Systems and methods for storing, delivering, and managing messages

• US 5,870,549 A
• Filed: 10/06/1997
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Messaging Technologies, Inc. (J2 Global, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NetOffice Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Bobo, Charles R. II
• Primary Examiner(s): PEESO, THOMAS R
• Application Number:
  US08/944,741
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.36, 395/154, 348/17, 348/14, 358/400, 358/402, 358/403, 340/311.1
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/52 Telephonic communication in combination with fax communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/253 where a visual mode is used instead of a voice mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53316 Messaging centre selected by message originator
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53358 Message preview
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 : Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00458 : Sequential viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. browsing or scrolling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/324 : intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32438 : Informing the addressee of reception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 : Converting from still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 : Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 : Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 : A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 : Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 : PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 : Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 : Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 : Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13216 : Code signals, frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13286 : Direct in-dialling in PBX, DDI
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 : Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13336 : Store & forward, messaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13374 : Paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF

Abstract

A Message Storage and Deliver System (MSDS) is connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and receives incoming calls with these calls being facsimile, voice, or data transmissions. The MSDS detects the type of call and stores the message signal in a database. The MSDS is also connected to the Internet and has a hyper-text transfer protocol deamon (HTTPD) for receiving requests from users. The HTTPD forwards requests for certain files or messages to a network server which transmits at least part of the message to the HTTPD and then to the user. In addition to requests for certain documents, the HTTPD may also receive a request in the form of a search query. The search query is forwarded from the HTTPD to an application program for conducting the search of the database. The results of the search are forwarded through the HTTPD to the user. The user may then select one or more files or messages from the search results and may save the search for later reference.

Claims

1. A network message storage and delivery system, comprising:

means for receiving an incoming call and for detecting an address signal associated with said incoming call, said address signal associated with a user of said message storage and delivery system;

means for receiving a message accompanied with said address signal, said message being in a first file format;

means for converting said message from said first file format to a second file format;

means for storing said message in said second file format in a storage area;

means for receiving a request from said user for said message and for retrieving said message from said storage area; and

means for transmitting a least a portion of said message in said second file format to said user over a transmission link;

wherein said portion of said message is transmitted to said user over the network, said second file format is a mixed media page layout language and comprises a standard generalized mark-up language.

2. A network message storage and delivery system, comprising:

means for receiving an incoming call and for detecting an address signal associated with said incoming call, said address signal associated with a user of said message storage and delivery system;

means for receiving a message accompanied with said address signal, said message being in a first file format;

means for converting said message from said first file format to a second file format;

means for storing said message in said second file format in a storage area;

means for receiving a request from said user for said message and for retrieving said message from said storage area; and

means for transmitting a least a portion of said message in said second file format to said user over a transmission link;

wherein said portion of said message is transmitted to said user over the network, said second file format is a mixed media page layout language, and said network comprises the Internet.

3. A network message storage and delivery system, comprising:

a central processor for receiving an incoming call, for detecting an address signal on said incoming call, for detecting a message on said incoming call, and for placing said message in a storage area, said address signal being associated with a user of said network message storage and delivery system;

a network server for receiving said message from said storage area, for converting said message into a mixed media page layout language, and for placing said message in said storage area;

wherein when said network server receives a request from said user over said network, said network server transmits at least a portion of said message over said network to said user over a transmission link and wherein said network comprises the Internet and said network server comprises an Internet server.

4. A method of storing and delivering a message for a user, comprising the steps of:

receiving an incoming call and detecting an address signal associated with said incoming call, said address signal associated with a user;

receiving a message associated with said address signal, said message being in a first file format;

converting said message from said first file format to a second file format;

storing said message in said second file format in a storage area;

receiving a request from said user for said message and retrieving said message from said storage area; and

transmitting at least a portion of said message in said second file format to said user over a transmission link;

wherein said step of transmitting occurs over a network, said step of converting said message converts said message into a mixed media page layout language, and said step of transmitting occurs over the Internet.