Unified messaging notification
First Claim
1. A system for unified messaging, comprising:
- a message-waiting interface, the message interface configured to provide an indication of a number of messages for each of a plurality of message types;
a first switching matrix in electrical communication with the message interface;
a first gateway in electrical communication with the first switching matrix;
a wideband network in electrical communication with the first gateway;
a second gateway in electrical communication with the wideband network;
a second switching matrix in electrical communication with the second gateway; and
a message server in electrical communication with the second switching matrix and programmed with a message server application, the message server operatively coupled to message mailboxes data storage, the message server application programmed to selectively access a message mailbox of the message mailboxes data storage, the message mailboxes data storage adapted to store each of the plurality of message types.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for unified messaging is described. More particularly, a visual or audible indication is provided to a served party that one or more messages are waiting on a network based centralized mail accumulation system. These messages may be voicemail, e-mail, fax mail, data mail, video mail, videoconference mail, picture mail, and the like, including without limitation any combination thereof. This notification is accomplished in part through use of an application running on a mail accumulation system or on an adjunct computer serving multiple mail accumulation systems. This application may be operatively coupled to customer premises'"'"' equipment and a message waiting indicator device. This coupling may be achieved using telephone wiring.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A system for unified messaging, comprising:
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a message-waiting interface, the message interface configured to provide an indication of a number of messages for each of a plurality of message types;
a first switching matrix in electrical communication with the message interface;
a first gateway in electrical communication with the first switching matrix;
a wideband network in electrical communication with the first gateway;
a second gateway in electrical communication with the wideband network;
a second switching matrix in electrical communication with the second gateway; and
a message server in electrical communication with the second switching matrix and programmed with a message server application, the message server operatively coupled to message mailboxes data storage, the message server application programmed to selectively access a message mailbox of the message mailboxes data storage, the message mailboxes data storage adapted to store each of the plurality of message types. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for unified messaging, comprising:
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a telephone;
a message interface in electrical communication with the telephone, the message interface configured to provide an indication of a number of messages for each of a plurality of message types;
a first telephone-switching matrix in electrical communication with the message interface;
a first internet/telephone gateway in electrical communication with the first telephone-switching matrix;
a wideband network in electrical communication with the first internet/telephone gateway;
a second internet/telephone gateway in electrical communication with the wideband network;
a second telephone-switching matrix in electrical communication with the second internet/telephone gateway; and
a message server in electrical communication with the second telephone-switching matrix and programmed with a message server application, the message server operatively coupled to a data store of message mailboxes, the message server application programmed to selectively access the data store of message mailboxes to access a selected message mailbox, the message mailbox adapted to receive any of the plurality of message types. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A system for unified messaging, comprising:
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a telephone;
a message interface operatively coupled to the telephone and configured to provide an indication of a number of messages for each of a plurality of message types;
a local loop network operatively coupled to the message interface;
a local telephone switching office operatively coupled to the local loop network;
a first primary rate communication link operatively coupled to the local telephone switching office;
a first internet protocol/public switched telephone network (IP/PSTN) gateway operatively coupled to the telephone-switching matrix and configured for converting PSTN information to voice over IP (VOIP) information;
a first IP communication link operatively coupled to the first IP/PSTN gateway and configured for handling VOIP information;
an IP backbone network operatively coupled to the first IP communication link and configured for handling VOIP information;
a second IP communication link operatively coupled to the IP backbone network and configured for handling VOIP information;
a second IP/PSTN gateway operatively coupled to the second IP communication link and configured for converting VOIP information to PSTN information;
a second primary rate communication link operatively coupled to the second IP/PSTN gateway;
a telephone-switching matrix operatively coupled to the second primary rate communication link;
a third primary rate communication link operatively coupled to the telephone-switching matrix; and
a message server operatively coupled to the third primary rate communication link and programmed with a message server application, the message server operatively coupled to a data store of message mailboxes, the message server application programmed to selectively access the data store of message mailboxes, the message mailboxes adapted to receive any of the plurality of message types, wherein at least two of the plurality of message types are selected from a group comprising voicemail, fax mail, e-mail, data mail, video mail, picture mail and videoconference mail.
