METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IN-PROGRESS VOICEMAIL TRANSFER BASED ON IDENTITY

• US 20090245486A1
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lingafelt, Charles Steven, O'Connell, Brian M., Walker, Keith R., Hadinata, Martinianus BudiTjahja, Moore, John E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,249,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.230
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A method, system and computer-usable medium for terminating an in-progress voicemail and immediately connecting callers to each other based on identity. A telephone system can be enabled to detect that a calling party (e.g., subscriber “A”) receives no answer from a called party (e.g., subscriber “B”) and if the calling party is a current voicemail recipient from the called party then the voicemail message can be discarded by the telephone system. Such an approach enables an immediate connection between the calling party and the called party to each other by a call switching component. The incomplete voicemail message in the voicemail system is automatically discarded. A command to discard and/or erase the voicemail message can be predetermined by the telephone system.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for ending an in-progress voicemail and connecting the subscribers, comprising:

enabling a telephone system to determine if subscriber “

A”

has left a voicemail message for subscriber “

B” and

if said subscriber “

B”

is attempting to connect with said subscriber “

A”

;

immediately connecting said subscriber “

B”

with said subscriber “

A”

based on a particular identity via a call switching component, in response to an indication by said subscriber “

A”

of a desire to receive an incoming call from said subscriber “

B”

; and

automatically erasing said voicemail message from said subscriber “

A”

.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

associating a plurality of phone numbers with said subscriber “

B”

in order to connect said subscriber “

A”

with said subscriber “

B”

, as if said subscriber “

B”

has returned a call from an originally called number.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein said subscriber “

B” and

said subscriber “

A”

are associated with said telephone system and/or with a different telephone system.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

automatically adding a phrase to said voicemail message, wherein said voicemail message is pre-pended or post-pended to an existing voicemail.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein said command comprises a digital signal for said voicemail manipulation.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein said command comprises a key tone for said voicemail manipulation.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein said command is capable of being predetermined by said telephone system and/or by a different telephone system.

8. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a data bus coupled to said processor; and

a computer-usable medium embodying computer code, said computer-usable medium being coupled to said data bus, said computer program code comprising instructions executable by said processor and configured for;

enabling a telephone system to determine if a subscriber “

A”

has left a voicemail message for a subscriber “

B” and

if said subscriber “

B”

is attempting to connect with said subscriber “

A”

;

immediately connecting said subscriber “

B”

with said subscriber “

A”

based on a particular identity via a call switching component, in response to an indication by said subscriber “

A”

of a desire to receive an incoming call from said subscriber “

B”

; and

automatically erasing said voicemail message from said subscriber “

A”

.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said instructions are further configured for:

associating a plurality of phone numbers with said subscriber “

B”

in order to connect said subscriber “

A”

with said subscriber “

B”

, as if said subscriber “

B”

has returned a call from an originally called number.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said subscriber “

B” and

said subscriber “

A”

are associated with said telephone system and/or with a different telephone system.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein said instructions are further configured for:

automatically adding a phrase to said voicemail message, wherein said voicemail message is pre-pended or post-pended to an existing voicemail.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein said command comprises a digital signal for said voicemail manipulation.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein said command comprises a key tone for said voicemail manipulation.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein said command is capable of being predetermined by said telephone system and/or by a different telephone phone system.

15. A computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, said computer program code comprising computer executable instructions configured for:

enabling a telephone system to determine if a subscriber “

A”

has left a voicemail message for a subscriber “

B” and

if said subscriber “

B”

is attempting to connect with said subscriber “

A”

;

immediately connecting said subscriber “

B”

with said subscriber “

A”

based on a particular identity via a call switching component, in response to an indication by said subscriber “

A”

of a desire to receive an incoming call from said subscriber “

B”

; and

automatically erasing said voicemail message from said subscriber “

A”

.

16. The computer-usable medium of claim 15 wherein said embodied computer program code further comprises computer executable instructions configured for:

associating a plurality of phone numbers with said subscriber “

B”

in order to connect said subscriber “

A”

with said subscriber “

B”

, as if said subscriber “

B”

has returned a call from an originally called number.

17. The computer-usable medium of claim 15 wherein said subscriber “

B” and

said subscriber “

A”

are associated with said telephone system and/or with a different telephone system.

18. The computer-usable medium of claim 15 wherein said embodied computer program code further comprises computer executable instructions configured for:

automatically adding a phrase to said voicemail message, wherein said voicemail message is pre-pended or post-pended to an existing voicemail.

19. The computer-usable medium of claim 15 wherein said command comprises a digital signal and/or a key tone for said voicemail manipulation.

20. The computer-usable medium of claim 15 wherein said command is capable of being predetermined by said telephone system and/or by a different telephone system.