Method and apparatus for synchronizing multimedia messages in different servers
First Claim
1. Apparatus for replaying messages in an integrated multimedia messaging system having a first message server comprising a storage and connected to a network for storing messages in a text format in the storage along with identification information uniquely identifying each text format message and state information indicating the current state of the text format messages and a second message server comprising a storage and connected to the network for storing messages of an audio format in the storage along with identification information uniquely identifying each audio format message and state information indicating the current state of the audio format messages, the apparatus comprising:
- a database containing a list of first format messages and corresponding second format messages;
a synchronizer connected to the network and responsive to the list contained in the database for insuring that state information stored in the first server storage for the first format messages and state information stored in the second server storage for second format messages is equivalents;
an audio player located in the first message server for playing audio format message; and
a request agent program which communicates with the audio player and the second message server to retrieve audio format messages from the second message server for playback by the audio player.
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Abstract
An integrated messaging system uses existing messaging systems to receive, store, retrieve and manage messages in media types and formats appropriate to each existing system using protocols which are specific to that system. Two or more systems are tightly coupled in that a message received in one system can be accessed from all other systems. Coordination between messaging systems is achieved by a synchronizer system running in one of the existing servers or in a stand-alone server. The synchronizer comprises a plurality of threads which sequentially examine corresponding mailboxes in each messaging system and update the message states in each system so that all message states correspond. In order to determine whether a message state has changed, the synchronizer maintains a state database which stores the state of each message in all messaging systems which are connected to the synchronizer. A further gatway thread is provided so that messages can be sent directly from one messaging system to another messaging system. The synchronizer is connected to each messaging system via a standard CMC interface so that it can log onto each messaging system as a trusted server and modify user'"'"'s mailboxes without requiring a password.
144 Citations
38 Claims
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1. Apparatus for replaying messages in an integrated multimedia messaging system having a first message server comprising a storage and connected to a network for storing messages in a text format in the storage along with identification information uniquely identifying each text format message and state information indicating the current state of the text format messages and a second message server comprising a storage and connected to the network for storing messages of an audio format in the storage along with identification information uniquely identifying each audio format message and state information indicating the current state of the audio format messages, the apparatus comprising:
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a database containing a list of first format messages and corresponding second format messages; a synchronizer connected to the network and responsive to the list contained in the database for insuring that state information stored in the first server storage for the first format messages and state information stored in the second server storage for second format messages is equivalents; an audio player located in the first message server for playing audio format message; and a request agent program which communicates with the audio player and the second message server to retrieve audio format messages from the second message server for playback by the audio player. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An integrated multimedia messaging system for use on a digital network, the system comprising:
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a first message server comprising a storage and connected to the network for receiving messages in a first format and for digitizing first format messages and storing the digitized first format messages in the storage along with state information indicating whether the first format messages have been read and identification information uniquely identifying each first format message; a second message server comprising a storage connected to the network for receiving messages in a second format different from the first format and for digitizing second format messages and storing the digitized second format messages in the storage along with state information indicating whether the second format messages have been read and identification information uniquely identifying each second format message; a database containing a list of first format messages and corresponding second format messages; a synchronizer connected to the network and responsive to the list contained in the database for insuring that state information stored in the first server storage for first format messages and state information stored in the second server storage for second format messages is equivalent; an audio player located in the first message server for playing audio format messages; and a request agent program which communicates with the audio player and the second message server to retrieve audio format messages from the second message server for playback by the audio player. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for replaying messages in an integrated multimedia messaging system having a first message server comprising a storage and connected to the network for storing messages in a first format in the storage along with identification information uniquely identifying each first format message and state information indicating the current state of the first format messages and a second message server comprising a storage and connected to the network for storing messages of a second format in the storage along with identification information uniquely identifying each second format message and state information indicating the current state of the second format messages, the method comprising the steps of:
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A. creating a database in the first server storage, the database containing a list of first format messages and corresponding second format messages; B. creating a synchronizer in the first server storage, the synchronizer being connected to the network and responsive to the list contained in the database for insuring that state information stored in the first server storage for first format messages and state information stored in the second server storage for second format messages is equivalent; C. creating an audio player in the first message server for playing audio format messages; and D. using a request agent program which communicates with the audio player and the second message server to retrieve audio format messages from the second message server for playback on the audio player. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A computer program product for synchronizing message states in an integrated multimedia messaging system having a first message server comprising a storage and connected to the network for storing messages in a first format in the storage along with identification information uniquely identifying each first format message and state information indicating the current state of the first format messages and a second message server comprising a storage and connected to the network for storing messages of a second format in the storage along with identification information uniquely identifying each second format message and state information indicating the current state of the second format messages, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code including:
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program code for creating a database in the first server storage, the database containing a list of first format messages and corresponding second format messages; program code for creating a synchronizer in the first server storage, the synchronizer being connected to the network and responsive to the list contained in the database for insuring that state information stored in the first server storage for first format messages and state information stored in the second server storage for second format messages is equivalent; program code for creating an audio player in the first message server for playing audio format messages; and a request agent program which communicates with the audio player and the second message server to retrieve audio format messages from the second message server for playback on the audio player. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification