Pabx with voice mail device

• US 5,555,292 A
• Filed: 10/11/1995
• Issued: 09/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcatel NV (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel NV (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Eckhart, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele, Krista M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dharia, Parag
• Application Number:
  US08/541,110
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/201, 379/209, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/219, 379/225, 379/208, 379/142, 379/127
• US Class Current: 379/88.26
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A telephone exchange (1) with a voice mail device (7), which is able to store voice messages arriving from a first subscriber (2) and intended for a second subscriber (3), in a mailbox (9) assigned to the second subscriber (3), and to send the voice messages to the second subscriber on the second subscriber'"'"'s request. The telephone exchange (1) is controlled by a control device (5) which contains a control program (10) for controlling the desired mailbox (9), as well as a call number directory (6) that is controlled by the control program (10). In case all links (x, y, z) to the voice mail device (7) should be busy when the first subscriber (2) calls, who then orders a call-back, the control program (10) stores both the telephone number of the voice mail device (7) and the telephone number of the second subscriber (3) and, after a connection path (x, y, z) becomes available, keeps it open for the first subscriber (2), then calls him and, after the first subscriber (2) has picked up his telephone handset, automatically connects him with the voice mail device (7). The control program (10) controls a telephone number directory (6) to send the call number of the second subscriber (3) to the voice mail device (7), which then connects the first subscriber (2) with the mailbox (9) of the second subscriber (3).

Claims

1. A telephone exchange (1) with a voice mail device (7), which stores voice messages arriving from a first telephone (2) used by a first subscriber and intended for a second subscriber using a second telephone (3) in a mailbox (9) assigned to the second subscriber, and to send the voice messages to the second telephone (3) upon the second subscriber'"'"'s request, where the telephone exchange (1) includes a control device (5) which contains a process control (10) for controlling a selected mailbox (9), where in the event that all connection paths (x, y, z) to the voice mail device (7) are busy during a call made by the first subscriber, who then orders an automatic call-back when a connection path of the voice mail device becomes available, the process control (10) stores a telephone number of the voice mail device (7) and, after a connection path (x, y, z) becomes available, keeps it open for the first subscriber, then calls the first subscriber and, after the first subscriber lifts the receiver of the first telephone (2), connects the first subscriber with the voice mail device (7), characterized in that the process control (10) after said first subscriber orders the automatic call-back also stores the telephone number of the second telephone (3) and, after performing the automatic call-back sends the telephone number of the second telephone (3) to the voice mail device (7), which then connects the first telephone (2) with the mailbox (9) of the second subscriber.

2. A method for storing voice messages by way of a telephone exchange (1) in a voice mail device (7) which stores voice messages arriving from a first telephone (2) used by a first subscriber calling a second subscriber at a second telephone (3) in a mailbox (9) assigned to the second subscriber (3), and to send a stored voice message to the second telephone upon the second subscriber'"'"'s request, wherein the telephone exchange (1) includes a control device (5) which contains a control process (10) for control of access to the mailbox (9), where in the event that all connection paths (x, y, z) to the voice mail device (7) are busy during a call made by the first subscriber, who then orders a call-back, the control process (10) stores a telephone number of the voice mail device (7) and, after a connection path (x, y, z) becomes available, keeps it open for the first subscriber, then calls the first subscriber at the first telephone (2) and, after the first subscriber (2) lifts the receiver of the first telephone (2), connects the first subscriber with the voice mail device (7), characterized in that the control process (10) after said first subscriber orders the automatic call-back, also stores a telephone number of the second telephone (2) used by the second subscriber and, after performing the call-back sends the telephone number of the second telephone (3) to the voice mail device (7), which then connects the first telephone (2) with the mailbox (9) of the second subscriber (3) for recordation of a voice message from the first subscriber to the second subscriber.

3. A voice mail method for use with a telephone exchange connected to a plurality of subscriber telephones and to a voice mail device, comprising the steps of:

determining that a telephone call from a calling subscriber at a first telephone (2) has been attempted from a second telephone (3) of a called subscriber to the voice mail device (7);

determining whether access to the voice mail device is available and, if not, sending an offer of automatic call-back to the calling subscriber at the first telephone and, if accepted, storing the telephone numbers of the first and second telephones as well as the telephone number of the voice mail device;

determining subsequently that access to the voice mail device is available; and

using the stored telephone number of the first telephone to call the first telephone and using the stored telephone number of the second telephone to automatically connect the first telephone to the personal voice mailbox of the called subscriber for recordation of a voice message by the calling subscriber.