Messaging systems and methods
First Claim
1. An article of manufacture comprising non-transitory machine-readable storage medium with program code stored in the machine-readable medium, the program code being for operating a multi-node messaging system comprising a core node and a plurality of non-core nodes, the plurality of non-core nodes comprising a first non-core node and a second non-core node, each non-core node of the plurality of non-core nodes being coupled to telephone switching equipment associated with said each non-core node, wherein the program code stores computer instructions for performing steps comprising:
- configuring the core node to provide central repository services for storing system configuration of the multi-node messaging system, storing subscriber information for subscribers served by the multi-node messaging system, and providing centralized administrative and subscriber access to the system configuration information and subscriber information; and
configuring said each non-core node of the plurality of non-core nodes as a platform running telephony user interface applications for processing telephone calls;
wherein;
at least the first non-core node of the plurality of non-core nodes is configured to provide a platform running voice user interface applications for processing the telephone calls;
the core node and at least two non-core nodes of the plurality of non-core nodes are configured to replicate at least a portion of the system configuration information stored on the core node and at least a portion of the subscriber information stored on the core node to each non-core node of the at least two non-core nodes;
the multi-node messaging system is configured to receive calls and voice messages from outside callers to the subscribers served by the multi-node messaging system, so that the outside callers are enabled to call extensions of specific subscribers served by the multi-node messaging system selected by the outside callers, and so that the outside callers are enabled to leave voicemail for the specific subscribers selected by the outside callers; and
the messaging system is configured to enable the subscribers served by the messaging system to place through the messaging system external calls directed outside the messaging system.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus, methods, and machine-readable articles of manufacture improve reliability and scalability of a messaging system. In some embodiments, the system'"'"'s configuration data and subscriber information are stored in a central repository of a core node, and replicated to one or more non-core nodes. Data replication may be performed in real-time or near real-time, periodically, sporadically, or otherwise. Nodes may rely on the replicated data to provide the system'"'"'s subscribers and outside callers with services that do not involve updating of configuration or subscriber data. In this way, the non-core nodes may continue to process calls when the core node is unavailable. For example, the non-core nodes can route calls to the appropriate subscribers without relying on the core. As another example, the non-core nodes can take messages from callers when the core node is unavailable. The messages may be queued for posting and delivery when the core node becomes available.
34 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An article of manufacture comprising non-transitory machine-readable storage medium with program code stored in the machine-readable medium, the program code being for operating a multi-node messaging system comprising a core node and a plurality of non-core nodes, the plurality of non-core nodes comprising a first non-core node and a second non-core node, each non-core node of the plurality of non-core nodes being coupled to telephone switching equipment associated with said each non-core node, wherein the program code stores computer instructions for performing steps comprising:
configuring the core node to provide central repository services for storing system configuration of the multi-node messaging system, storing subscriber information for subscribers served by the multi-node messaging system, and providing centralized administrative and subscriber access to the system configuration information and subscriber information; and configuring said each non-core node of the plurality of non-core nodes as a platform running telephony user interface applications for processing telephone calls; wherein; at least the first non-core node of the plurality of non-core nodes is configured to provide a platform running voice user interface applications for processing the telephone calls; the core node and at least two non-core nodes of the plurality of non-core nodes are configured to replicate at least a portion of the system configuration information stored on the core node and at least a portion of the subscriber information stored on the core node to each non-core node of the at least two non-core nodes; the multi-node messaging system is configured to receive calls and voice messages from outside callers to the subscribers served by the multi-node messaging system, so that the outside callers are enabled to call extensions of specific subscribers served by the multi-node messaging system selected by the outside callers, and so that the outside callers are enabled to leave voicemail for the specific subscribers selected by the outside callers; and the messaging system is configured to enable the subscribers served by the messaging system to place through the messaging system external calls directed outside the messaging system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a multi-node messaging system comprising a core node and a plurality of non-core nodes, each non-core node of the plurality of non-core nodes being coupled to telephone switching equipment associated with said each non-core node, the method comprising:
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storing subscriber information for subscribers served by the multi-node messaging system on the core node; replicating a portion of the subscriber information stored on the core node to said each non-core node; providing through the core node centralized administrative and subscriber access to the subscriber information and to the system configuration information; and running one or more telephony user interface applications for processing telephone calls at said each non-core node, wherein the one or more telephony user interface applications enable the multi-node messaging system to receive calls and voice messages from outside callers to the subscribers served by the multi-node messaging system, so that the outside callers can call extensions of specific subscribers selected by the outside callers, and so that the outside callers can leave voicemail for the specific subscribers called by the outside callers, and wherein the one or more telephony user interface applications configure the multi-node messaging system to enable the subscribers served by the multi-node messaging system to place through the multi-node messaging system external calls directed outside the multi-node messaging system, and wherein the one or more telephony user interface applications running on a first non-core node of the plurality of non-core nodes comprise a voice user interface application. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An article of manufacture comprising non-transitory machine-readable storage medium with program code stored in the machine-readable medium, the program code being for operating a multi-node messaging system comprising a core node and a plurality of non-core nodes, the plurality of non-core nodes comprising a first non-core node and a second non-core node, each non-core node of the plurality of non-core nodes being coupled to telephone switching equipment associated with said each non-core node, wherein the program code stores computer instructions for performing steps comprising:
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storing subscriber information for subscribers served by the multi-node messaging system on the core node; replicating a portion of the subscriber information stored on the core node to said each non-core node; providing through the core node centralized administrative and subscriber access to the portion of the subscriber information and to system configuration information of the multi-node messaging system; and running one or more telephony user interface applications for processing telephone calls at said each non-core node, wherein the one or more telephony user interface applications enable the multi-node messaging system to receive calls and voice messages from outside callers to the subscribers served by the multi-node messaging system, so that the outside callers can call extensions of specific subscribers selected by the outside callers, and so that the outside callers can leave voicemail for the specific subscribers called by the outside callers, and wherein the one or more telephony user interface applications configure the multi-node messaging system to enable the subscribers served by the multi-node messaging system to place through the multi-node messaging system external calls directed outside the multi-node messaging system, and wherein the one or more telephony user interface applications running on a first non-core node of the plurality of non-core nodes comprise a voice user interface application. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification