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Distributed messaging system

  • US 5,841,966 A
  • Filed: 04/04/1996
  • Issued: 11/24/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for distributing messages over a local area network coupling a plurality of computer terminals, comprising the steps of:

  • (a) attempting to initiate a message session from a calling party using a calling computer terminal with at least one called party using at least one corresponding called computer terminal;

    (b) whenever such attempt fails, then generating a greeting message associated with each called computer terminal for the calling computer terminal indicating that the corresponding called party is not responding;

    (c) recording an outgoing message by the calling party to each called party, the message comprising one of an audio or audiovisual message;

    (d) storing the outgoing message in an outbox associated with the calling computer terminal;

    (e) generating envelope information including identification data indicating the calling party recorded the outgoing message;

    (f) storing the envelope information in the outbox associated with the calling computer terminal;

    (g) associating the envelope with a message waiting indicator, where the message waiting indicator indicates the presence of the envelope information and the outgoing message in the outbox and is selectable to cause the envelope information to be retrieved from the outbox and to cause the outgoing message to be retrieved from the outbox;

    (h) activating the message waiting indicator at the called computer terminal when the called computer terminal is enabled to receive messages;

    (i) in response to activating the message waiting indicator selected to retrieve the envelope information, retrieving the envelope information from the outbox to each called computer terminal;

    (j) upon such envelope information retrieval displaying the envelope information on each called computer terminal;

    (k) in response to activating the message waiting indicator selected to retrieve the outgoing message, retrieving the outgoing message from the outbox to each called computer terminal;

    (l) upon such outgoing message retrieval, playing the retrieved outgoing message back on each called computer terminal.

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