Systems and Methods for Providing Enhanced Voicemail Services

• US 20090253413A1
• Filed: 06/16/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rainer, Brian Keith, Zubas, Michael Robert, Sigmund, William Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,548,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/58 Use of machine translation, e.g. for multi-lingual retrieval, for server-side translation for client devices or for real-time translation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/50 Telephonic communication in combination with video communication
• 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 2203/4545 Message forwarding selective message forwarding in packet switching networks H04L51/214
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42051 where the notification is included in the ringing tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53325 Interconnection arrangements between voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53383 Message registering commands or announcements; Greetings
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A method for managing incoming voicemail messages at a visual voicemail (VVM) system can include receiving a new voicemail message for a voicemail account associated with a mobile device, generating a deposit notification message at the VVM system in response to receiving the new voicemail message, sending the notification message to the mobile device, and receiving a request for voicemail message header information from the mobile device. The method can further include sending the voicemail message header information to the mobile device. The mobile device uses the voicemail message header information to determine a status for each voicemail message presently stored on the mobile device to identify the new voicemail message. The method can further include the VVM system receiving a request for the new voicemail message, and sending the new voicemail message to the mobile device for storage and playback on the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for managing incoming voicemail messages at a visual voicemail (VVM) system, the method comprising:

receiving, at the VVM system, a new voicemail message for a voicemail account associated with a mobile device;

generating a deposit notification message at the VVM system in response to receiving the new voicemail message, the deposit notification message being directed to the mobile device to inform the mobile device that the new voicemail message is available for download;

the VVM system sending the notification message to the mobile device;

the VVM system receiving a request for voicemail message header information, the request being generated by the mobile device in response to receiving the notification message;

the VVM system sending the voicemail message header information to the mobile device, wherein the mobile device uses the voicemail message header information to determine a status for each voicemail message presently stored on the mobile device to identify the new voicemail message by the header information;

the VVM system receiving a request for the new voicemail message; and

the VVM system sending the new voicemail message to the mobile device for storage and playback on the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the VVM system receiving the request for voicemail message header information comprises the VVM system receiving a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) get_headers message instructing the VVM system to send the header information for at least one voicemail message stored in the VVM system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the VVM system receiving the HTTP get_headers message comprises the VVM system receiving the HTTP get_headers message, wherein the HTTP get_headers message comprises a date, a time, and a calling line identity (CLI).

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the VVM receiving the HTTP get_headers message comprises the VVM system receiving the HTTP get_headers message, wherein the HTTP get_headers message further comprises authentication information to authenticate the mobile device to the VVM system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the VVM system receiving the request for the new voicemail message comprises the VVM system receiving an HTTP get_message request.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the VVM system formatting the new voicemail message into an audio format that is compatible with the mobile device prior to sending the new voicemail message to the mobile device.

7. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform a method for managing incoming voicemail messages at a visual voicemail (VVM) system, the method comprising:

receiving a new voicemail message for a voicemail account associated with a mobile device;

generating a deposit notification message in response to receiving the new voicemail message, the deposit notification message being directed to the mobile device to inform the mobile device that the new voicemail message is available for download;

sending the notification message to the mobile device;

receiving a request for voicemail message header information, the request being generated by the mobile device in response to receiving the notification message;

sending the voicemail message header information to the mobile device, wherein the mobile device uses the voicemail message header information to determine a status for each voicemail message presently stored on the mobile device to identify the new voicemail message by the header information;

receiving a request for the new voicemail message; and

sending the new voicemail message to the mobile device for storage and playback on the mobile device.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein receiving the request for voicemail message header information comprises receiving a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) get_headers message instructing the VVM system to send the header information for at least one voicemail message stored in the VVM system.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein receiving the HTTP get_headers message comprises receiving the HTTP get_headers message, wherein the HTTP get_headers message comprises a date, a time, and a calling line identity (CLI).

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein receiving the HTTP get_headers message comprises receiving the HTTP get_headers message, wherein the HTTP get_headers message further comprises authentication information to authenticate the mobile device to the VVM system.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein receiving the request for the new voicemail message comprises receiving an HTTP get_message request.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when execute, perform the step of:

formatting the new voicemail message into an audio format that is compatible with the mobile device prior to sending the new voicemail message to the mobile device.

13. A visual voicemail (VVM) system, comprising:

a transceiver for communicating with at least one mobile device over a wireless network;

a processor in communication with the transceiver;

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory comprising instructions executable by the processor to;

receive a new voicemail message for a voicemail account associated with a mobile device;

generate a deposit notification message in response to receiving the new voicemail message, the deposit notification message being directed to the mobile device to inform the mobile device that the new voicemail message is available for download;

send the notification message to the mobile device;

receive a request for voicemail message header information, the request being generated by the mobile device in response to receiving the notification message;

send the voicemail message header information to the mobile device, wherein the mobile device uses the voicemail message header information to determine a status for each voicemail message presently stored on the mobile device to identify the new voicemail message by the header information;

receive a request for the new voicemail message; and

send the new voicemail message to the mobile device for storage and playback on the mobile device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the request for voicemail message header information comprises a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) get_headers message instructing the VVM system to send the header information for at least one voicemail message stored in the VVM system.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the HTTP get_headers message comprises a date, a time, and a calling line identity (CLI).

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the HTTP get_headers message further comprises authentication information to authenticate the mobile device to the VVM system.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the request for the new voicemail message comprises an HTTP get_message request.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the memory further comprises instructions executable by the processor to format the new voicemail message into an audio format that is compatible with the mobile device prior to sending the new voicemail message to the mobile device.