Method and apparatus for monitoring a message in a voice mail system

• US 5,651,054 A
• Filed: 04/13/1995
• Issued: 07/22/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Active Voice Corporation (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dunn, Paul M., Greco, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US08/421,382
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/376, 379/84, 379/204, 379/210, 379/215
• US Class Current: 379/88.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4563 Voicemail monitoring during recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A telephone system with extension telephones and voice mail features allows an extension owner to monitor a message as it is being left in voice mail. The monitoring method may be implemented in a system with a simple extension telephone or with an extension including a second channel of communication to a display screen. If the monitoring begins later than the time when the caller began leaving the message, monitoring may commence at a midpoint of the message or, with a delay, from the beginning of the message, playing back at a rate faster than real time to catch up with real time. For extensions with a display screen, each call received by the system for the extension creates an entry in a call log for the extension and, for each such entry where a message was left, the called party may play back the message by selecting on the screen the call log entry for that call.

Claims

1. A method, in a telephone switching system with a voice mail box for a called party'"'"'s extension, for the system to transmit to the called party a voice mail message being left by a caller while the called party is using a first communication channel for a call with a third party and allow the called party to cause the system to interrupt the caller, comprising:

(a) connecting the caller to the voice mail box,

(b) receiving voice sounds of the voice mail message from the caller,

(c) recording the voice sounds in the mail box,

(d) while the voice sounds are being recorded, transmitting at least part of the voice sounds to the called party via a second communication channel,

(e) receiving from the called party via the second communication channel a command to interrupt the caller leaving a message, and

(f) interrupting the caller leaving a message with one of (i) a connection to the called party or (ii) a recorded greeting offering to connect the caller to the called party.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the system notifies the called party that the system is receiving and recording voice sounds of the voice mail message from the caller and the system awaits a command from the called party before the system transmits the voice sounds to the called party.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second communication channel comprises a connection to a personal computer at the location of the called party and the voice sounds are played to the called party via a speaker connected to the personal computer.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(a) while the called party is using the first communication channel for a call with a third party and voice sounds of the first caller are being transmitted to the called party, receiving a call from a second caller, receiving second voice sounds of a voice mail message from the second caller, recording the second voice sounds in the mail box, and

(b) after at least part of the voice sounds of the first caller have been transmitted to the called party, transmitting to the called party at least part of the second voice sounds being left by the second caller.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

(a) receiving from the called party via the second communication channel a selection between the first caller leaving a message and the second caller leaving a message as to which caller should be interrupted.

6. A method, in a telephone switching system with a voice mail box for a called party'"'"'s extension, for the system to transmit to the called party a voice mail message being left by a caller while the called party is using the extension for a call with a third party, comprising:

(a) connecting the caller to the voice mail box,

(b) transmitting to the called party a signal that a message is being recorded in the voice mail box,

(c) receiving voice sounds of the voice mail message from the caller and recording the voice sounds in the mail box,

(d) receiving from the called party a command to put the third party on hold,

(e) putting the third party on hold,

(f) while the voice sounds are being recorded, transmitting at least part of the voice sounds to the called party;

(g) receiving a call from a second caller, connecting the second caller to the voice mail box, and transmitting to the called party a second signal that a message is being recorded in the voice mail box, and

(h) transmitting to the called party at least part of the voice sounds of the second caller.

7. A method, in a telephone switching system with a voice mail box for a called party'"'"'s extension, for the system to transmit to the called party, with a delay, a voice mail message being left by a caller, comprising:

(a) receiving voice sounds of the voice mail message from the caller and recording the voice sounds in the mail box,

(b) notifying the called party that the system is receiving and recording voice sounds of the voice mail message from the caller

(c) receiving a command from the called party to play the voice sounds, and

(d) while the voice sounds are being recorded, but with a delay of more than 1 second from the time that the voice sounds were received from the caller, playing at least part of the recorded voice sounds to the called party.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the system is connected to a personal computer at the location of the called party and the voice sounds are played to the called party via a speaker connected to the personal computer.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

(a) while voice sounds of the caller are being transmitted to the called party, receiving a call from a second caller, receiving second voice sounds of a voice mail message from the second caller, recording the second voice sounds in the mail box, and

(b) after at least part of the voice sounds of the first caller have been transmitted to the called party, transmitting to the called party at least part of the second voice sounds being left by the second caller.

33. The method of claim 7 wherein the delay is variable and the system adjusts the delay according to the time that playing of the voice sounds begins so that the voice sounds are played from their beginning.

