SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FAST, RELIABLE SETUP OF VOICEMAIL PLAYBACK

• US 20080037734A1
• Filed: 08/08/2006
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Klassen, Gerhard D., Vander Veen, Raymond
• Granted Patent: US 8,019,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• 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

Abstract

A system and method that enables faster, more reliable setup of voicemail message playback for a mobile device is provided. A mobile device receives an message that alerts the user that a voicemail message has been received. When a user dials into the voicemail system to retrieve the message, a message is sent from the mobile device to the voicemail system to tell the voicemail system to queue-up the message for playback. The message proceeds from the mobile device through a relay to a virtual Message Service Center (MSC) gateway over a high-speed GPRS connection. The virtual MSC gateway sends the message to the voicemail system over a permanent or substantially permanent connection. Communications are acknowledged to increase reliability. The voicemail system is ready to play the message when the voice call is received.

Claims

1. A virtual message service center gateway, comprising:

a processor operable to send a message between a voicemail system and a user device via a substantially permanent data connection;

wherein said message comprises information associated with a voicemail message received by said voicemail system, and

wherein said virtual message service center is in communication with said voicemail system and said user device.

2. The virtual message service center gateway of claim 1, wherein said substantially permanent data connection is independent of a voice connection.

3. The virtual message service center gateway of claim 1, wherein said substantially permanent data connection is a GPRS connection.

4. The virtual message service center gateway of claim 1, wherein said user device is a mobile wireless communication device.

5. The virtual message service center gateway of claim 1, wherein said virtual message service center gateway and said voicemail system are configured to acknowledge successful communication therebetween, and said virtual message service center gateway and said user device are configured to acknowledge successful communication therebetween.

6. The virtual message service center gateway of claim 1, wherein said virtual message service center gateway and said user device communicate via a relay.

7. The virtual message service center gateway of claim 1, wherein said message is an SMS message.

8. The virtual message service center gateway of claim 1, wherein said voicemail system is configured to queue up said voicemail message for playback after receipt of said message from said user device.

9. The virtual message service center gateway of claim 8, wherein said voicemail message is queued up based on a message received from said virtual message service center gateway before said voicemail system establishes a voice connection with said user device.

10. The virtual message service center gateway of claim 1, wherein said user device is configured to display voicemail information associated with said voicemail message included in said message.

11. The virtual message service center gateway of claim 1, wherein said virtual message service center gateway is associated with a wireless carrier infrastructure.

12. A method of notifying a user device of a voicemail message, said method comprising:

receiving at a virtual message service center gateway a message from a voicemail system, said virtual message service center gateway being operable to process communications between said voicemail system and said user device and comprising a substantially permanent data connection with said user device; and

relaying said message from said virtual message service center gateway to said user device over said substantially permanent data connection.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said message is an SMS message.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said user device is a mobile wireless communication device.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said virtual message service center gateway communicates with said user device via a relay.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

acknowledging successful communication between said voicemail system and said virtual message service center gateway; and

acknowledging successful communication between said virtual message service center gateway and said user device.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said substantially permanent data connection is a GPRS connection.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein said substantially permanent data connection is independent of a voice connection.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein said message comprises voicemail message information comprising a unique identifier of said voicemail message.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising queuing up said voicemail message for playback by said voicemail system based on information included in said message.

21. A method of advanced notification to a voicemail system, said method comprising:

sending a first message from a voicemail system to a virtual message service center gateway, said virtual message service center gateway being operable to process communications between said voicemail system and a user device and comprising a substantially permanent data connection with said user device;

relaying said first message from said virtual message service center gateway to said user device over said substantially permanent data connection;

relaying a second message from said user device to said voicemail system via said virtual message service center gateway;

receiving said second message by said voicemail system from said virtual message service center gateway;

queuing up said voicemail message for playback by said voicemail system;

receiving a user-initiated phone call at the voicemail system; and

playing the user-requested voicemail message.

22. A system for advanced notification to a voicemail system, comprising:

a wireless carrier infrastructure, said wireless carrier infrastructure including a virtual message service center gateway,

wherein said virtual message service center gateway comprises;

a processor operable to send a message between said voicemail system and a user device via a substantially permanent data connection;

wherein said message comprises information associated with a voicemail message received by said voicemail system; and

wherein said virtual message service center is in communication with said voicemail system and said user device.