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8. A system for unified messaging, comprising:
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a point-of-presence (POP), the POP comprising customer premises'"'"' equipment, a message interface device, a first switching matrix and a first gateway, the message interface device configured to provide a new message indication selected from audio and visual indicators, the new message indication associated with a plurality of new messages, each of the plurality of new messages having a different format selected from a plurality of message types;
a wideband network operatively coupled to the POP with a first communication link; and
a remote unified messaging network operatively coupled to the wideband network with a second communication link, the remote unified messaging network comprising a message interface server programmed with a message interface application, a data store of mailboxes, a second switching matrix and a second gateway, the data store of mailboxes configured to store each of the plurality of new messages.
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9. A system for unified messaging, comprising:
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a point-of-presence (POP), the POP comprising;
customer premises'"'"' equipment;
a message interface device operatively coupled to the customer premises'"'"' equipment, the message interface device configured to provide an indication of new messages having at least two formats selected from voicemail, fax mail, e-mail, data mail, video mail, picture mail and videoconference mail, the indication having at least one format selected from audio and visual;
a first telephonic switching matrix operatively coupled to the message interface; and
a first telephonic/internet protocol gateway, the message interface device configured to provide a new message indication;
a wideband network operatively coupled to the POP with a first communication link; and
a remote unified messaging network operatively coupled to the wideband network with a second communication link, the remote unified messaging network comprising;
a message interface server programmed with a message interface application;
a data store of mailboxes operatively coupled to the message interface server, the data store of mailboxes configured to store the new messages;
a second telephonic switching matrix operatively coupled to the message interface server; and
a second telephonic/internet protocol gateway operatively coupled to the second telephonic switching matrix and to the second communication link.
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10. A method for voicemail in a system, the method comprising:
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providing customer premises'"'"' equipment;
providing a message interface;
providing a unified messaging server;
providing a first call to the customer premises'"'"' equipment;
receiving a second call to the customer premises'"'"' equipment while engaged with the first call;
forwarding the second call to the unified messaging server while engaged with the first call;
automatically placing a third call to the unified messaging server in response to receiving the second call while engaged with the first call; and
establishing connectivity from the message interface to the unified messaging server for obtaining information associated with the second call deposited at a target location associated with the customer premises'"'"' equipment.
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11. A method for voicemail in a system having a first and a second telephonic communication conduit and an internet protocol communication conduit, the method comprising:
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providing a message interface;
providing a message server;
providing a first call;
providing a second call from the message interface to the first telephonic communication conduit while engaged with the first call in response to condition selected from forward, busy and no answer;
providing the second call from the first telephonic communication conduit to the internet protocol communication conduit;
configuring the second call to a voice over internet protocol call for transport over the internet protocol conduit;
providing the voice over internet protocol call to the second telephonic communication conduit;
configuring the voice over internet protocol call to a third call;
providing the third call to a messaging server; and
establishing connectivity from the message interface to the messaging server for providing the first call to a target message box. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method for connecting to a unified messaging network, comprising:
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providing a first telephonic device;
providing a point-of-presence (POP), the POP having a switching office, a first gateway, a second telephonic device and a messaging interface;
providing a remote unified messaging server network, the remote unified messaging server network having a second gateway and a unified messaging server;
placing a public switched telephone network (PSTN) call from the first telephonic device to the second telephonic device;
routing the PSTN call from the messaging interface to the switching office;
obtaining subscriber information associated with the call at the switching office;
routing the PSTN call and the subscriber information from the switching office to the first gateway;
querying a database associated with the first gateway using the subscriber information;
obtaining from the database internet protocol address information associated with the subscriber information;
formatting the PSTN call to provide a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) call;
routing the VOIP call in accordance with the internet protocol address information to the second gateway;
converting the VOIP call to the PSTN call; and
routing the PSTN call to the unified messaging server. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for connecting to a unified messaging mailbox, comprising:
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providing a point-of-presence (POP), the POP having a switching office, a first gateway, and a messaging interface, the messaging interface having an access number;
providing a remote unified messaging server network, the remote unified messaging server network having a second gateway and a unified messaging server network, the unified messaging server network having a data store of mailboxes and a server;
receiving a first call to the messaging interface;
waiting a duration of time without answer to the first call;
placing a second call to the switching office using the access number;
obtaining subscriber information associated with the second call;
sending the second call and the subscriber information to the first gateway;
accessing internet protocol address information using the subscriber information;
converting the second call from a publicly switched telephone network format to a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) format;
sending the second call formatted for VOIP from the first gateway to the second gateway using the internet protocol address information;
converting the second call from the VOIP format to the PSTN format;
sending the second call formatted for PSTN from the second gateway to the unified messaging server network;
providing the second call to the first server;
querying a selected mailbox of the data store of mailboxes in response to the second call; and
answering the second call if at least one new message is found from the querying of the selected mailbox, the answering including providing a tone sequence associated with the at least one new message. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
providing the tone sequence to the message interface; and
providing an alert in response to finding the at least one new message.
