Systems and methods for storing, delivering, and managing messages

• US 20010014910A1
• Filed: 04/23/2001
• Published: 08/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Messaging Technologies, Inc. (J2 Global, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NetOffice Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Bobo, Charles R. II
• Granted Patent: US 6,564,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/40 Support for services or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/253 where a visual mode is used instead of a voice mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53316 Messaging centre selected by message originator
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53358 Message preview
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 : Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00212 : Attaching image data to computer messages, e.g. to e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00214 : details of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00217 : only involving computer data transmission protocols, e.g. SMTP, WAP or HTTP communication protocol aspects and techniques in packet data networks H04L69/00; network-specific arrangements or communication protocols supporting networked applications H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0022 : involving facsimile protocols or a combination of facsimile protocols and computer data transmission protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00458 : Sequential viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. browsing or scrolling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32106 : separate from the image data, e.g. in a different computer file
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/324 : intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32432 : in a particular memory file for retrieval by the user, e.g. in a facsimile mailbox
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32438 : Informing the addressee of reception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4413 : involving the use of passwords, ID codes or the like, e.g. PIN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/444 : to a particular document or image or part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 : Converting from still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 : Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 : Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3209 : of a telephone number
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3214 : of a date
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3215 : of a time or duration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3216 : of a job size, e.g. a number of images, pages or copies, size of file, length of message
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3243 : of type information, e.g. handwritten or text document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3247 : Data linking a set of images to one another, e.g. sequence, burst or continuous capture mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3278 : Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 : A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 : Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 : PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 : Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 : Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 : Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13216 : Code signals, frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13286 : Direct in-dialling in PBX, DDI
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 : Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13336 : Store & forward, messaging systems email H04Q2213/13375
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13374 : Paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 : Privileged access

Abstract

A Message Storage and Deliver System (MSDS) is connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and receives incoming calls with these calls being facsimile, voice, or data transmissions. The MSDS detects the type of call and stores the message signal in a database. The MSDS is also connected to the Internet and has a hyper-text transfer protocol deamon (HTTPD) for receiving requests from users. The HTTPD forwards requests for certain files or messages to a network server which transmits at least part of the message to the HTTPD and then to the user. In addition to requests for certain documents, the HTRPD may also receive a request in the form of a search query. The search query is forwarded from the HTTPD to an application program for conducting the search of the database. The results of the search are forwarded through the HTTPD to the user. The user may then select one or more files or messages from the search results and may save the search for later reference.

Claims

1. A network message storage and delivery system, comprising:

means for receiving an incoming call and for detecting an address signal associated with said incoming call, said address signal associated with a user of said message storage and delivery system;

means for receiving a message accompanied with said address signal, said message being in a first file format;

means for converting said message from said first file format to a second file format;

means for storing said message in said second file format in a storage area;

means for receiving a request from said user for said message and for retrieving said message from said storage area; and

means for transmitting a least a portion of said message in said second file format to said user over a transmission link;

wherein said portion of said message is transmitted to said user over the network, said second file format is a mixed media page layout language and comprises a standard generalized mark-up language.

2. A network message storage and delivery system, comprising:

means for receiving an incoming call and for detecting an address signal associated with said incoming call, said address signal associated with a user of said message storage and delivery system;

means for receiving a message accompanied with said address signal, said message being in a first file format;

means for converting said message from said first file format to a second file format;

means for storing said message in said second file format in a storage area;

means for receiving a request from said user for said message and for retrieving said message from said storage area; and

means for transmitting a least a portion of said message in said second file format to said user over a transmission link;

wherein said portion of said message is transmitted to said user over the network, said second file format is a mixed media page layout language, and said network comprises the Internet.

3. A network message storage and delivery system, comprising:

a central processor for receiving an incoming call, for detecting an address signal on said incoming call, for detecting a message on said incoming call, and for placing said message in a storage area, said address signal being associated with a user of said network message storage and delivery system;

a network server for receiving said message from said storage area, for converting said message into a mixed media page layout language, and for placing said message in said storage area;

wherein when said network server receives a request from said user over said network, said network server transmits at least a portion of said message over said network to said user over a transmission link and wherein said network comprises the Internet and said network server comprises an Internet server.

4. A method of storing and delivering a message for a user, comprising the steps of:

receiving an incoming call and detecting an address signal associated with said incoming call, said address signal associated with a user;

receiving a message associated with said address signal, said message being in a first file format;

converting said message from said first file format to a second file format;

storing said message in said second file format in a storage area;

receiving a request from said user for said message and retrieving said message from said storage area; and

transmitting at least a portion of said message in said second file format to said user over a transmission link;

wherein said step of transmitting occurs over a network, said step of converting said message converts said message into a mixed media page layout language, and said step of transmitting occurs over the Internet.

5. A system for receiving and storing a message signal directed to an intended recipient and for relaying the message signal to a computer, comprising:

a telephone interface for receiving an incoming call from a public switched telephone network, the incoming call including the message signal;

a central processor for receiving the message signal from the telephone interface and for storing the message signal in a storage medium;

a hyper-text transfer protocol deamon for receiving a request for the message signal from the computer and for forwarding the request to a network server, the request from the computer being formatted in a hyper-text transfer protocol; and

the network server, in response to receiving the request from the hyper-text transfer protocol deamon, forwarding at least a part of the message signal to the hyper-text transfer protocol deamon;

wherein the hyper-text transfer protocol deamon transmits at least part of the message signal to the computer.

