METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING MESSAGING USING VOICEMAIL

• US 20110177796A1
• Filed: 01/11/2011
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm Connected Experiences, Inc. (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: GUEDALIA, Isaac David, JACOBSTEIN, Mark Williams, GUEDALIA, Jacob
• Granted Patent: US 8,577,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53383 Message registering commands or announcements; Greetings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53391 dependent on calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0024 Services and arrangements where telephone services are combined with data services arrangements which combine a telephonic equipment and a computer H04M7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for providing voicemail services to callers of wireless devices may include providing customized outgoing messages to callers based upon the caller'"'"'s identification. A subscriber to the voicemail service may select one or more contacts associated with the subscriber to receive a customized outgoing message while the remaining callers receive a general outgoing message. The methods and apparatus may further include distributing voicemail messages from a subscriber'"'"'s voicemail accounts to one or more social networking sites. The subscriber to the voicemail services may share one or more received voicemail messages via one or more social networking accounts associated with the subscriber.

Claims

1. A method for presenting a customized outgoing message to a caller calling a wireless device, the method comprising:

accessing, at a server, a voicemail account associated with the wireless device;

receiving a selection of one or more contacts to receive the customized outgoing message;

receiving the customized outgoing message;

associating the customized outgoing message with the one or more selected contacts;

determining whether the caller is associated with the customized outgoing message; and

playing the customized outgoing message to the caller if the caller is associated with the customized outgoing message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining further comprises:

comparing caller information with the one or more selected contacts;

if the caller information matches one of the one or more selected contacts, determining that the caller is associated with the customized outgoing message; and

if the caller information does not match one of the one or more selected contacts, determining that the caller is not associated with the customized outgoing message.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the caller information comprises one of a telephone number of the caller, a name of the caller, an address of the caller, or a photo of the caller.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a general outgoing message; and

presenting the general outgoing message to the caller if the caller is not associated with the customized outgoing message.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving social network information for one or more social network services associated with the voicemail account;

accessing the one or more social network services using the social network information; and

retrieving additional information to present with the outgoing message.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining whether the additional information comprises audio; and

presenting the additional information with the outgoing message if the additional information comprises audio.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

converting the additional information into audio if the additional information does not comprise audio; and

presenting the converted information with the outgoing message.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the social network information comprises one of authentication information for the one or more social network services or information for one or more communication sessions with the social network services.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more communication sessions are established between the wireless device and the social network service.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the additional information comprises one of a status update message, a post, a new message, or a tweet.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a time period to present the customized outgoing message; and

stopping the presenting of the customized outgoing message after the time period expires.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the customized outgoing message is replaced with another outgoing message upon the time period expiring.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the time period is a recurring time period.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the customized outgoing message is individually tailored to the caller.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the customized outgoing message is tailored to a group of contacts.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the voicemail account further comprises:

comparing the device identification for the wireless device with a voicemail account identification; and

if the device identification matches the voicemail account identification, accessing the voicemail account.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the device identification comprises one of a telephone number, a subscriber identification module (SIM) card, or a wireless device mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number (MSISDN).

18. At least one processor configured to present a customized outgoing message to a caller calling a wireless device, the processor comprising:

a first module for accessing a voicemail account associated with the wireless device;

a second module for receiving a selection of one or more contacts to receive the customized outgoing message;

a third module for receiving the customized outgoing message;

a fourth module for associating the customized outgoing message with the one or more selected contacts;

a fifth module for determining whether the caller is associated with the customized outgoing message; and

a sixth module for playing the customized outgoing message to the caller if the caller is associated with the customized outgoing message.

19. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to access a voicemail account associated with the wireless device;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive a selection of one or more contacts to receive a customized outgoing message;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive the customized outgoing message;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to associate the customized outgoing message with the one or more selected contacts;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to determine whether the caller is associated with the customized outgoing message; and

at least one instruction for causing the computer to play the customized outgoing message to the caller if the caller is associated with the customized outgoing message.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

means for accessing a voicemail account associated with the wireless device;

means for receiving a selection of one or more contacts to receive a customized outgoing message;

means for receiving the customized outgoing message;

means for associating the customized outgoing message with the one or more selected contacts;

means for determining whether the caller is associated with the customized outgoing message; and

means for playing the customized outgoing message to the caller if the caller is associated with the customized outgoing message.

