IP handset-based voice mail notification

• US 20050123106A1
• Filed: 01/05/2005
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gao, Xiaofeng, Scott, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,400,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.170
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53325 Interconnection arrangements between voice mail 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

A system and method that notifies the receipt of a voicemail message at an IP telephone using one or more of instant messaging and short message service. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides an IP telephone that prepares a notification regarding the receipt of a voicemail message. In one embodiment, the IP telephone queries the availability of an instant messaging client via an instant messaging presence server, and forwards the notification to the instant messaging presence server if the instant messaging client is available. In another embodiment, the IP telephone sends the notification to a short message service client via a short message service gateway. In still another embodiment, the IP telephone sends the notification to both instant messaging client and short message service clients.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. An IP telephone comprising:

a microprocessor;

database accessible to the microprocessor, wherein the database comprises voicemail notification preferences; and

a message recorder in communication with the microprocessor;

wherein when a voicemail message is received by the message recorder, the microprocessor reviews the voicemail nofication preferences; and

wherein the microprocessor prepares a notification in accordance with the voicemail notification preferences.

17. The IP telephone of claim 16, wherein the notification inlcudes one or more attributes of the voicemail message.

18. The IP telephone of claim 17, wherein the one or more attributes comprise one or more of an identity of the caller, a date on which the voicemail was recorded, a time at which the voicemail was recorded, a time at which the voicemail was recorded, and a size of the voicemail message.

19. The IP telephone of claim 18, wherein the identity is a telephone number associated with a caller.

20. The IP telephone of claim 18, wherein the identity is the name associated with a caller.

21. The IP telephone of claim 16, wherein the microprocessor communicates with an instant messaging presence server to determine an availability of the instant messaging client.

22. The IP telephone of claim 21, wherein the microprocessor queues the notification for a later delivery if the instant messaging client is not available.

24. The IP telephone of claim 16, wherein the microprocessor sends the notification to one or more of an instant messaging client and a short message service client.

23. A method for providing voicemail notification comprising:

storing a set of voicemail notification preferences on an IP telephone;

recording a voicemail message at the IP telephone; and

preparing a notification on the IP telephone that the message has been received, such notification including a size of the message, at least one of the times the message was received, an identification of the source of the message, and an indication as to the urgency of the message.