Transfer of audio messages to a mobile entity

• US 20010027097A1
• Filed: 03/15/2001
• Published: 10/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: IʼAnson, Colin
• Application Number:
  US09/808,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20010027097A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53308 Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Uncompleted voice calls towards a mobile entity (20) are transferred to a service system (40) where they are recorded and inserted in corresponding data messages (55). These messages are temporarily held in the service system and later transferred to the mobile entity (20) using a data-capable bearer service (17) of a mobile radio infrastructure (10). This transfer is effected at a time determined with a view to reducing the peak traffic loading of the mobile radio infrastructure (10). At the mobile entity (20) the data messages are stored for subsequent access by a user.

Claims

1. A method of transferring audio messages to a mobile entity across a mobile radio infrastructure, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) transferring to a service system a voice call made towards the mobile entity but which cannot be completed;

(b) recording the call at the service system and forming it into a data message addressed to the mobile entity;

(c) at a time determined with a view to avoiding peak traffic loadings of the mobile radio infrastructure, passing the data message to the mobile entity over a data-capable bearer service of the mobile radio infrastructure; and

(d) storing the data message in the mobile entity for subsequent access by a user.

2. A method according to

claim 1

, wherein the data message is passed to the mobile entity at a time corresponding to an off-peak charging rate through the mobile radio infrastructure according to a predetermined tariff schedule held or accessed by the service system.

3. A method according to

claim 1

, wherein the data message is passed to the mobile entity at a time corresponding to an off-peak charging rate through the mobile radio infrastructure according to a charging schedule dynamically changed to take account of the actual loading of the mobile radio infrastructure, this schedule being accessed at least periodically by the service system.

4. A method according to

claim 1

, wherein the data message is passed to the mobile entity at a time preset according to a schedule agreed with the operator of the mobile radio infrastructure for avoiding peak load periods on the infrastructure.

5. A method according to

claim 1

, wherein the data message is passed to the mobile entity at a time negotiated with an arbitration system in communication with the mobile radio infrastructure, to satisfy transfer parameters specified by the service system for transfer of the data message through the mobile radio infrastructure.

6. A method according to

claim 1

, wherein the data message is passed to the mobile entity in response to the mobile radio infrastructure indicating to the service system that the mobile entity is available to receive the data message.

7. A method according to

claim 1

, wherein voice call is converted to text at the service system for incorporation into the data message.

8. A method according to

claim 1

, wherein transfer of the voice call to the service system results in the service system being provided with a called party ID identifying the mobile device, the service system using this ID to look up a destination address for the data message.

9. A method according to

claim 1

, wherein the data message is an e-mail message.