System for archiving voice mail messages

• US 6,522,727 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1997
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xura, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Comverse Incorporated (Mavenir Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Jones, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foster, Roland G.
• Application Number:
  US08/992,341
• Time in Patent Office: 1,889 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.17, 379/88.18, 379/88.22, 379/88.23, 379/88.24, 379/88.27, 379/84, 379/101, 379/75, 395/488, 395/489
• US Class Current: 379/88.23
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

An archival system for voice mail messages includes recording devices, such as cassette recorders, compact disc recorders and DAT recorders. The archival system may be directly connected to one or more voice mail systems, or connectable via the public switched telephone network, so that the archival system can serve several voice mail systems. Voice mail messages identified by users to be archived are stored in a transfer queue in a voice mail system. The voice mail system performs an outdialing operation to connect to the archival system and transmits the voice mail messages, together with message identifying information, such as preferred storage medium and an optional header identifying the message, to a storage queue in the archival system. The archival system instructs an operator to mount a tape or other storage medium in a selected device and then records the voice mail messages on a removable storage medium.

Claims

1. A method of producing archival recordings of voice mail messages, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a request from a user via a telephone interface to reproduce a voice mail message;

(b) retrieving the voice mail message;

(c) transferring the voice mail message to a recording device, other than that used to record the voice mail message, available to record messages for a plurality of voice mail users; and

(d) recording the voice mail message on a removable storage medium for storing messages only for the user, and further comprising the following steps performed between steps (a) and (b);

(e) initiating archival processing in response to selection of an archive option;

(f) obtaining profile information on the user; and

(g) identifying the voice mail message stored for the user.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said retrieving in step (b) comprises the step of accessing the voice mail message identified in step (g).

3. A method as recited in claim 2,

further comprising the step of (h) selecting a preferred storage medium,

wherein said transferring in step (c) comprises the step of storing the voice mail message in a storage queue, and

wherein said recording in step (d) comprises the steps of:

(d1) selecting a recording device and automatically supplying power to the recording device selected;

(d2) instructing mounting of the preferred storage medium on the recording device selected in step (d1);

(d3) verifying mounting of the preferred storage medium on the recording device selected in step (d1); and

(d4) storing the voice mail message on the preferred storage medium.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, further comprising the step of (h) selecting the removable storage medium from a plurality of removable storage media.

5. A method as recited in claim 4,

further comprising the steps of;

storing a user preferred storage medium in the profile information, prior to performing step (e), and

wherein said selecting in step (h) is performed automatically in dependence upon the profile information obtained in step (f).

6. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein said selecting in step (h) comprises the steps of:

(h1) prompting the user for selection of the removable storage medium; and

(h2) receiving a response from the user identifying the removable storage medium.

7. A method as recited in claim 3,

wherein said retrieving in step (b) is performed by a voice mail system,

further comprising the step of (h) selecting an archival system for performing step (d), and

wherein said transferring in step (c) transfers the voice mail message from the voice mail system to the archival system selected in step (h).

8. A method as recited in claim 7,

further comprising the step of (i) storing a user preferred archival system in the profile information on the voice mail system, prior to performing step (e), and

wherein said selecting in step (h) is performed automatically in dependence upon the profile information stored in step (i).

9. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said selecting in step (h) comprises the steps of:

(h1) prompting the user for selection of the archival system; and

(h2) receiving a response from the user identifying the archival system.

10. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said transferring in step (c) comprises the steps of:

(c1) outdialing to the archival system selected in step (h);

(c2) establishing a connection with the archival system;

(c3) passing user information in the profile information from the voice messaging system to the archival system; and

(c4) communicating between the voice mail system and the archival system to transfer the voice mail message.

11. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising the step of (i) queuing the voice mail message retrieved in step (b) in a transfer queue with other messages, and

wherein said transferring in step (c) transfers all messages from the transfer queue to the archival system selected in step (h).

12. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said selecting in step (h) comprises selecting an archival system from a plurality of archival systems.

13. A method of producing archival recordings of voice mail messages, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a request from a user via a telephone interface to reproduce a voice mail message;

(b) retrieving the voice mail message;

(c) transferring the voice mail message to a recording device, other than that used to record the voice mail message, available to record messages for a plurality of voice mail users,

(d) recording the voice mail message on a removable storage medium for storing messages only for the user;

(e) transferring message identifying information with the voice mail message transferred in step (c); and

(f) recording the message identifying information with the voice mail message recorded in step (d).

14. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

(g) retrieving, as part of the message identifying information, message identification data automatically stored by the voice mail system, when the voice mail message is retrieved in step (b);

(h) prompting a user for a header in response to selection of the voice mail message for archiving; and

(i) storing the header as part of the message identifying information when the user creates the header in response to said prompting in step (h).

15. A method of producing archival recordings of voice mail messages, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a request from a user via a telephone interface to reproduce a voice mail message;

(b) retrieving the voice mail message;

(c) transferring the voice mail message to a recording device, other than that used to record the voice mail message, available to record messages for a plurality of voice mail users;

(d) recording the voice mail message on a removable storage medium for storing messages only for the user;

(e) verifying accuracy of said recording in step (d); and

(f) indicating that the voice mail message retrieved in step (b) may be deleted when said verifying in step (e) determines that said recording in step (d) was accurate.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

(g) obtaining, prior to said retrieving in step (b), a request from a user for said recording in step (d); and

(h) obtaining instructions from the user whether to delete, upon said indicating in step (f), the voice mail message retrieved in step (b).

17. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

(i) deleting the voice mail message retrieved in step (b) upon said indicating in step (f) when said obtaining in step (g) indicates that said deleting should occur upon successful verification in step (e);

(j) receiving instructions from the user to delete the voice mail message retrieved in step (b) when said obtaining in step (h) indicates that said deleting in step (i) should not occur upon successful verification in step (e); and

(k) deleting the voice mail message retrieved in step (b) when the user requests deletion in step (j).

18. An apparatus for producing archival recordings, comprising:

communication means for receiving voice mail messages and message identifying information;

a processing system, operatively connected to said communication means, to control operation of said apparatus;

recording devices, operatively connected to said processing system, to record the voice mail messages on a removable storage medium; and

an interface, operatively connected to said processing system, to instruct handling of the removable storage media in accordance with the message identifying information.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said interface comprises an operator interface, operatively connected to said processing system, to communicate with at least one operator for handling of the removable storage media in accordance with the message identifying information.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 19,

wherein said communication means comprises interprocessor communication means for receiving from a plurality of voice mail systems, the voice mail messages and the message identifying information, including an archive requester, a preferred storage medium and archived message handling instructions, and

wherein said operator interface instructs the at least one operator to mount the preferred storage medium on a specified recording device, receives indications of successful mounting and completion of recording and supplies dismounting instructions and the archived message handling instructions.

21. An apparatus as recited in claim 20,

wherein said interprocessor communication means comprises a multiport telephone system interface card operatively connected to said processing system, and

wherein said apparatus further comprises a power supply control card, operatively connected to said processing system and said recording devices, to supply power only to the specified recording device for mounting, recording and dismounting operations.

22. A method of producing archival recordings of voice mail messages, comprising the steps of:

obtaining a request from a user to reproduce a voice mail message;

retrieving the voice mail message;

transferring the voice mail message to a recording device capable of recording voice mail messages from a plurality of users simultaneously, other than that used to record the voice mail message; and

recording the voice mail message on a removable storage medium for recording messages only for the user.

23. A method of producing archival recordings of voice mail messages, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a request from a user via a telephone interface to reproduce a voice mail message;

(b) initiating archival processing in response to selection of an archive option;

(c) obtaining profile information on the user;

(d) identifying the voice mail message stored for the user;

(e) retrieving the voice mail message;

(f) transferring the voice mail message to a recording device other than that used to record the voice mail message;

(g) recording the voice mail message on a removable storage medium available to record messages for a plurality of voice mail users;

(h) selecting the removable storage medium from a plurality of removable storage media; and

storing a user preferred storage medium in the profile information, prior to performing step (b),

wherein said retrieving in step (e) comprises the step of accessing the voice mail message identified in step (d), and

wherein said selecting in step (h) is performed automatically in dependence upon the profile information obtained in step (c).

24. A method of producing archival recordings of voice mail messages, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a request from a user to reproduce a voice mail message;

(b) initiating archival processing in response to selection of an archive option;

(c) obtaining profile information on the user;

(d) identifying the voice mail message stored for the user;

(e) retrieving the voice mail message;

(f) transferring the voice mail message to a recording device other than that used to record the voice mail message;

(g) recording the voice mail message on a removable storage medium available to record messages for a plurality of voice mail users;

(h) selecting an archival system for performing step (g); and

(i) storing a user preferred archival system in the profile information on the voice mail system, prior to performing step (b),

wherein said retrieving in step (e) is performed by a voice mail system and comprises the step of accessing the voice mail message identified in step (d),

wherein said transferring in step (f) transfers the voice mail message from the voice mail system to the archival system selected in step (h), and

wherein said selecting in step (h) is performed automatically in dependence upon the profile information stored in step (i).