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22. The method of claim 21, wherein the alert is selected from a visual alert and an audible alert.
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23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:
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detecting answering the first call; and
terminating the second call.
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24. A method for connecting to a unified messaging mailbox of a unified messaging subscriber, comprising:
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providing a point-of-presence (POP), the POP having a switching office, a first gateway, and a messaging interface, the messaging interface having an access number;
providing a remote unified messaging server network, the remote unified messaging server network having a second gateway and a unified messaging server network, the unified messaging server network having a data store of mailboxes and a server;
placing a first call to a unified messaging subscriber;
encountering an unavailable condition for the unified messaging subscriber;
placing a second call to the switching office using the access number;
obtaining subscriber information associated with the second call;
sending the second call and the subscriber information to the first gateway;
accessing internet protocol address information using the subscriber information;
converting the second call from a publicly switched telephone network format to a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) format;
sending the second call formatted for VOIP from the first gateway to the second gateway using the internet protocol address information;
converting the second call from the VOIP format to the PSTN format;
sending the second call formatted for PSTN from the second gateway to the unified messaging server network;
providing the second call to the first server;
querying a selected mailbox of the data store of mailboxes in response to the second call; and
answering the second call if at least one new message is found from the querying of the selected mailbox, the answering including providing a tone sequence associated with the at least one new message. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
providing the tone sequence to the message interface; and
providing an alert in response to finding the at least one new message.
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29. The method of claim 28, wherein the alert is selected from a visual alert and an audible alert.
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30. A method for checking for at least one new message at a unified message mailbox, comprising:
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providing a point-of-presence (POP), the POP having a switching office, a first gateway, and a messaging interface, the messaging interface having an access number;
providing a remote unified messaging server network, the remote unified messaging server network having a second gateway and a unified messaging server network, the unified messaging server network having a data store of mailboxes and a server;
periodically placing a call to the switching office using the access number;
obtaining subscriber information associated with the call;
sending the call and the subscriber information to the first gateway;
accessing internet protocol address information using the subscriber information;
converting the call from a publicly switched telephone network format to a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) format;
sending the call formatted for VOIP from the first gateway to the second gateway using the internet protocol address information;
converting the call from the VOIP format to the PSTN format;
sending the call formatted for PSTN from the second gateway to the unified messaging server network;
providing the call to the server;
querying the unified message mailbox of the data store of mailboxes in response to the call; and
answering the call if the at least one new message is found from the querying of the unified message mailbox, the answering including providing a tone sequence associated with the at least one new message. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
providing the tone sequence to the messaging interface; and
providing an alert in response to finding the at least one new message.
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35. The method of claim 34, wherein the alert is selected from a visual alert and an audible alert.
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36. The method of claim 30, further comprising programming the access number into the messaging interface.
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37. The method of claim 30, further comprising:
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obtaining automatic number identification information;
providing the automatic number identification information to the server; and
querying a database of local access numbers using the automatic number identification information.
