System and method of voicemail and videomail storage for instant messaging users

• US 20060271632A1
• Filed: 05/26/2005
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Holdings LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Livingood, Jason D.
• Application Number:
  US11/138,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20060271632A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1831 Tracking arrangements for later retrieval, e.g. recording contents, participants activities or behavior, network status
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems

Abstract

A communication method and system for leaving voicemail and videomail messages for an instant messaging user through the use of an instant messaging system having at least one instant messaging client. The method includes configuring the at least one instant messaging client to receive instant messages containing audio and/or video content. Another step includes generating an instant message containing audio and/or video content for the at least one instant messaging client through the use of the instant messaging system. The method also includes receiving the instant message at a message storage and retrieval system, wherein the message storage and retrieval system is adapted to store instant messages having audio and/or video content. The method further includes storing the instant message at the message storage and retrieval system, wherein the at least one instant messaging client is operable with the message storage and retrieval system for retrieval of the stored instant message. The communication system enables an instant messaging user to leave and retrieve voicemail and videomail messages through the use of the instant messaging system.

Claims

1. A method for leaving messages for an instant messaging user through the use of an instant messaging system having at least one instant messaging client, comprising:

configuring said at least one instant messaging client to receive instant messages containing audio or video content;

generating an instant message containing audio or video content for said at least one instant messaging client through the use of the instant messaging system;

receiving the instant message at a message storage and retrieval system, wherein said message storage and retrieval system is adapted to store instant messages having audio or video content; and

storing said instant message at said message storage and retrieval system, wherein said at least one instant messaging client is operable with said message storage and retrieval system for retrieval of the stored instant message.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

selecting the stored message; and

playing the stored message for the instant messaging user through the use of said at least one instant messaging client.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of configuring said instant messaging system having at least one instant messaging client includes an instant messaging client having a user interface configured to display hypertext links to said stored instant messages.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving said instant message at said message storage and retrieval system includes a unified messaging system.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of configuring an Internet web page to be operable with said instant messaging system for displaying a hypertext link to said stored message.

6. A communication system for leaving and retrieving voicemail and videomail messages through the use of an instant messaging system comprising:

a message storage and retrieval system operable with the instant messaging system and configured to store instant messages containing audio or video content;

at least one instant messaging client operable with the instant messaging system and the message storage and retrieval system, said at least one instant messaging client being configured to receive the stored instant messages containing audio or video content; and

a user interface operable with the at least one instant messaging client and configured to display hypertext links to the stored instant messages.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein said message storage and retrieval system is a unified messaging system.

8. A system according to claim 6, wherein said user interface is an Internet web page.

9. A system according to claim 6, wherein the user interface is an instant message.

10. A method for leaving messages for an instant messaging user through the use of an instant messaging system having at least a first and a second instant messaging client comprising the steps of:

configuring said first and said second instant messaging client to transmit and receive instant messages containing audio or video content;

generating an instant message having audio or video content for said second instant messaging client through the use of said first instant messaging client;

receiving said instant message at a message storage and retrieval system, wherein said message storage and retrieval system is adapted to store instant messages having audio and video content;

determining a presence status of said first instant messaging client; and

storing said instant message at said message storage and retrieval system based on said presence status, wherein said second instant messaging client is operable with said message storage and retrieval system for retrieving the stored instant message.

11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

selecting the stored message; and

playing or displaying the stored message for the instant messaging user through the use of said instant messaging client.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of determining a presence status includes determining if the instant messaging client indicates an offline, an online, or an unavailable status.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of receiving said instant message at said message storage and retrieval system includes a unified messaging system.

14. A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of determining said presence status occurs through the use of a presence system integrated with the instant messaging system.

15. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of configuring an Internet web page to be operable with said instant messaging system for displaying a hypertext link to said stored message.