Voice mailbox configuration methods and apparatus for mobile communication devices

• US 20040136510A1
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Vander Veen, Raymond P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,796,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/251 where a voice mode or a visual mode can be used interchangeably
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects

Abstract

In one illustrative example disclosed, a mobile communication device includes a user interface, a processor, and a wireless transmitter. The user interface includes, among other things, a visual display which is part of a graphical user interface (GUI). For configuring a voice mailbox at a remote voicemail system, the GUI visually displays a user input prompt for voice mailbox configuration information which corresponds to an audible user input prompt provided by the voicemail system. The user input prompt may be, for example, a prompt for a user password, an audible voicemail greeting, or an audible user name for the voice mailbox. Through the user interface, the voice mailbox configuration information is received by the processor in response to the user input prompt and transmitted to the voicemail system by the wireless transmitter. Advantageously, the mobile device provides a consistent user-friendly GUI for voice mailbox configuration as well as for its primary applications.

Claims

1. In a mobile communication device, a method of facilitating the communication of voice mailbox configuration information to a remote voicemail system comprising:

providing a user interface in the mobile device which includes a graphical user interface (GUI);

causing a user input prompt for voice mailbox configuration information to be visually displayed in a display of the GUI which corresponds to an audible user input prompt from a voicemail system;

receiving, through the user interface, voice mailbox configuration information which is responsive to the user input prompt; and

causing the voice mailbox configuration information to be transmitted through a wireless transmitter to the voicemail system for storage.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input prompt comprises a user input instruction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input prompt comprises a user input data field.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input prompt comprises a visual object for invoking a voicemail system command which engages the voicemail system to receive the voice mailbox configuration information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice mailbox configuration information comprises a user password for a voice mailbox of the voicemail system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice mailbox configuration information comprises an audible voicemail greeting for a voice mailbox of the voicemail system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice mailbox configuration information comprises an audible voicemail user name for a voice mailbox of the voicemail system.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing a voicemail system command for storing the voice mailbox configuration information at the voicemail system to be transmitted to the voicemail system.

9. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a user interface which includes a graphical user interface (GUI);

a visual display of the GUI which displays a user input prompt for voice mailbox configuration information corresponding to an audible user input prompt from a voicemail system;

a processor which receives, through the user interface, voice mailbox configuration information which is responsive to the user input prompt; and

a wireless transmitter which transmits the voice mailbox configuration information to the voicemail system for storage.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the user input prompt comprises a user input instruction.

11. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the user input prompt comprises a user input data field.

12. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the user input prompt comprises a visual object for invoking a voicemail system command which engages the voicemail system to receive the voice mailbox configuration information.

13. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the voice mailbox configuration information comprises a user password.

14. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the voice mailbox configuration information comprises an audible voicemail greeting received through a microphone of the user interface.

15. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the voice mailbox configuration information comprises an audible voicemail user name received through a microphone of the user interface.

16. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the wireless transmitter is operative to transmit a voicemail system command corresponding to storing the voice mailbox configuration information at the voicemail system.

17. A computer program product, comprising:

a data storage medium;

computer instructions stored on the data storage medium;

the computer instructions being executable by a processor for;

causing a user input prompt for voice mailbox configuration information to be visually displayed in a display of a mobile communication device which corresponds to an audible user input prompt from a voicemail system;

receiving voice mailbox configuration information through the user interface which is responsive to the user input prompt; and

causing the voice mailbox configuration information to be transmitted through a wireless transmitter to the voicemail system for storage.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the user input prompt comprises a user input instruction.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the user input prompt comprises a user input data field.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the user input prompt comprises a visual object for invoking a voicemail system command which engages the voicemail system to receive the voice mailbox configuration information.

21. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the voice mailbox configuration information comprises a user password.

22. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the voice mailbox configuration information comprises an audible voicemail greeting received through a microphone of the user interface.

23. In a mobile communication device, a method of facilitating the communication of voice mailbox configuration information to a remote voicemail system comprising:

visually displaying, in a graphical user interface (GUI) of the mobile device, a user input prompt for user password information associated with a voice mailbox of a voicemail system;

receiving the user password information through the GUI; and

causing the user password information to be transmitted through a wireless transmitter to the voicemail system for storage.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

causing a voicemail system command for storing the user password information at the voicemail system to be transmitted through the wireless transmitter.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

causing a telephone number of the voicemail system to be dialed after the visual displaying and the receiving of the user password information.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

causing a telephone number of the voicemail system to be dialed before the receiving of the user password information.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

wherein the user password information comprises a user password as well as a confirming user password;

comparing the user password and the confirming user password; and

if the user password and the confirming user password are not the same, again visually displaying the user input prompt for the user password information.

28. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a user interface which includes a graphical user interface (GUI);

a visual display of the GUI which displays a user input prompt for user password information associated with a voice mailbox of a voicemail system;

a processor which receives the user password information through the GUI; and

a wireless transmitter which transmits the user password information to the voicemail system for storage.

29. The mobile device of claim 28, further comprising:

the wireless transmitter being further operative to transmit a voicemail system command for storing the user password information at the voicemail system.

30. The mobile device of claim 28, further comprising:

the wireless transmitter being further operative to cause a telephone number of the voicemail system to be dialed after the visual displaying and the receiving of the user password information.

31. The mobile device of claim 28, further comprising:

the wireless transmitter being further operative to cause a telephone number of the voicemail system to be dialed before the receiving of the user password information.

32. In a mobile communication device, a method of facilitating the communication of voice mailbox configuration information to a remote voicemail system comprising:

visually displaying, in a graphical user interface (GUI) of the mobile device, a user input prompt to record an audible voicemail greeting for a voice mailbox of a voicemail system;

receiving, through a microphone of the mobile device, the audible voicemail greeting in response to the user input prompt; and

causing the audible voicemail greeting to be transmitted through a wireless transmitter to the voicemail system for storage.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

causing a voicemail system command for recording the audible voicemail greeting at the voicemail system to be transmitted through the wireless transmitter.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the user input prompt comprises a visual object in a graphical user interface (GUI) for invoking a voicemail system command to engage the voicemail system to record the audible voicemail greeting.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the user input prompt to record the audible voicemail greeting corresponds to an audible user input prompt to record the audible voicemail greeting from the voicemail system.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

initiating and maintaining a connection with the voicemail system by dialing a telephone number of the voicemail system.