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38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:
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obtaining a local access number from the database of local access numbers; and
providing a tone sequence for the local access number to the messaging interface.
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39. The method of claim 38 further comprising storing the tone sequence in memory of the messaging interface.
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40. The method of claim 30, further comprising:
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providing a plain old telephone (POT);
placing the messaging interface in a programming mode;
aplacing the messaging interface in an off-hook condition;
dialing a local access number with the POT;
listening with the messaging interface for dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones; and
storing the DTMF tones to provide the access number for the messaging interface.
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41. The method of claim 30, further comprising time stamping the messaging interface after the answering of the call.
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42. The method of claim 30, further comprising providing status information associated with the tone sequence to a location remote from the messaging interface.
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43. The method of claim 42, wherein the messaging interface comprises a remote access number.
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44. The method of claim 43, wherein the remote access number is selected from a cell phone number and a pager number.
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45. The method of claim 44, further comprising providing ancillary information to the remote location.
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46. A method for setting status for a unified message mailbox, comprising:
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providing a point-of-presence (POP), the POP having a switching office, a first gateway and a messaging interface;
providing a remote unified messaging server network, the remote unified messaging server network having a second gateway and a unified messaging server network, the unified messaging server network having a data store of mailboxes and a server, the server programmed with an application;
placing a call from the application on the server to the messaging interface;
providing caller identification information with the call;
sending the call and the caller identification information to the second gateway;
accessing internet protocol address information for the messaging interface;
converting the call from a publicly switched telephone network format to a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) format;
sending the call formatted for VOIP from the second gateway to the first gateway using the internet protocol address information;
converting the call from the VOIP format to the PSTN format;
sending the call formatted for PSTN from the first gateway to the messaging interface;
answering the call with the messaging interface;
sending a first tone sequence to the server indicating the call has been answered; and
sending a second tone sequence from the application to set status of the messaging interface.
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47. A method for setting status for a unified message mailbox, comprising:
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providing a point-of-presence (POP), the POP having a switching office, a first gateway and a messaging interface;
providing a remote unified messaging server network, the remote unified messaging server network having a second gateway and a unified messaging server network, the unified messaging server network having a data store of mailboxes and a server, the server programmed with an application;
placing a call from the application on the server to the messaging interface;
providing caller identification information with the call;
sending the call and the caller identification information to the second gateway;
accessing internet protocol address information for the messaging interface;
converting the call from a publicly switched telephone network format to a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) format;
sending the call formatted for VOIP from the second gateway to the first gateway using the internet protocol address information;
converting the call from the VOIP format to the PSTN format;
sending the call formatted for PSTN from the first gateway to the messaging interface;
answering the call by a user;
sending a first tone sequence to the server from the messaging interface indicating the call has been answered by the user; and
sending a second tone sequence from the application to the user indicating a message status.
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48. A method for setting status for a unified message mailbox, comprising:
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providing a point-of-presence (POP), the POP having a switching office, a first gateway and a messaging interface;
providing a remote unified messaging server network, the remote unified messaging server network having a second gateway and a unified messaging server network, the unified messaging server network having a data store of mailboxes and a server, the server programmed with an application;
placing a call from the application on the server to the messaging interface;
providing caller identification information with the call;
sending the call and the caller identification information to the second gateway;
accessing internet protocol address information for the messaging interface;
converting the call from a publicly switched telephone network format to a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) format;
sending the call formatted for VOIP from the second gateway to the first gateway using the internet protocol address information;
converting the call from the VOIP format to the PSTN format;
sending the call formatted for PSTN from the first gateway to the messaging interface;
answering the call by a user; and
providing an indication to the user from the messaging interface regarding message status.
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49. A messaging interface device, comprising:
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a telephony front-end, the telephony front-end comprising;
a transceiver;
a loop current sense circuit;
a signaling device;
a line protection circuit; and
a wire circuit a processor operatively coupled to the telephony front-end;
memory operatively coupled to the processor;
an input/output (I/O) controller operatively coupled to the processor;
an output device operatively coupled to the I/O controller; and
an input device operatively coupled to the controller.
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Specification