25. A method of producing archival recordings of voice mail messages, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a request from a user to reproduce a voice mail message;

(b) initiating archival processing in response to selection of an archive option;

(c) obtaining profile information on the user;

(d) identifying the voice mail message stored for the user;

(e) retrieving the voice mail message;

(f) transferring the voice mail message to a recording device other than that used to record the voice mail message;

(g) recording the voice mail message on a removable storage medium available to record messages for a plurality of voice mail users; and

(h) selecting a preferred storage medium,

wherein said retrieving in step (e) comprises the step of accessing the voice mail message identified in step (d),

wherein said transferring in step (f) comprises the step of storing the voice mail message in a storage queue, and

wherein said recording in step (g) comprises the steps of

(g1) selecting a recording device and automatically supplying power to the recording device selected;

(g2) instructing mounting of the preferred storage medium on the recording device selected in step (g1);

(g3) verifying mounting of the preferred storage medium on the recording device selected in step (g1); and

(g4) storing the voice mail message on the preferred storage medium.

26. A method of producing archival recordings of voice mail messages, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a request from a user to reproduce a voice mail message;

(b) retrieving the voice mail message;

(c) transferring the voice mail message to a recording device other than that used to record the voice mail message;

(d) recording the voice mail message on a removable storage medium available to record messages for a plurality of voice mail users;

(e) transferring message identifying information with the voice mail message transferred in step (c);

(f) recording the message identifying information with the voice mail message recorded in step (d);

(g) retrieving, as part of the message identifying information, message identification data automatically stored by the voice mail system, when the voice mail message is retrieved in step (b);

(h) prompting a user for a header in response to selection of the voice mail message for archiving; and

(i) storing the header as part of the message identifying information when the user creates the header in response to said prompting in step (h).

27. A method of producing archival recordings of voice mail messages, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a request from a user to reproduce a voice mail message;

(b) retrieving the voice mail message;

(c) transferring the voice mail message to a recording device other than that used to record the voice mail message;

(d) recording the voice mail message on a removable storage medium available to record messages for a plurality of voice mail users;

(e) verifying accuracy of said recording in step (d); and

(f) indicating that the voice mail message retrieved in step (b) may be deleted when said verifying in step (e) determines that said recording in step (d) was accurate.

28. A method as recited in claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

(g) obtaining, prior to said retrieving in step (b), a request from a user for said recording in step (d); and

(h) obtaining instructions from the user whether to delete, upon said indicating in step (f), the voice mail message retrieved in step (b).

29. A method as recited in claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

(i) deleting the voice mail message retrieved in step (b) upon said indicating in step (f) when said obtaining in step (g) indicates that said deleting should occur upon successful verification in step (e);

(j) receiving instructions from the user to delete the voice mail message retrieved in step (b) when said obtaining in step (h) indicates that said deleting in step (i) should not occur upon successful verification in step (e); and

(k) deleting the voice mail message retrieved in step (b) when the user requests deletion in step (j).

30. A method of producing archival recordings of voice mail messages, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a request from an archiving device to reproduce a voice mail message;

(b) retrieving the voice mail message;

(c) transferring the voice mail message to a recording device; and

(d) recording the voice mail message on a removable storage medium,

wherein said receiving in step (a) comprises the steps of;

(a1) accessing profile information of a user stored at the archival device; and

(a2) identifying criteria used to determine whether the voice mail message is to be archived from the profile information.

31. A method of producing archival recordings of voice mail messages, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a request from an archiving device to reproduce a voice mail message;

(b) retrieving the voice mail message;

(c) transferring the voice mail message to a recording device; and

(d) recording the voice mail message on a removable storage medium,

wherein said receiving in step (a) comprises the steps of

(a1) accessing profile information of a user stored at the archival device; and

(a2) identifying criteria used to determine whether the voice mail message is to be archived from the profile information, and

wherein said retrieving in step (b) comprises the steps of

(b1) logging in to a voice mail system;

(b2) querying the voice mail system for a voice mail message meeting the criteria identified in step (a2); and

(b3) accessing the voice mail message meeting the criteria identified in step (a2).

32. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein said transferring step (c) comprises the step of transferring the voice mail message accessed in step (b3) from the voice mail system to the archival system.

33. A method as recited in claim 31, wherein said recording step (d) comprises the steps of:

(d1) selecting a recording device and automatically supplying power to the recording device selected;

(d2) instructing mounting of the preferred storage medium on the recording device selected in step (d1);

(d3) verifying mounting of the preferred storage medium on the recording device selected in step (d1); and

(d4) storing the voice mail message on the preferred storage medium.

34. A method of producing archival recordings of voice mail messages, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a request from a user to reproduce a voice mail message;

(b) initiating archival processing in response to selection of an archive option;

(c) obtaining profile information on a user;

(d) identifying the voice mail message stored for the user;

(e) retrieving the voice mail message;

(f) transferring the voice mail message to a recording device, other than that used to record the voice mail message, available to record messages for a plurality of voice mail users; and

(g) recording the voice mail message on a removable storage medium for storing messages only for the user.

35. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein said retrieving in step (e) comprises the step of accessing the voice mail message identified in step (d).

36. A method as recited in claim 35,

further comprising the step of (h) selecting a preferred storage medium,

wherein said transferring in step (f) comprises the step of storing the voice mail message in a storage queue, and

wherein said recording in step (g) comprises the steps of:

(g1) selecting a recording device and automatically supplying power to the recording device selected;

(g2) instructing mounting of the preferred storage medium on the recording device selected in step (g1);

(g3) verifying mounting of the preferred storage medium on the recording device selected in step (g1); and

(g4) storing the voice mail message on the preferred storage medium.

37. A method as recited in claim 35,

wherein said retrieving in step (e) is performed by a voice mail system,

further comprising the step of (h) selecting an archival system for performing step (g), and

wherein said transferring in step (f) transfers the voice mail message from the voice mail system to the archival system selected in step (h).

38. A method as recited in claim 37,

further comprising the step of (i) storing a user preferred archival system in the profile information on the voice mail system, prior to performing step (b), and

wherein said selecting in step (h) is performed automatically in dependence upon the profile information stored in step (i).

39. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein said selecting in step (h) comprises the steps of:

(h1) prompting the user for selection of the archival system; and

(h2) receiving a response from the user identifying the archival system.

40. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein said transferring in step (f) comprises the steps of:

(f1) outdialing to the archival system selected in step (h);

(f2) establishing a connection with the archival system;

(f3) passing user information in the profile information from the voice messaging system to the archival system; and

(f4) communicating between the voice mail system and the archival system to transfer the voice mail message.

41. A method as recited in claim 37, further comprising the step of (i) queuing the voice mail message retrieved in step (e) in a transfer queue with other messages, and

wherein said transferring in step (f) transfers all messages from the transfer queue to the archival system selected in step (h).

42. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein said selecting in step (h) comprises selecting an archival system from a plurality of archival systems.

43. A method as recited in claim 35, further comprising the step of (h) selecting the removable storage medium from a plurality of removable storage media.

44. A method as recited in claim 43, further comprising the step of:

storing a user preferred storage medium in the profile information, prior to performing step (b), and

wherein said selecting in step (h) is performed automatically in dependence upon the profile information obtained in step (c).

45. A method as recited in claim 43, wherein said selecting in step (h) comprises the steps of:

(h1) prompting the user for selection of the removable storage medium; and

(h2) receiving a response from the user identifying the removable storage medium.

46. A method of producing archival recordings of voice mail messages, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a request from a user to reproduce a voice mail message;

(b) retrieving the voice mail message;

(c) transferring the voice mail message to a recording device, other than that used to record the voice mail message, available to record messages for a plurality of voice mail users;

(d) recording the voice mail message on a removable storage medium for storing messages only for the user;

(e) transferring message identifying information with the voice mail message transferred in step (c); and

(f) recording the message identifying information with the voice mail message recorded in step (d).

47. A method as recited in claim 46, further comprising the steps of:

(g) retrieving, as part of the message identifying information, message identification data automatically stored by the voice mail system, when the voice mail message is retrieved in step (b);

(h) prompting a user for a header in response to selection of the voice mail message for archiving; and

(i) storing the header as part of the message identifying information when the user creates the header in response to said prompting in step (h).

