Communications Systems And Methods For Exchanging Messages Between Users

• US 20090253428A1
• Filed: 03/16/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sabse Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Navin Communications, Inc. (TeleVoice, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bhatia, Sabeer, Patel, Yogesh B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,995,715 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/432.100
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/652 Call initiation triggered by text message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems
• 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

Abstract

A communications system exchanges messages between users. A messaging store stores the messages. A messaging server accesses and manages messages of the message store. A plurality of servers interface between the messaging server and different networks of the users. Processes employing dynamic mailboxes and for selectively retrieving messages are also provided.

Claims

1. A process for notifying a user of a communication system of a waiting message, comprising the steps of:

determining whether the user is roaming;

compiling a SMS notification text message for notifying the user of the message;

if the user is roaming, embedding in the notification text message a roaming callback number, the roaming callback number allowing the user to access the message from a location where the user is roaming;

if the user is not roaming, embedding in the notification text message a home callback number, the home callback number allowing the user to access the message from a home location of the user; and

sending the notification text message to the user, with one of the roaming callback number and the home callback number.

2. The process of claim 1, the message being a newly received message.

3. The process of claim 1, the message being a message that has not been accessed by the user for a specific amount time after an initial notification.

4. The process of claim 1, the step of compiling comprising compiling the notification text message from a template appropriate for a type of the message.

5. The process of claim 1, further comprising embedding in the notification text message a message ID identifying the message.

6. A process for retrieving messages from a communication system, comprising the steps of:

receiving at the communication system a call to retrieve a message;

obtaining from the call caller identification information, ANI information, and a message ID corresponding to the message;

verifying that the caller identification information matches the ANI information; and

after the step of verifying, playing the message corresponding to the message ID.

7. The process of claim 6, further comprising initiating the call from a mobile phone by dialing a callback number included in a SMS notification text message received by the mobile phone.

8. The process of claim 7, the message ID being included in the notification text message, and the step of initiating the call further comprising obtaining the message ID from the notification text message and associating the message ID with the call.

9. The process of claim 6, further comprising initiating the call using a VOIP connection.

10. The process of claim 6, further comprising playing a message corresponding to a message ID selected by a user.

11. A process for retrieving messages from a communication system, comprising the steps of:

receiving at the communication system a call to retrieve a message;

obtaining from the call caller identification information and ANI information;

verifying that the caller identification information matches the ANI information;

providing to a user a notification of pending messages in the communication system, the notification including at least one of a caller identification information associated with at least one of the pending messages, a date of the at least one of the pending messages, a time of the at least one of the pending messages, and a length of the at least one of the pending messages;

receiving a user selection identifying one of the pending messages as a selected message; and

performing one of the following steps;

playing the selected message, deleting the selected message, and forwarding the selected message.

12. The process of claim 11, the notification comprising a SMS notification text message.

13. The process of claim 11, the notification comprising a visual notification.