System and method for providing integrated messaging
First Claim
1. In a system comprising a voice server for providing voice mail services for a plurality of voice mailboxes, an email server for providing email services for a plurality of email addresses, and at least one email client for retrieving email messages associated with an email address from the email server, a method for integrating voice mail and email messaging, performed by the voice server, comprising the steps of:
- recording a first voice mail message and storing the first voice mail message in at least one voice mailbox;
creating a first email message addressed to an email address associated with the at least one voice mailbox;
creating a message reference for the first voice mail message, the message reference including data to uniquely identify the first voice mail message on the voice server;
sending the first email message and the message reference from the voice server to the associated email address, wherein the email client is adapted to retrieve the first email message from the email server, and by utilizing the message reference, provide services for retrieving and manipulating the voice mail message;
receiving a delete command through the voice mail services provided for the voice mailbox;
sending a second email message to the designated email address, including instructions to delete the first email message and the corresponding message reference; and
deleting the first voice mail message.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A voice server and method for providing integrated voice mail and email messaging for use with an email server and an email client. The voice server includes a telephone interface means for providing telephone services to the voice server, a network interface means for providing communications between the voice server and each of the email server and email client, a processor, and a program memory for storing program instructions for controlling the processor to provide voice mail messaging services for a plurality of voice mailboxes. At least one voice mailbox on the voice server is adapted to create a message reference to uniquely identify each recorded voice mail message and to send each message reference to an email address on the email server, where the message can be retrieved by the email client. The voice server is further adapted to provide voice mail services corresponding to each recorded voice mail message, to the email client through the network interface means. Alternatively, the voice server may include at least one voice mailbox that is adapted to forward each recorded voice mail message as part of an email message, to a designated email address on the email server, where it can be retrieved by the email client. The email message in this alternate embodiment is adapted so that the email client can play the voice mail message.
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Citations
4 Claims
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1. In a system comprising a voice server for providing voice mail services for a plurality of voice mailboxes, an email server for providing email services for a plurality of email addresses, and at least one email client for retrieving email messages associated with an email address from the email server, a method for integrating voice mail and email messaging, performed by the voice server, comprising the steps of:
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recording a first voice mail message and storing the first voice mail message in at least one voice mailbox;
creating a first email message addressed to an email address associated with the at least one voice mailbox;
creating a message reference for the first voice mail message, the message reference including data to uniquely identify the first voice mail message on the voice server;
sending the first email message and the message reference from the voice server to the associated email address, wherein the email client is adapted to retrieve the first email message from the email server, and by utilizing the message reference, provide services for retrieving and manipulating the voice mail message;
receiving a delete command through the voice mail services provided for the voice mailbox;
sending a second email message to the designated email address, including instructions to delete the first email message and the corresponding message reference; and
deleting the first voice mail message. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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2. In a network including an email server and an email client for retrieving email from the email server, a system for providing integrated voice mail and email messaging, the system comprising:
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a voice server connected to the network, the voice server providing voice mail messaging services to a plurality of voice mailboxes, and comprising a processor, and a program memory for storing program instructions for controlling the processor to perform steps comprising recording a voice mail message and storing the voice mail message in one of the voice mailboxes, creating a first email message addressed to an email address associated with the voice mailbox, creating a message reference for the voice mail message, the message reference including data to uniquely identify the voice mail message on the voice server, sending the first email message with the message reference over the network, from the voice server to the email address, receiving a delete command through the voice mail services provided for the voice mailbox, sending a second email message to the designated email address, including an instruction to delete the first email message and the corresponding message reference, and deleting the voice mail message; and
an email reader program for causing the email client to retrieve the email message, and by utilizing the message reference, provide services for retrieving and manipulating the voice mail message through the email client. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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Specification