System and method for notifying a user of voice mail messages at a cell phone site

• US 6,389,115 B1
• Filed: 12/03/1998
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: UTStarcom Incorporated (UTStarcom Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Swistock, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foster, Roland G.
• Application Number:
  US09/204,066
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• Field of Search: 455/31.2, 455/38.4, 455/401, 455/403, 455/412, 455/413, 455/415, 455/422, 455/425, 455/426, 455/428, 455/461, 455/462, 455/466, 455/554, 455/555, 379/88-1-, 379/88.17, 379/88.18, 379/88-2-, 379/88.27, 379/207.13, 370/351-356, 709/201-203
• US Class Current: 379/88.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages
• 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 7/0048 where the text-based messaging service is a Short Message Service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

System and method for providing a waiting indicator at a cell phone indicating that a voice mail message is available at a remote voice mail system. The system is placed at a voice mail system site and interacts with the voice mail system using industry standard signals, such as TAP and SMDI signals. After gathering the information provided by the voice mail system, the present invention forwards data over the internet to a cell server associated with cell phone sites. The cell phone server in turn provides for a message waiting indicator at the appropriate cell phone.

Claims

1. A premise controller for providing an indication of a voice mail message at a voice mail system associated with a private branch exchange (PBX) to an external phone server, the system comprising:

software processing message waiting signals received from the voice mail system and/or the PBX; and

software sending message waiting signals to a client server over a network wherein said client server provides message waiting indicator signals to an external phone server;

wherein said premises controller receives standard station message desk interface signals (SMDI) from the voice mail system, said SMDI signals including a message waiting indicator signal (MWI) and a corresponding voice mail number;

wherein said premise controller is further configured to receive telocator alpha numeric paging protocol signals (TAP) from the voice mail system via the PBX, said TAP signals including a voice mail number, cell phone number, and a number of voice mail messages and desired notification format.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the client server forwards the received MWI signal, cell phone number and number of messages to the external phone server.

3. A premise controller for providing an indication of a voice mail message at a voice mail system associated with a private branch exchange (PBX) to an external phone server, the system comprising:

software processing message waiting signals received from the voice mail system and/or the PBX; and

software sending message waiting signals to a client server over a network wherein said client server provides message waiting indicator signals to an external phone server; and

a cell phone database in communication with the premise controller, said cell phone number database storing cell phone numbers corresponding to voice mail numbers in the voice mail system;

wherein the premise controller includes;

software response to receiving a SMDI signal, for determining whether a TAP signal is received within a predetermined time period;

software searching the cell phone number database for a cell phone number associated with a voice mail number identified in the SMDI signal when the TAP signal is not received with the predetermined time period; and

software forwarding the cell phone number and MWI message to the client server.

4. A premise controller for providing an indication of a voice mail message at a voice mail system associated with a private branch exchange (PBX) to an external phone server, the system comprising:

software processing message waiting signals received from the voice mail system and the PBX;

software sending message waiting signals to a client server over a network wherein said client server provides message waiting indicator signals to an external phone server; and

wherein the voice mail system calls the premise controller in response to receiving a new voice mail message and plays a code to the premise controller, wherein the client server forwards data in the code to the external phone server;

wherein said code represents a voice mail number, cell phone number and a number of messages.

5. A method for providing an indication of a voice mail message at a voice mail system associated with a private branch exchange (PBX) to an external phone server, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving standard simplified message desk interface signals (SMDI) from the voice mail system, said SMDI signals including a message waiting indicator signal (MWI) and a corresponding voice mail number;

processing message waiting signals received from the voice mail system and the PBX;

sending message waiting signals to a client server using a network wherein said client server provides message waiting signals to an external phone server; and

receiving telocator alpha numeric paging protocol signals (TAP) from the voice mail system via the PBX, said TAP signals including a voice mail number, cell phone number, a number of voice mail messages and desired notification format.

6. A method for providing an indication of a voice mail message at a voice mail system associated with a private branch exchange (PBX) to an external phone server, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving standard station message desk interface signals (SMDI) from the voice mail system at a customer premise controller, said SMDI signals including a message waiting indicator signal (MWI) and a corresponding voice mail number;

processing message waiting signals received from the voice mail system and the PBX;

accessing a cell phone number database storing a list of cell phone numbers associated with voice mail numbers;

sending message waiting signals to a client server using a network wherein said client server provides message waiting signals to an external phone server;

determining, responsive to receiving a SMDI signal, whether a TAP signal if received within a predetermined time period;

searching the cell phone number database for a cell phone number associated with a voice mail number identified in the SMDI signal when the TAP signal is not received within the predetermined time period; and

forwarding the cell phone number and WMI message to the external phone server.

7. A method for providing an indication of a voice mail message at a voice mail system associated with a private branch exchange (PBX) to an external phone server, the method comprising the steps of:

processing message waiting signals received from the voice mail system and/or the PBX in a customer premise client; and

sending message waiting signals to a client server using a network wherein said client server provides message waiting signals to an external phone server; and

wherein the voice mail system further performs the steps of;

calling the customer premise client in response to receiving a new voice mail message;

playing a code to the customer premise client; and

forwarding data in the code to said client server for transmission to an external phone server;

wherein said step of playing a code includes the step of playing a code representing a voice mail number, cell phone number and a number of messages.