Method and apparatus for message callback in a communication system

• US 20040203940A1
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Urs, Kamala D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,003,305 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/652 Call initiation triggered by text message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53341 Message reply
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

The present invention encompasses various embodiments that provide convenient message callback for users in multi-service communication systems (e.g., 100). One set of embodiments enables users leaving messages to provide the callback number or address. This allows the calling party to indicate what communication service is preferable for callback. Another set of embodiments enables users retrieving messages to select the communication service they prefer for callback. The message server (114) provides this functionality by determining the callback number or address of the preferred type from the callback information provided by the original calling party. The present invention also provides for automatic callback once the called communication unit (102) receives the callback number or address.

Claims

1. A method for a communication unit to perform message callback, the method comprising:

receiving, from a message server via a short message service, callback information associated with messaging information for the communication unit; and

initiating callback automatically using the callback information received.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising requesting the callback information from the message server.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising receiving, from the message server, an indication that callback information of at least one type is available.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the at least one type is at least one type selected from the group consisting of a dispatch identifier, a group dispatch identifier, a private dispatch identifier, a telephone number, a pager number, a fax number, a number spoken in the messaging information, a number provided by a calling party, an email address, and an internet protocol address.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein requesting the callback information comprises indicating which one of the at least one type is requested.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein indicating which one of the at least one type is requested comprises transmitting a DTMF signal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the message server comprises a server selected from the group consisting of a voice mail server, an email server, and a fax server.

8. A method for a communication unit to perform message callback, the method comprising:

receiving, from a message server, an indication that callback information is available, wherein the callback information is associated with messaging information for the communication unit on the message sever;

indicating, to the message server, a type of callback information requested; and

receiving, from the message server via a short message service, the callback information requested.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising initiating callback automatically using the callback information received.

10. A method for a communication unit to facilitate message callback, the method comprising:

transmitting, to a message server, messaging information;

obtaining, from a user, callback information associated with the messaging information; and

transmitting, to the message server, the callback information associated with the messaging information.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein messaging information comprises a voice mail message.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein obtaining callback information comprises detecting user keystrokes that identify a target callback device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein transmitting callback information comprises transmitting a DTMF signal in response to a user keystroke.

14. A method for a message server to facilitate message callback, the method comprising:

receiving, from a calling communication unit, messaging information;

receiving, from the calling communication unit, calling-party identification information;

storing the calling-party identification information as related to the messaging information;

determining calling-party callback information from at least a portion of the calling-party identification information; and

sending calling-party callback information to a called communication unit.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein sending calling-party callback information comprises sending calling-party callback information via a short message service.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein sending calling-party callback information comprises sending calling-party callback information via email.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein determining calling-party callback information comprises using a database to determine a callback dispatch identifier corresponding to a callback telephone number.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein determining calling-party callback information comprises receiving a request for callback information from the called communication unit.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the request for callback information indicates which type of callback information is requested.

20. A method for a message server to facilitate message callback, the method comprising:

receiving, from a calling communication unit, messaging information;

obtaining, from a user of the calling communication unit, callback information;

storing the callback information as related to the messaging information; and

sending the callback information to a called communication unit.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein obtaining callback information comprises receiving DTMF signals in response to user keystrokes.

22. A communication unit comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive, from a message server via a short message service, callback information associated with messaging information for the communication unit;

a transmitter; and

a processor, coupled to the receiver and the transmitter, adapted to instruct the transmitter to transmit signaling to automatically initiate callback using the callback information received.

23. A communication unit comprising:

a receiver adapted to receive, from a message server, an indication that callback information is available and adapted to receive, from the message server via a short message service, requested callback information, wherein the callback information is associated with messaging information for the communication unit on the message sever;

a transmitter; and

a processor, coupled to the receiver and the transmitter, adapted to instruct the transmitter to transmit signaling to indicate, to the message server, a type of callback information requested.