UNIFIED MESSAGING GATEWAY DEVICE FOR PROVIDING OPERATION DURING A NETWORK FAILURE

• US 20080137817A1
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wilson, Michael Geoffrey Andrew, Howell, David Andrew, Didcock, Clifford
• Granted Patent: US 8,144,842 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.17
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]

Abstract

A Unified Messaging (UM) gateway device located at a branch office of a UM system manages calls if the network connecting the branch office to a UM server of the UM system is unavailable. The UM gateway device contains relatively simple hardware and software as compared to the hardware and software of a UM server. The UM gateway device provides call answering functionality, in the absence of the UM server. In various configurations, the UM gateway device provides access to mailboxes, manages incoming calls, provides an outgoing message (e.g., an announcement or prompt), provides an indication where the called-for person can be reached, and, when the network becomes available, returns management of incoming calls to the UM server and/or handles incoming calls in conjunction with the Unified Messaging server.

Claims

1. A method for processing a call, the method comprising:

receiving, by a gateway device configured to perform protocol conversion, an indication that a network connecting the gateway device to a Unified Messaging (UM) server is unavailable;

in response to the indication that the network is unavailable;

deactivating the gateway device to perform protocol conversion; and

activating the gateway device to manage incoming calls; and

in response to an incoming call, performing by the gateway device, at least one of;

providing a predetermined message; and

recording a message indicative of the incoming call.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the gateway device, an indication that the network is available;

in response to the indication that the network is available;

deactivating the gateway device to manage incoming calls; and

activating the gateway device to perform protocol conversion.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising, in response to the indication that the network is available, providing to the UM server, each message recorded in response to an incoming call.

4. A method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising, in response to the indication that the network is available, erasing each message recorded in response to an incoming call.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising providing an indication of a recorded message to an email server.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the predetermined message comprises at least one of:

an indication that the network is unavailable;

a phone number; and

an email address.

7. A method in accordance claim 1, further comprising:

performing by the gateway device, at least one of;

recording messages respectively indicative of incoming calls until memory therefore is unavailable and thereafter providing a predetermined message in response to an incoming call; and

recording a message indicative of an incoming call for a predetermined number of recorded messages and thereafter providing a predetermined message in response to an incoming call.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein protocol conversion comprises converting between a protocol compatible with an office telephone switch protocol and a VoIP protocol.

9. A gateway device for processing a call, the gateway device comprising:

an input/output portion configured to;

receive an indication that a network connecting the gateway device to a Unified Messaging (UM) server is unavailable; and

provide a predetermined message in response to an incoming call;

a processing portion configured to;

convert the gateway device from protocol conversation mode to call management mode, wherein;

in protocol conversion mode the gateway device is configured to perform protocol conversion; and

in call management mode the gateway device is configured to manage incoming calls; and

in response to an incoming call, while in call management mode perform at least one of;

provide a predetermined message; and

record a message indicative of the incoming call; and

a memory portion configured to store recorded messages.

10. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein:

the input/output portion is further configured to;

receive an indication that the network is available; and

the processing portion is further configured to;

in response to the indication that the network is available, convert the gateway device from call management mode to protocol conversion mode.

11. A device in accordance with claim 10, the input/output portion further configured to, in response to the indication that the network is available, provide to the UM server, each message recorded in response to an incoming call.

12. A device in accordance with claim 10, the processing portion further configured to, in response to the indication that the network is available, erase from the memory portion each message recorded in response to an incoming call.

13. A device in accordance with claim 9, the input/output portion further configured to provide an indication of a recorded message to an email server.

14. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the predetermined message comprises at least one of:

an indication that the network is unavailable;

a phone number; and

an email address.

15. A device in accordance claim 9, further configured to perform at least one of:

recording, by the processing portion, messages respectively indicative of incoming calls until memory therefore is unavailable and thereafter providing, by the input/output portion a predetermined message in response to an incoming call; and

recording, by the processing portion, a message indicative of an incoming call for a predetermined number of recorded messages and thereafter providing, by the input/output portion, a predetermined message in response to an incoming call.

16. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein protocol conversion comprises converting between a protocol compatible with an office telephone switch protocol and a VoIP protocol.

17. A device in accordance with claim 9, wherein the memory portion comprises at least one of a semiconductor memory, a flash memory, a magnetic memory, and an optical memory.

18. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for processing a call by performing the steps of:

causing a gateway device configured to perform protocol conversion to receive an indication that a network connecting the gateway device to a Unified Messaging (UM) server is unavailable;

in response to the indication that the network is unavailable;

deactivating the gateway device to perform protocol conversion; and

activating the gateway device to manage incoming calls; and

in response to an incoming call, performing by the gateway device, at least one of;

providing a predetermined message; and

recording a message indicative of the incoming call; and

in response to receiving an indication that the network is available;

deactivating the gateway device to manage incoming calls; and

activating the gateway device to perform protocol conversion.

19. A computer-readable medium in accordance claim 18, the computer-executable instructions further for:

causing the gateway device to perform at least one of;

recording messages respectively indicative of incoming calls until memory therefore is unavailable and thereafter providing a predetermined message in response to an incoming call; and

recording a message indicative of an incoming call for a predetermined number of recorded messages and thereafter providing a predetermined message in response to an incoming call.

20. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 18, wherein the predetermined message comprises at least one of:

an indication that the network is unavailable;

a phone number; and

an email address.