MESSAGE FORWARDING AND RETRIEVAL WITH A SINGLE MESSAGING SERVICE

• US 20100151835A1
• Filed: 12/15/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Higashi, Michael, Hinman, Chris J., Masud, Imran, Esteve Balducci, Juan V., Atwood, John Allen, Limont, David Paul, Nalliah, Selvaraj
• Granted Patent: US 8,295,814 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/10 with dictation recording and playback systems
• 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 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

Embodiments described herein generally relate to a method and system of integrating a user'"'"'s voice mail onto a single voice messaging service, e.g., a Unified Messaging (UM) service, such that a client may access this single source for voice mail retrieval, even where such voice mails are from a variety of sources, e.g., work, mobile phone, etc. A user, or the user'"'"'s mobile operator, need only agree to accept the service, and the registration and configuration requirements for providing the service and forwarding calls to the service are automatically configured. The user'"'"'s existing “speed dial” key or other setting for retrieving voice mail may also be automatically configured to the access number(s) for the service. Configurations may monitor the status of the service and update access and/or forwarding numbers. Voice mail forwarding and settings may also be automatically reverted back to the user'"'"'s original service.

Claims

1. A method of using a single voice messaging service for handling phone calls directed to one or more different voice messaging systems of a user, comprising:

sending the user'"'"'s phone number to the voice messaging service;

receiving a forwarding phone number for the voice messaging service;

receiving an access phone number for the voice messaging service; and

registering the user'"'"'s phone number and configuring for the forwarding and retrieval of a voice mail from the voice messaging service.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the voice messaging service is a Unified Messaging service.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the configuring for the retrieval of a voice mail further comprises configuring an existing speed dial on a user mobile device to use the access phone number received by the voice messaging service.

4. The method as defined in claim 3, wherein a client application on the user mobile device configures the forwarding and retrieval of the voice mail.

5. The method as defined in claim 4, wherein the configuration occurs between the client application and the client application'"'"'s mobile operator.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the registering and configuring occurs without user interaction.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the voice messaging service validates the ownership of the user'"'"'s phone number.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

sending an indication to terminate the relationship with the voice messaging service; and

reverting the forwarding of the voice mail to a voice mail service provided by the user'"'"'s mobile operator.

9. The method as defined in claim 8, further comprising reverting to the original voice mail settings on a mobile device of the user.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

updating the access phone number for the voice messaging service if the access number changes; and

updating the forwarding phone number for the voice messaging service if the forwarding number changes.

11. A computer storage medium encoding computer executable instructions for performing a method of using a single voice messaging service for handling phone calls directed to one or more different voice messaging systems of a user, the method comprising:

receiving at the voice messaging service the user'"'"'s phone number;

provisioning an account for the user;

receiving an indication of acceptance by the user for the voice messaging service;

generating a forwarding phone number for the voice messaging service;

sending the forwarding phone number;

generating an access phone number for the voice messaging service; and

sending the access phone number.

12. The computer storage medium as defined in claim 11, wherein the voice messaging service is a Unified Messaging service.

13. The computer storage medium as defined in claim 11, wherein the voice messaging service validates the ownership of the user'"'"'s phone number prior to sending a forwarding phone number and prior to sending an access phone number.

14. The computer storage medium as defined in claim 11, wherein the forwarding phone number and the access phone number are sent to a client application on a mobile device of the user.

15. The computer storage medium as defined in claim 11, wherein the indication of acceptance by the user comprises a positive response to a query as to whether the user agrees to the service provided by the voice messaging service.

16. The computer storage medium as defined in claim 11, wherein the indication of acceptance by the user comprises an agreement to the terms of the service provided by the voice messaging service, and wherein the agreement exists in a contract between the user and the user'"'"'s mobile operator.

17. A system for using a single voice messaging service for handling phone calls directed to one or more different voice messaging systems of a user, the system comprising:

a client application for sending the user'"'"'s phone number to the voice messaging service, wherein a communication module at the client application sends the user'"'"'s phone number to the voice messaging service;

a configuration module and database at the voice messaging service for generating a forwarding phone number and an access phone number for the voice messaging service, wherein the voice messaging service is a Unified Messaging server;

a communication module at the voice messaging service for sending the forwarding phone number and the access phone number;

a configuration module at the client application for configuring a mobile device of the user to forward phone calls to the forwarding phone number and to access a voice mail at the voice messaging service, and wherein the configuration module at the client application configures an existing speed dial on the user mobile device to use the access phone number received from the voice messaging service.

18. The system as defined in claim 17, further comprising:

a registration module for registering the phone number received from the client application.

19. The system as defined in claim 18, wherein the user agrees to accept the service provided by the voice messaging service prior to the registering of the phone number.

20. The system as defined in claim 17, wherein the configuring occurs at the configuration module at the client application without user interaction.