Systems and methods for originating and sending a voice mail message to an instant messaging platform

• US 20040151284A1
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maria Adamczyk
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Adamczyk, Maria
• Granted Patent: US 7,283,620 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53325 Interconnection arrangements between voice mail systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for originating and sending a voice mail message to an instant messaging platform. One particular system includes a voice mail service adapted to receive a voice mail message and information associated with a recipient subscriber, request an instant messaging address associated with the recipient subscriber'"'"'s information, and encode the voice mail message for transmission to an instant messaging platform. The system also includes an associated database adapted to provide the voice mail service with an instant messaging address associated with the recipient subscriber'"'"'s information. Further, the system includes an instant messaging platform adapted to receive the encoded voice mail message from the voice mail service. Also, the system includes a network in communication with the voice mail platform and the instant messaging platform, wherein the voice mail platform transmits the encoded voice mail message to the instant messaging address, and the network routes the encoded voice mail message to the instant messaging platform.

Claims

1. A method for originating and sending a voice mail message to an instant messaging platform via a network, comprising:

receiving a voice mail message from a recipient;

based upon a recipient'"'"'s identifying information, retrieving an address for an instant messaging platform associated with the recipient from an associated database;

encoding the voice mail message for transmission to the instant messaging platform; and

routing the encoded voice mail message to the address of the instant messaging platform.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a voice mail message comprises:

receiving a call from a subscriber;

prompting the subscriber to send a message;

prompting the subscriber to enter a name associated with an instant messaging platform; and

storing a message from the subscriber.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the address is an Internet protocol address for an instant messaging platform.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the associated database is an enhanced messaging directory.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the associated database is a remote computer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein encoding the voice mail message comprises:

encoding the address of the instant messaging platform into an instant message format; and

encoding the voice mail message into an instant message format.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein encoding the voice mail message for transmission to the instant messaging platform comprises:

utilizing a voice-to-text protocol to convert the voice mail message to a text message; and

utilizing a data protocol to convert the text message to a message adapted for transmission to an instant messaging platform.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the data protocol is SMTP.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is the Internet.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein routing the encoded voice mail message via a network to the address of the instant messaging platform comprises:

sending the encoded voice mail message to an Internet protocol address for an instant messaging platform.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

notifying a recipient subscriber that the encoded voice mail message is received.

12. A system for originating and sending a voice mail message to an instant messaging platform, comprising:

a voice mail service adapted to,

receive a voice mail message and information associated with a recipient subscriber, and

request an instant messaging address associated with the recipient subscriber'"'"'s information,

encode the voice mail message for transmission to an instant messaging platform; and

an associated database adapted to,

provide the voice mail service with an instant messaging address associated with the recipient subscriber'"'"'s information;

an instant messaging platform adapted to,

receive the encoded voice mail message from the voice mail service; and

a network in communication with the voice mail platform and the instant messaging platform, wherein the voice mail platform transmits the encoded voice mail message to the instant messaging address, and the network routes the encoded voice mail message to the instant messaging platform.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

an instant messaging server adapted to,

receive the encoded voice mail message from a voice mail service via the network,

queue the encoded voice mail message in an instant messaging account associated with the recipient subscriber, and

transmit the encoded voice mail message to an instant messaging platform at a predetermined time.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the associated database is an extended messaging directory adapted to reference an instant messaging address associated with a subscriber.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the associated database is an extended messaging directory adapted to reference an address associated with an instant messaging platform.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the instant messaging platform includes at least one of the following:

a computer, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a processor-based device.

17. A method for responding to a voice mail message received at an instant messaging platform, comprising:

receiving a message with an encoded voice mail message and an address associated with an originating voice mail platform;

generating an indication that the voice mail message has been received by a recipient subscriber;

sending the indication from the instant messaging platform to the address associated with the originating voice mail platform; and

providing an indication to the originating subscriber to confirm that the recipient subscriber received the voice mail message.

18. A voice mail service for originating and sending a voice mail message to an instant messaging platform, comprising:

a user interface adapted to,

provide an option to an originating subscriber for sending a voice mail message to an instant messaging platform associated with a recipient subscriber,

receive a user command for sending a voice mail message to the instant messaging platform, and

receive a voice mail message for transmission to the instant messaging platform; and

a processor adapted to,

retrieve an address from an associated database for routing to the instant messaging platform,

encode the voice mail message for routing via a data network to the instant messaging platform, and

route the message via the data network to the address of the instant messaging platform.

19. An instant messaging platform for responding to a voice mail message from an originating subscriber, comprising:

a user interface adapted to,

provide an option to a recipient subscriber for sending a notification to a voice mail service of the originating subscriber;

receive a user command for sending the notification to the voice mail service of the originating subscriber; and

transmit the notification to the voice mail service of the originating subscriber.