6. The system as set forth in

claim 5

, wherein the network server converts the message signal from a first file format into a standard generalized mark-up language.

7. The system as set forth in

claim 5

, wherein the central processor converts the message signal from a first file format into a standard generalized markup language.

8. The system as set forth in

claim 5

, wherein the hyper-text transfer protocol deamon transmits the message in a hyper-text mark-up language.

9. The system as set forth in

claim 5

, wherein the hyper-text transfer protocol deamon transmits the message in a hand-held device mark-up language.

10. The system as set forth in

claim 5

, wherein the hyper-text transfer protocol deamon transmits the message in an extensible mark-up language.

11. The system as set forth in

claim 5

, wherein the hyper-text transfer protocol deamon transmits the message in a virtual reality mark-up language.

12. The system as set forth in

claim 5

, wherein the hyper-text transfer protocol deamon receives the request from the computer through the Internet.

13. The system as set forth in

claim 5

, wherein the hyper-text transfer protocol deamon receives the request from the computer through an intranet.

14. The system as set forth in

claim 5

, wherein the telephone interface receives an address signal as part of the incoming call and the central processor stores the message signal in a directory associated with that address signal.

15. The system as set forth in

claim 5

, wherein the message signal comprises a facsimile transmission.

16. The system as set forth in

claim 5

, wherein the message signal comprises a voice message.

17. The system as set forth in

claim 5

, wherein the message signal comprises a data file.

18. The system as set forth in

claim 5

, wherein the request sent from the computer to the hyper-text transfer protocol deamon comprises a search query specifying at least one search parameter for a desired search, the hyper-text transfer protocol deamon transfers the search query to the network server, the network server performs the desired search by identifying all message signals satisfying the at least one search parameter, and the hyper-text transfer protocol deamon sends results of the desired search to the computer.

19. The system as set forth in

claim 18

, wherein the central processor stores a data entry for each message signal.

20. The system as set forth in

claim 19

, wherein the data entry comprises a plurality of fields for identifying the message signal.

21. The system as set forth in

claim 19

, wherein the central processor stores the data entry in a relational database.

22. The system as set forth in

claim 18

, wherein the central processor returns a listing of all message signals contained within the desired search to the hyper-text transfer protocol deamon and the hyper-text transfer protocol deamon sends the list to the computer.

23. A method for receiving and storing a message signal directed to an intended recipient and for relaying the message signal to a computer, comprising the steps of:

receiving an incoming call from a public switched telephone network, the incoming call including the message signal;

storing the message signal in a storage medium;

receiving, at a hyper-text transfer protocol deamon, a request for the message signal from the computer and forwarding the request to a network server;

forwarding at least a part of the message signal from the network server to the hyper-text transfer protocol deamon; and

transmitting at least part of the message signal from the hyper-text transfer protocol deamon to the computer.

24. The method as set forth in

claim 23

, further comprising a step of converting the request from a first file format into a standard generalized mark-up language.

25. The method as set forth in

claim 23

, wherein the step of receiving the request comprises a step of receiving the request in a standard generalized mark-up language.

26. The method as set forth in

claim 23

, wherein the step of receiving the request comprises a step of receiving the request in a hyper-text mark-up language.

27. The method as set forth in

claim 23

, wherein the step of receiving the request comprises a step of receiving the request in a hand-held mark-up language.

28. The method as set forth in

claim 23

, wherein the step of receiving the request comprises a step of receiving the request in an extensible mark-up language.

29. The method as set forth in

claim 23

, wherein the step of receiving the request comprises a step of receiving the request in a virtual reality mark-up language.

30. The method as set forth in

claim 23

, wherein the step of receiving the call comprises a step of receiving a facsimile transmission.

31. The method as set forth in

claim 23

, wherein the step of receiving the call comprises a step of receiving a voice message.

32. The method as set forth in

claim 23

, wherein the step of receiving the call comprises a step of receiving a data file.

33. The method as set forth in

claim 23

, wherein the step of receiving the request comprises a step of receiving the request through the Internet.

34. The method as set forth in

claim 23

, wherein the step of receiving the request comprises a step of receiving the request through an intranet.

35. The method as set forth in

claim 23

, wherein the step of receiving the request comprises a step of receiving a search query from the computer with the search query specifying at least one search parameter for a desired search and the method further comprises the steps of performing the desired search through the storage and returning results of the desired search to the computer.

36. The method as set forth in

claim 35

, further comprising a step of storing a data entry in the storage for each message signal received.

37. The method as set forth in

claim 35

, wherein the step of returning the results comprises a step of returning a listing of all message signals contained within the desired search.

38. The method as set forth in

claim 35

, further comprising a step of saving the results of the desired search in the storage.

39. A computer-readable medium for storing software for use in storing and delivering a message signal, the software for use in performing the steps of:

receiving an incoming call from a public switched telephone network, the incoming call including the message signal;

storing the message signal in a storage medium;

receiving, at a hypertext transfer protocol deamon, a request for the message signal from the computer and forwarding the request to a network server;

forwarding at least a part of the message signal from the network server to the hyper-text transfer protocol deamon; and

transmitting at least part of the message signal from the hyper-text transfer protocol deamon to the computer