Messaging systems

• US 20030028602A1
• Filed: 08/01/2001
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bhattacharya, Jaijit
• Granted Patent: US 6,954,781 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems
• 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

Abstract

A messaging system support service advantageously allows various types of messaging systems to send intelligent notification alerts to message recipient(s). The Short Message System (SMS) can be used with Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) cellular telephone networks to send an intelligent alert to a mobile phone after a voice message has been delivered to the recipient'"'"'s voice mail box. In reply, the recipient can respond with a SMS message that directs the voice mail box to take one or more predetermined directions in relation to the message.

Claims

1. A method of providing a support service for a messaging system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a message for a user;

(b) sending a notification to the user informing the user of receipt of the message; and

(c) receiving one or more predetermined directions from the user in response to the notification to the user, each of the directions instructing one or more correspondingly predetermined actions in relation to the message.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user can access the message from a first device, and the user receives the notification using one or more second devices different from the first device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user is connected with a first communications network, and the message is received from a second communications network different from the first communications network.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined actions comprise one or more of the following:

(i) appending to the message;

(ii) deleting the message;

(iii) forwarding the message to one or more third parties;

(iv) specifying the duration for which the message is to be retained;

(v) redirecting the message to an electronic mail address;

(vi) redirecting the message to a facsimile machine; and

(vii) printing and delivering the message to a specified address.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(i) generating summary information based on the content of the message; and

(ii) including the summary information in the notification to the user.

6. A messaging system comprising:

(a) means for receiving a message for a user;

(b) means for sending a notification to the user informing the user of receipt of the message; and

(c) means for receiving one or more predetermined directions from the user in response to the notification to the user, each of the directions instructing one or more correspondingly predetermined actions in relation to the message.

7. A computer software program, recorded on a medium and capable of execution by computing means able to interpret the computer software program, the computer software program comprising:

(a) software code for receiving a message for a user;

(b) software code for sending a notification to the user informing the user of receipt of the message; and

(c) software code for receiving one or more predetermined directions from the user in response to the notification to the user, each of the directions instructing one or more correspondingly predetermined actions in relation to the message.