Integrated multimedia messaging system
First Claim
1. Apparatus for use on a digital network for coordinating messages received in both a first messaging system which receives and stores messages in a first format and a second heterogeneous messaging system which receives and stores messages in a second format, the apparatus comprising:
- a synchronizer connected to the network;
a first standard interface connecting the synchronizer to the first messaging system to allow the synchronizer to control the first messaging system;
a second standard interface connecting the synchronizer to the second messaging system to allow the synchronizer to control the second messaging system;
a first mechanism in the synchronizer for examining the second messaging system and for insuring that information is stored in the first messaging system corresponding to messages stored in second messaging system; and
a second mechanism in the synchronizer cooperating with the first mechanism for deleting messages stored in the second messaging system corresponding to the information stored in the first messaging system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated messaging system uses existing messaging equipment 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 systems. Coordination between messaging systems is achieved by a synchronizer system which periodically connects to each system by means of a standard interface and insures that messages created or received in one system are distributed or identified in all other messaging systems. Thus, the messaging systems can operate together even though they have different user interfaces, storage designs and formats and access and routing protocols. In one embodiment, a message received in one system is copied to the other system. In another embodiment, the header information in a message is preserved in a message created in the other system, but the message is not copied. The header information allows the message to be located and reproduced. In still another embodiment, one messaging system is designated as the single store for all messages.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus for use on a digital network for coordinating messages received in both a first messaging system which receives and stores messages in a first format and a second heterogeneous messaging system which receives and stores messages in a second format, the apparatus comprising:
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a synchronizer connected to the network; a first standard interface connecting the synchronizer to the first messaging system to allow the synchronizer to control the first messaging system; a second standard interface connecting the synchronizer to the second messaging system to allow the synchronizer to control the second messaging system; a first mechanism in the synchronizer for examining the second messaging system and for insuring that information is stored in the first messaging system corresponding to messages stored in second messaging system; and a second mechanism in the synchronizer cooperating with the first mechanism for deleting messages stored in the second messaging system corresponding to the information stored in the first messaging system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. 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 synchronizer connected to the network for insuring that message information is stored in the first server storage for both first format messages stored in the first server storage and second format messages stored in the second server storage; and a mechanism in the synchronizer which is responsive to second format message information being stored in the first server storage for accessing the second server using the message information stored in the first server to delete second format messages stored therein. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for use on a digital network for coordinating messages received in both a first messaging system which receives and stores messages in a first format and a second heterogeneous messaging system which receives and stores messages in a second format, the method comprising the steps of:
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A. creating a synchronizer and connecting it to the network; B. connecting the synchronizer to the first messaging system by means of a first standard interface to allow the synchronizer to control the first messaging system; C. connecting the synchronizer to the second messaging system by means of a second standard interface to allow the synchronizer to control the second messaging system; D. using a first mechanism in the synchronizer to examine the second messaging system and to insure that information is stored in the first messaging system corresponding to messages stored in second messaging system; and E. using a second mechanism in the synchronizer to examine the first messaging system and to delete messages stored in the second messaging system corresponding to the information stored in first messaging system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product for use on a digital network for coordinating messages received in both a first messaging system which receives and stores messages in a first format and a second heterogeneous messaging system which receives and stores messages in a second format, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the program code including:
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program code for creating synchronizer connected to the network; program code for creating a first standard interface connecting the synchronizer to the first messaging system to allow the synchronizer to control the first messaging system; program code for creating a second standard interface connecting the synchronizer to the second messaging system to allow the synchronizer to control the second messaging system; first program code in the synchronizer for examining the second messaging system and for insuring that information is stored in the first messaging system corresponding to messages stored in second messaging system; and second program code in the synchronizer for examining the first messaging system and for deleting messages in the second messaging system corresponding to messages stored in first messaging system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification