Method and system for delivering a voice mail notification to a subscriber using cellular phone network

• US 6,418,307 B1
• Filed: 11/29/1999
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Amin, Umesh J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vuong, Quochien B.
• Application Number:
  US09/448,904
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412, 455/413, 455/414, 455/415, 455/426, 455/461, 455/462, 455/554, 455/555, 455/31.2, 455/38.4, 455/433, 379/88.2, 379/88.12, 379/88.22, 379/142
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• 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: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

A method and system of the present invention delivers a voice mail notification to a subscriber of a voice mail system to indicate that a voice mail message is waiting in the subscriber mailbox. The voice mail system cellular phone network. The voice mail notification typically includes the calling party number and the name of the calling party if available, and an index. This is forwarded through the cellular phone network to the subscriber to indicate that a voice mail message is waiting in a subscriber mailbox. Subscribers can retrieve a specific message from the Voice Mail System.

Claims

1. A method of forwarding a voice mail notification, comprising the steps of:

switching a call to a voice mail system;

requesting by said voice mail system that a calling party leave a message in a mailbox;

sending a voice mail notification to a messaging center, wherein said voice mail notification contains a number of said calling party, a name of said calling party, and an index; and

forwarding said voice mail notification from said messaging center to a mobile switching center, to a cellular base station, and to a cellular phone that can display the voice mail notification.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

determining by said messaging center said mobile switching center.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said voice mail notification is forwarded to said cellular phone along a digital control channel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said cellular phone is an IS-136 cellular phone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein

said cellular phone includes a storage device and a display.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

said storage device stores said voice mail notification.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein:

said display displays said voice mail notification.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein:

said display is an LCD screen.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein:

said display allows more than one voice mail notification to be displayed.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said index corresponds to said message in said mailbox.

11. A method of forwarding a voice mail notification, comprising the steps of:

switching a call to a network-based voice mail system;

requesting by said voice mail system that a calling party leave a message in a network-based mailbox;

recording the calling party'"'"'s message in the network-based mailbox in association with an index;

sending a voice mail notification to a messaging center, wherein said voice mail notification includes an identification of said calling party and said index;

forwarding said voice mail notification from said messaging center to a cellular phone that can display the voice mail notification;

receiving from the cellular phone said index;

accessing the message from said network-based mailbox; and

sending said message to said cellular phone.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

said voice mail notification is forwarded to said cellular phone along a digital control channel.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein:

said cellular phone is an IS-136 cellular phone.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein

said cellular phone includes a storage device and a display.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

said storage device stores said voice mail notification.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein:

said display displays said voice mail notification.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein:

said display allows more than one voice mail notification to be displayed.