10. A method, in a telephone switching system with a voice mail box for a called party'"'"'s extension, for the system to transmit to the called party, with a delay which shrinks over time, a voice mail message being left by a first caller, comprising:

(a) receiving voice sounds of the voice mail message from the caller and recording the voice sounds in the mail box, and

(b) beginning with a substantial delay from the time that the voice sounds were received from the caller, playing at least part of the recorded voice sounds to the called party at a rate faster than they were recorded, thereby reducing the delay as the message is played, at the same time that the voice sounds are being received.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the system also notifies the called party that the system is receiving and recording voice sounds of the voice mail message from the caller and the system awaits a command from the called party before the system transmits the voice sounds to the called party.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the system is connected to a personal computer at the location of the called party and the voice sounds are played to the called party via a speaker connected to the personal computer.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

(a) while voice sounds of the first caller are being transmitted to the called party, receiving a call from a second caller, receiving second voice sounds of a voice mail message from the second caller, recording the second voice sounds in the mail box, and

(b) after at least part of the voice sounds of the first caller have been transmitted to the called party, transmitting to the called party at least part of the second voice sounds being left by the second caller.

14. A method, in a telephone switching system with a voice mail box for a called party with an extension, which extension includes a multi-item display, for the system to transmit to the called party a voice mail message left by a caller, comprising:

(a) receiving a plurality of calls directed to the called party'"'"'s extension, including a first call from a first caller and a second call from a second caller, and, for each of the plurality of calls, transmitting to the called party'"'"'s extension'"'"'s display items identifying the call,

(b) connecting the first call to the called party'"'"'s extension,

(c) connecting the second call to the called party'"'"'s voice mail box,

(d) receiving a set of voice sounds of a voice mail message from the second caller, recording the set of voice sounds in the mail box, and storing in a memory an association between the set of voice sounds and the items displayed on the called party'"'"'s extension'"'"'s display for the call from the second caller,

(e) displaying on the called party'"'"'s extension'"'"'s display a list comprised of each of the items transmitted to the extension for each of the plurality of calls directed to the called party'"'"'s extension, including the first call and the second call,

(f) receiving at the called party'"'"'s extension a selection by a user of the displayed items for the second call, and

(g) transmitting the set of voice sounds corresponding to the selected items to the called party'"'"'s extension.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the system is connected to a personal computer at the location of the called party and the voice sounds are played to the called party via a speaker connected to the personal computer.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the multi-item display is a monitor coupled to the personal computer.

17. A telephone switching system with a voice mail box for a called party'"'"'s extension, which system may transmit to the called party a voice mail message being left by a caller while the called party is using a first communication channel for a call with a third party and may allow the called party to cause the system to interrupt the caller, comprising:

(a) means for connecting the caller to the voice mail box,

(b) means for receiving voice sounds of the voice mail message from the caller,

(c) means for recording the voice sounds in the mail box,

(d) means for, while the voice sounds are being recorded, transmitting at least part of the voice sounds to the called party via a second communication channel,

(e) means for receiving from the called party via the second communication channel a command to interrupt the caller leaving a message, and

(f) means for interrupting the caller leaving a message with one of (i) a connection to the called party or (ii) a recorded greeting offering to connect the caller to the called party.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the system further comprises means for notifying the called party that the system is receiving and recording voice sounds of the voice mail message from the caller and means for awaiting a command from the called party before transmitting at least part of the voice sounds to the called party.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the second communication channel comprises a connection to a personal computer at the location of the called party and the voice sounds are played to the called party via a speaker connected to the personal computer.

20. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

(a) means for, while the called party is using the first communication channel for a call with a third party and voice sounds of the first caller are being transmitted to the called party, receiving a call from a second caller, receiving second voice sounds of a voice mail message from the second caller and recording the second voice sounds in the mail box, and

(b) means for, after at least part of the voice sounds of the first caller have been transmitted to the called party, transmitting to the called party at least part of the second voice sounds being left by the second caller.

21. The system of claim 20 further comprising:

(a) means for receiving from the called party via the second communication channel a selection between the first caller leaving a message and the second caller leaving a message as to which caller should be interrupted.

22. A telephone switching system with a voice mail box for a called party'"'"'s extension, which system transmits to the called party a voice mail message being left by a caller while the called party is using the extension for a call with a third party, comprising:

(a) means for connecting the caller to the voice mail box,

(b) means for transmitting to the called party a signal that a message is being recorded in the voice mail box,

(c) means for receiving voice sounds of the voice mail message from the caller and recording the voice sounds in the mail box,

(d) means for receiving from the called party a command to put the third party on hold,

(e) means for putting the third party on hold,

(f) means for, while the voice sounds are being recorded, transmitting at least part of the voice sounds to the called party;

(g) means for receiving a call from a second caller, connecting the second caller to the voice mail box, and transmitting to the called party a second signal that a message is being recorded in the voice mail box, and

(h) means for transmitting to the called party at least part of the voice sounds of the second caller.

23. A telephone switching system with a voice mail box for a called party'"'"'s extension, which system transmits to the called party, with a delay, a voice mail message being left by a caller, comprising:

(a) means for receiving voice sounds of the voice mail message from the caller and recording the voice sounds in the mail box,

(b) means for notifying the called party that the system is receiving and recording voice sounds of the voice mail message from the caller;

(c) means for awaiting a command from the called party before transmitting at least part of the voice sounds to the called party; and

(d) means for, while the voice sounds are being recorded, but with a delay of more than 1 second from the time that the voice sounds were received from the caller, playing at least part of the recorded voice sounds to the called party.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the system includes a connection to a personal computer at the location of the called party and means for playing at least part of the voice sounds to the called party via a speaker connected to the personal computer.

25. The system of claim 23 further comprising:

(a) means for, while voice sounds of the caller are being transmitted to the called party, receiving a call from a second caller, receiving second voice sounds of a voice mail message from the second caller, recording the second voice sounds in the mail box, and

(b) means for, after at least part of the voice sounds of the first caller have been transmitted to the called party, transmitting to the called party at least part of the second voice sounds being left by the second caller.

34. The system of claim 23 further including means for varying the delay and means for adjusting the delay according to the time that playing of the voice sounds begins so that the voice sounds are played from their beginning.

26. A telephone switching system with a voice mail box for a called party'"'"'s extension, which system transmits to the called party, with a delay which shrinks over time, at least part of a voice mail message being left by a first caller, comprising:

(a) means for receiving voice sounds of the voice mail message from the caller and recording the voice sounds in the mail box, and

(b) means for, beginning with a substantial delay from the time that the voice sounds were received from the caller, playing at least part of the recorded voice sounds to the called party at a rate faster than they were recorded, thereby reducing the delay as the message is played, at the same time that the voice sounds are being received.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the system further includes means for notifying the called party that the system is receiving and recording voice sounds of the voice mail message from the caller and means for awaiting a command from the called party before transmitting at least part of the voice sounds to the called party.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein the system is connected to a personal computer at the location of the called party and includes means for playing at least part of the voice sounds to the called party via a speaker connected to the personal computer.

29. The system of claim 26 further comprising:

(a) means for, while voice sounds of the first caller are being transmitted to the called party, receiving a call from a second caller, receiving second voice sounds of a voice mail message from the second caller, and recording the second voice sounds in the mail box, and

(b) means for, after at least part of the voice sounds of the first caller have been transmitted to the called party, transmitting to the called party at least part of the second voice sounds being left by the second caller.

30. A telephone switching system with a voice mail box for a called party with an extension, which extension includes a multi-item display, which system transmits to the called party a voice mail message left by a caller, comprising:

(a) means for receiving a plurality of calls directed to the called party'"'"'s extension, including a first call from a first caller and a second call from a second caller, and, for each of the plurality of calls, transmitting to the called party'"'"'s extension'"'"'s display items identifying the call,

(b) means for connecting the first call to the called party'"'"'s extension,

(c) means for connecting the second call to the called party'"'"'s voice mail box,

(d) means for receiving a set of voice sounds of the voice mail message from the second caller, recording the set of voice sounds in the mail box, and storing in a memory an association between the set of voice sounds and the items displayed on the called party'"'"'s extension'"'"'s display for the call from the second caller,

(e) means for displaying on the called party'"'"'s extension'"'"'s display a list comprised of each of the items transmitted to the extension for each of the plurality of calls directed to the called party'"'"'s extension, including the first call and the second call,

(f) means for receiving at the called party'"'"'s extension a selection by a user of the displayed items for the second call, and

(g) means for transmitting the set of voice sounds corresponding to the selected items to the called party'"'"'s extension.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the system is connected to a personal computer at the location of the called party and the system includes means for playing at least part of the voice sounds to the called party via a speaker connected to the personal computer.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the multi-item display is a monitor coupled to the personal computer.