21. An apparatus for presenting a customized outgoing message to a caller calling a wireless device, the apparatus comprising:

a voicemail service operable to;

access a voicemail account associated with the wireless device;

receive a selection of one or more contacts to receive the customized outgoing message and to receive the customized outgoing message;

associate the customized outgoing message with the one or more selected contacts; and

determine whether the caller is associated with the customized outgoing message; and

a player operable to play the customized outgoing message to the caller if the caller is associated with the customized outgoing message.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the voicemail account is further operable to:

compare caller information with the one or more selected contacts;

if the caller information matches one of the one or more selected contacts, the voicemail account is further operable to determine that the caller is associated with the customized outgoing message; and

if the caller information does not match one of the one or more selected contacts, the voicemail account is further operable to determine that the caller is not associated with the customized outgoing message.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the caller information comprises one of a telephone number of the caller, a name of the caller, an address of the caller, or a photo of the caller.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the voicemail account is further operable to receive a general outgoing message;

and

the player is further operable to present the general outgoing message to the caller if the caller is not associated with the customized outgoing message.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the voicemail service is further operable to:

receive social network information for one or more social network services associated with the voicemail account;

access the one or more social network services using the social network information; and

retrieve additional information to present with the outgoing message.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

a determiner operable to determine whether the additional information comprises audio; and

the player further operable to present the additional information with the outgoing message if the additional information comprises audio.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

the determiner further operable to convert the additional information into audio if the additional information does not comprise audio; and

the player further operable to present the converted information with the outgoing message.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the social network information comprises one of authentication information for the one or more social network services or information for one or more communication sessions with the social network services.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the one or more communication sessions are established between the wireless device and the social network service.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the additional information comprises one of a status update message, a post, a new message, or a tweet.

31. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the voicemail account is further operable to:

receive a time period to present the customized outgoing message; and

stop the presenting of the customized outgoing message after the time period expires.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the customized outgoing message is replaced with another outgoing message upon the time period expiring.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the time period is a recurring time period.

34. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the customized outgoing message is individually tailored to the caller.

35. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the customized outgoing message is tailored to a group of contacts.

36. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the voicemail service is further operable to:

compare the device identification for the wireless device with a voicemail account identification; and

if the device identification matches the voicemail account identification, the voicemail service is operable to access the voicemail account.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the device identification comprises one of a telephone number, a subscriber identification module (SIM) card, or a wireless device mobile subscriber integrated services digital network number (MSISDN).

38. A method for sharing a voicemail message with one or more social networking sites, the method comprising:

receiving, at a server, a voicemail message at a voicemail account associated with a wireless device;

retrieving the voicemail message from the voicemail account;

receiving social network information for one or more social network services associated with the voicemail account;

accessing the one or more social network services using the social network information; and

sharing the retrieved voicemail message with the one or more social network services.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein sharing the voicemail message comprises one of uploading the voicemail message to the one or more social network services, posting a link to the voicemail message on the one or more social network services, or presenting the voicemail message on the one or more social network services.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein receiving the voicemail message further comprises sending a notification to a subscriber of the voicemail account indicating receipt of the voicemail message.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the notification comprises one of an e-mail message, a short message service (SMS) message, a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message, an icon, or an audio tone.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein retrieving the voicemail message further comprises receiving input from a subscriber selecting the voicemail message.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the social network information comprises one of authentication information for the one or more social network services or information for a communication session with the one or more social network services.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the communication session is established between the wireless device and the social network service.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the authentication information comprises a user name and a password.

46. The method of claim 38, wherein the voicemail message is received from a caller attempting to reach a user of the wireless device.

47. The method of claim 38, wherein the voicemail message is received from a user of the wireless device.

48. At least one processor configured to share a voicemail message with one or more social networking sites, the processor comprising:

a first module for receiving a voicemail message at a voicemail account associated with a wireless device;

a second module for retrieving the voicemail message from the voicemail account;

a third module for receiving social network information for one or more social network services associated with the voicemail account;

a fourth module for accessing the one or more social network services using the social network information; and

a fifth module for sharing the retrieved voicemail message with the one or more social network services.

49. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to receive a voicemail message at a voicemail account associated with a wireless device;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to retrieve the voicemail message from the voicemail account;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive social network information for one or more social network services associated with the voicemail account;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to access the one or more social network services using the social network information; and

at least one instruction for causing the computer to share the retrieved voicemail message with the one or more social network services.

50. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a voicemail message at a voicemail account associated with a wireless device;

means for retrieving the voicemail message from the voicemail account;

means for receiving social network information for one or more social network services associated with the voicemail account;

means for accessing the one or more social network services using the social network information; and

means for sharing the retrieved voicemail message with the one or more social network services.

51. An apparatus for sharing a voicemail message with one or more social networking sites, the apparatus comprising:

a voicemail account operable to;

receive a voicemail message for a wireless device;

retrieve the voicemail message from the voicemail account;

receive social network information for one or more social network services associated with the voicemail account;

access the one or more social network services using the social network information; and

share the retrieved voicemail message with the one or more social network services.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein sharing the voicemail message comprises one of uploading the voicemail message to the one or more social network services, posting a link to the voicemail message on the one or more social network services, or presenting the voicemail message on the one or more social network services.

53. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the voicemail account is further operable to send a notification to a subscriber of the voicemail account indicating receipt of the voicemail message.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the notification comprises one of an e-mail message, a short message service (SMS) message, a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message, an icon, or an audio tone.

55. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the voicemail account is further operable to receive input from a subscriber selecting the voicemail message.

56. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the social network information comprises one of authentication information for the one or more social network services or information for a communication session with the one or more social network services.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the communication session is established between the wireless device and the social network service.

58. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the authentication information comprises a user name and a password.

59. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the voicemail message is received from a caller attempting to reach a user of the wireless device.

60. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the voicemail message is received from a user of the wireless device.

61. A method for providing a customized outgoing message to a caller calling a wireless device, the method comprising:

providing, at the wireless device, a selection of one or more contacts to receive a customized outgoing message to a voicemail service account;

recording the customized outgoing message; and

sending the recorded customized outgoing message to the voicemail service account.

62. The method of claim 61, further comprising:

establishing a communication session with one or more social network services associated with a user of the wireless device; and

providing the communication session information to the voicemail service account.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the communication session is established using authentication information for the user of the wireless device.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

sending the authentication information for the one or more social network services to the voicemail service account.

65. The method of claim 62, wherein the selection of the one of more contacts is from one of a contacts data store on the wireless device, a contacts data store on a server, or a contacts data store on a social network service associated with the wireless device.

66. At least one processor configured to provide a customized outgoing message to a caller calling a wireless device, the processor comprising:

a first module for providing, at the wireless device, a selection of one or more contacts to receive a customized outgoing message to a voicemail service account;

a second module for recording the customized outgoing message; and

a third module for sending the recorded customized outgoing message to the voicemail service account.

67. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to provide, at a wireless device, a selection of one or more contacts to receive a customized outgoing message to a voicemail service account;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to record the customized outgoing message; and

at least one instruction for causing the computer to send the recorded customized outgoing message to the voicemail service account.

68. An apparatus, comprising:

means for providing a selection of one or more contacts to receive a customized outgoing message to a voicemail service account;

means for recording the customized outgoing message; and

means for sending the recorded customized outgoing message to the voicemail service account.

69. An apparatus for providing a customized outgoing message to a caller calling a wireless device, the apparatus comprising:

a voicemail client operable to;

provide a selection of one or more contacts to receive a customized outgoing message to a voicemail service account;

record the customized outgoing message;

send the recorded customized outgoing message to the voicemail service account.

70. The apparatus of claim 69, further comprising:

a social network client operable to establish a communication session with one or more social network services associated with a user of the wireless device and provide the communication session information to the voicemail service account.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the communication session is established using authentication information for the user of the wireless device.

72. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the social network client is further operable to send the authentication information for the one or more social network services to the voicemail service account.

73. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein the selection of the one of more contacts is from one of a contacts data store on the wireless device, a contacts data store on a server, or a contacts data store on a social network service associated with the wireless device.