Attachment of rich content to a unified message left as a voicemail

• US 20080232557A1
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baird, Randal B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,706,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems unified messaging in packet switching networks H04L51/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4518 Attachments to voicemail messages including annexed information, e.g. Attachments, in packet switching networks H04L51/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A method in one embodiment includes storing a voicemail message in a mailbox of a recipient, the voicemail message being left by a sender, and then electronically receiving one or more attachments from the sender. The one or more attachments are stored as content associated with the voicemail message. Upon accessing the mailbox, the voicemail message and the one or more attachments are provided to the recipient. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing a voicemail message in a mailbox of a recipient, the voicemail message being left by a sender;

electronically receiving one or more attachments from the sender,

storing the one or more attachments as content associated with the voicemail message; and

upon accessing the mailbox, providing the voicemail message and the one or more attachments to the recipient.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the mailbox comprises a unified messaging system.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising prompting the sender for attachments via an email message after storing the voicemail message.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic receiving of the one or more attachments from the sender comprises receiving a reply email message with the one or more attachments.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising asking, via an interactive voice response (IVR) system, whether the sender wants to attach any files to the voicemail message.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising prompting the sender for an email address of the sender.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more attachments comprise a Uniform Resource Locator.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more attachments comprise a text file.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more attachments comprise a computer readable file.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more attachments comprise a video media file.

11. The method of claim 6 further comprising sending an email message to the email address of the sender, the email message including a request for attachments and the voicemail message.

12. A method comprising:

storing a voicemail message in a unified messaging (UM) mailbox of a recipient, the voicemail message being left by a sender;

sending an email message to the sender that prompts the sender for at least one attachment to the voicemail message;

receiving a reply to the email message from the sender that contains one or more computer-readable attachments;

storing the one or more computer-readable attachments as content associated with the voicemail message;

retrieving the voicemail message from the UM mailbox for the recipient; and

retrieving the one or more computer-readable attachments for the recipient.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising, after the retrieving of the voicemail message, informing the recipient that the one or more computer-readable attachments are expected, but have yet to arrive from the sender.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the retrieving of the voicemail message occurs in response to the recipient accessing the UM mailbox at a first point in time, and the retrieving of the one or more computer-readable attachments occurs in response to the recipient accessing the UM mailbox at a second point in time later than the first point in time.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the email message includes the voicemail message.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the one or more computer-readable attachments comprise a Uniform Resource Locator.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the one or more computer-readable attachments comprise a text file.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the one or more computer-readable attachments comprise a video media file.

19. Logic encoded in one or more media for execution and when executed is operable to:

store a voicemail message in a unified messaging (UM) mailbox of a recipient, the voicemail message being left by a sender;

send an email message that prompts the sender for at least one attachment to the voicemail message;

receive a reply to the email message from the sender that contains one or more computer-readable attachments;

store the one or more computer-readable attachments as content associated with the voicemail message;

retrieve the voicemail message from the UM mailbox for the recipient; and

retrieve the one or more computer-readable attachments for the recipient.

20. The logic of claim 19 wherein the logic, when executed, is further operable to inform, after the retrieving of the voicemail message, the recipient that the one or more computer-readable attachments are expected, but have yet to arrive from the sender.

21. The logic of claim 19 wherein the voicemail message is retrieved in response to the recipient accessing the UM mailbox at a first point in time, and the one or more computer-readable attachments are retrieved in response to the recipient accessing the UM mailbox at a second point in time later than the first point in time.

22. A system comprising:

one or more network nodes running one or more application programs that implement a unified messaging (UM) system, the one of the nodes including;

one or more processors; and

a memory comprising one or more instructions executable at the processors, the one or more processors being operable, when executing the instructions, to;

store a voicemail message in a unified messaging (UM) mailbox of a recipient, the voicemail message being left by a sender;

send an email message that prompts the sender for at least one attachment to the voicemail message;

receive a reply to the email from the sender that includes one or more computer-readable attachments;

retrieve the voicemail message from the UM mailbox for the recipient; and

retrieve the one or more computer-readable attachments for the recipient.