48. A method of producing archival recordings of voice mail messages, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a request from a user to reproduce a voice mail message;

(b) retrieving the voice mail message;

(c) transferring the voice mail message to a recording device, other than that used to record the voice mail message, available to record messages for a plurality of voice mail users;

(d) recording the voice mail message on a removable storage medium for storing messages only for the user;

(e) verifying accuracy of said recording in step (d); and

(f) indicating that the voice mail message retrieved in step (b) may be deleted when said verifying in step (e) determines that said recording in step (d) was accurate.

49. A method as recited in claim 48, further comprising the steps of:

(g) obtaining, prior to said retrieving in step (b), a request from a user for said recording in step (d); and

(h) obtaining instructions from the user whether to delete, upon said indicating in step (f), the voice mail message retrieved in step (b).

50. A method as recited in claim 49, further comprising the steps of:

(i) deleting the voice mail message retrieved in step (b) upon said indicating in step (f) when said obtaining in step (g) indicates that said deleting should occur upon successful verification in step (e);

(j) receiving instructions from the user to delete the voice mail message retrieved in step (b) when said obtaining in step (h) indicates that said deleting in step (i) should not occur upon successful verification in step (e); and

(k) deleting the voice mail message retrieved in step (b) when the user requests deletion in step (j).

51. A method of producing archival recordings of voice mail messages, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a request from an archiving device to reproduce a voice mail message, including

(a1) accessing profile information of a user stored at the archival device, and

(a2) identifying criteria used to determine whether the voice mail message is to be archived from the profile information;

(b) retrieving the voice mail message;

(c) transferring the voice mail message to a recording device; and

(d) recording the voice mail message on a removable storage medium for storing messages only for an individual user.

52. A method as recited in claim 51, wherein said retrieving in step (b) comprises the steps of:

(b1) logging in to a voice mail system;

(b2) querying the voice mail system for a voice mail message meeting the criteria identified in step (a2); and

(b3) accessing the voice mail message meeting the criteria identified in step (a2).

53. A method as recited in claim 52, wherein said transferring step (c) comprises the step of transferring the voice mail message accessed in step (b3) from the voice mail system to the archival system.

54. A method as recited in claim 52, wherein said recording step (d) comprises the steps of:

(d1) selecting a recording device and automatically supplying power to the recording device selected;

(d2) instructing mounting of the preferred storage medium on the recording device selected in step (d1);

(d3) verifying mounting of the preferred storage medium on the recording device selected in step (d1); and

(d4) storing the voice mail message on the preferred storage medium.

55. A method of producing archival recordings of voice mail messages, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a request from an archiving device to reproduce a voice mail message;

(b) retrieving the voice mail message, including

(b1) logging in to a voice mail system,

(b2) querying the voice mail system for the voice mail message, and

(b3) accessing the voice mail message;

(c) transferring the voice mail message to a recording device; and

(d) recording the voice mail message on a removable storage medium for storing messages only for an individual user, including

(d1) selecting a recording device and automatically supplying power to the recording device selected,

(d2) instructing mounting of the preferred storage medium on the recording device selected in step (d1),

(d3) verifying mounting of the preferred storage medium on the recording device selected in step (d1), and

(d4) storing the voice mail message on the preferred storage medium.

56. A method of producing archival recordings of voice mail messages, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a request from a user to reproduce a voice mail message;

(b) storing a user preferred storage medium in profile information on the user;

(c) initiating archival processing in response to selection of an archive option;

(d) obtaining profile information on the user;

(e) identifying the voice mail message stored for the user;

(f) retrieving the voice mail message by accessing the voice mail message identified in step (e);

(g) transferring the voice mail message to a recording device other than that used to record the voice mail message;

(h) recording the voice mail message on a removable storage medium available to record messages for a plurality of voice mail users; and

(i) automatically selecting the removable storage medium from a plurality of removable storage media in dependence upon the profile information obtained in step (d).

57. A method of producing archival recordings of voice mail messages, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a request from an archiving device to reproduce a voice mail message;

(b) retrieving the voice mail message, including

(b1) logging in to a voice mail system,

(b2) querying the voice mail system for the voice mail message, and

(b3) accessing the voice mail message;

(c) transferring the voice mail message to a recording device; and

(d) recording the voice mail message on a removable storage medium, including

(d1) selecting a recording device and automatically supplying power to the recording device selected,

(d2) instructing mounting of the preferred storage medium on the recording device selected in step (d1),

(d3) verifying mounting of the preferred storage medium on the recording device selected in step (d1), and

(d4) storing the voice mail message on the preferred storage medium.