller” is utilized herein, it means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. 
     Although the present invention has been described with several embodiments, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present invention encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20030630
Publication Date: 20140624
Grant Date: 20140624
Priority Date: 20030630
Inventors: WHYNOT STEPHEN R.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04L51/56", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L51/56", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M3/5307", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L51/42", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M3/5307", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L51/42", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L51/56", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L51/42", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L7/00", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04L67/02", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M3/5307", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 33541172