Voicemail systems and methods

• US 20080167013A1
• Filed: 01/07/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lamiraux, Henri, Anzures, Freddy Allen, Novick, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 8,553,856 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects

Abstract

Systems, methods and machine readable media for processing voicemails are described. In one embodiment, a method includes presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface which is capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails and receiving from the first user interface a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails. The data representing the plurality of voicemails are received from a second data processing system which includes a voicemail system which records voicemails left for customers of a public telephone carrier, and the first user interface is configured to receive the selection of any one of the plurality of voicemails in any order. Systems, media and other methods are also described.

Claims

1. A machine implemented method comprising:

presenting, on a first data processing system, a user interface capable of presenting a plurality of voicemails;

playing a first voicemail of the plurality of voicemails in response to receiving a first selection of the first voicemail;

receiving a second selection of a second voicemail while playing the first voicemail.

2. The method as in claim 56 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, while playing the first voicemail, a command to operate on the second voicemail; and

performing, while playing the first voicemail, the command on the second voicemail.

3. The method as in claim 57 wherein at least one of the first voicemail and the second voicemail are locally stored on the first data processing system and wherein the plurality of voicemails are recorded by a second data processing system which records voicemails left for customers of a public telephone carrier.

4. The method as in claim 58 wherein the user interface presents the plurality of voicemails separately from emails and wherein the first selection and the second selection are capable of being in an order which is different than an order based on time of receipt of a voicemail.

5. The method as in claim 58 wherein the command is at least one of:

(a) playing a voicemail;

(b) deleting a voicemail;

(c) forwarding a voicemail;

(d) saving a voicemail;

or (e) moving a voicemail to a folder.

6. The method as in claim 57 wherein the command is a sorting command which allows sorting of voicemails in a list provided by the user interface, the sorting being based on at least one of:

(a) time of receipt of voicemails;

(b) size of voicemails;

(c) phone numbers of callers who left voicemails;

or (d) names of callers who left voicemails.

7. The method of claim 57 wherein the first selection and the second selection are capable of being in an order which is different than an order based on time of receipt of a voicemail and wherein the command is at least one of:

(a) playing a voicemail;

(b) deleting a voicemail;

(c) forwarding a voicemail;

(d) saving a voicemail;

(e) moving a voicemail to a folder;

or (f) sorting a list of voicemails, and wherein the plurality of voicemails are recorded by a second data processing system which records voicemails left for customers of a public telephone carrier.

8. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which when executed cause a system to perform a method comprising:

presenting, on a first data processing system, a user interface capable of presenting a plurality of voicemails;

playing a first voicemail of the plurality of voicemails in response to receiving a first selection of the first voicemail;

receiving a second selection of a second voicemail while playing the first voicemail.

9. The medium as in claim 118 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, while playing the first voicemail, a command to operate on the second voicemail; and

performing, while playing the first voicemail, the command on the second voicemail.

10. The medium as in claim 119 wherein at least one of the first voicemail and the second voicemail are locally stored on the first data processing system and wherein the plurality of voicemails are recorded by a second data processing system which records voicemails left for customers of a public telephone carrier.

11. The medium as in claim 120 wherein the user interface presents the plurality of voicemails separately from emails and wherein the first selection and the second selection are capable of being in an order which is different than an order based on time of receipt of a voicemail.

12. The medium as in claim 120 wherein the command is at least one of:

(a) playing a voicemail;

(b) deleting a voicemail;

(c) forwarding a voicemail;

(d) saving a voicemail;

or (e) moving a voicemail to a folder.

13. The medium as in claim 119 wherein the command is a sorting command which allows sorting of voicemails in a list provided by the user interface, the sorting being based on at least one of:

(a) time of receipt of voicemails;

(b) size of voicemails;

(c) phone numbers of callers who left voicemails;

or (d) names of callers who left voicemails.

14. The medium of claim 119 wherein the first selection and the second selection are capable of being in an order which is different than an order based on time of receipt of a voicemail and wherein the command is at least one of:

(a) playing a voicemail;

(b) deleting a voicemail;

(c) forwarding a voicemail;

(d) saving a voicemail;

(e) moving a voicemail to a folder;

or (f) sorting a list of voicemails, and wherein the plurality of voicemails are recorded by a second data processing system which records voicemails left for customers of a public telephone carrier.

15. A machine comprising:

means for presenting, on a first data processing system, a user interface capable of presenting a plurality of voicemails;

means for playing a first voicemail of the plurality of voicemails in response to receiving a first selection of the first voicemail;

means for receiving a second selection of a second voicemail while playing the first voicemail.