System and method for providing unified communication services support

• US 6,625,258 B1
• Filed: 12/27/1999
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Roberts, Charles G., Tran, Lien K., Ram, Geetha
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foster, Roland G.
• Application Number:
  US09/472,627
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88-3-, 379/88.17, 379/0.18, 379/88-2-, 379/201-1-2, 379/201.06, 379/0.09, 379/201.12, 379/202.01, 379/203.01, 379/204.01, 379/205.01, 379/206.01, 379/207.01, 379/210.01, 379/211-1-2, 379/212.01, 379/218.01, 379/265.01, 379/0.02, 379/265.09, 379/372, 379/373.01, 370/351-354, 370/400, 370/401
• US Class Current: 379/88.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A virtual assistant system (VAS) (102) supports call services (104), message services (106) and profile services (108) and interfaces to both a telephone network (114) and to a data network (116). The telephone network (114) may be the PSTN and/or another telephone network. The data network (116) may be the Internet, an Intranet or another data network in which communications are packet based. The call services (104) include call receipt services, call initiation services, conference calling services and other types of services in which calls are initiated, routed and/or completed and that are typically provided by a telephone company. The message services (106) include voice mail, email, Faxes, video mail, and other types of messages that include one or more types of media, e.g., audio or visual. The profile services (108) uniquely identify each subscriber and provide contact information for the subscriber. [All communications (email, voice mail, Fax, etc.) for the subscriber are received via a single telephone number. For example, the subscriber has account 8001234567 for calls, voice mail, Fax, IP calls, etc. and [e-mail] for email. Based upon the content of the reach lists and corresponding schedules, the VAS (102) routes communications and messages to the subscriber and also notifies the subscriber of incoming communications. The single number, IP address (network address) and/or email address may also be used to access all messages for the subscriber.]

Claims

1. A virtual assistant system that services communications for at least one subscriber, the virtual assistant system comprising:

a telephone network interface that couples the virtual assistant system to a telephone network, the telephone network interface operable to receive a call via the telephone network that is intended for a subscriber;

a data network interface that couples the virtual assistant system to a data network, the data network interface operable to receive a call via the data network that is intended for the subscriber;

a virtual assistant system core coupled to the telephone network interface and the data network interface;

a call services interface coupled to the virtual assistant system core that couples the virtual assistant system to a plurality of call services;

a message services interface coupled to the virtual assistant system core that couples the virtual assistant system to a plurality of message services;

a profile services interface coupled to the virtual assistant system core that couples the virtual assistant system to a plurality of profile services, wherein the profiles services interface determines a destination corresponding to the subscriber;

wherein the virtual assistant core is operable to forward a call notification to the subscriber via the telephone network interface when the destination corresponds to the telephone network;

wherein the virtual assistant core is operable to forward a notification to the subscribe via the data network interface when the destination corresponds to the data network; and

when the subscriber accepts the call, the virtual assistant core services the call in conjunction with at least one of the telephone network interface and the data network interface.

2. The visual assistant system of claim 1, wherein:

the telephone network is a circuit switched network; and

the data network is a packet switched network.

3. The virtual assistant system of claim 1, wherein the call services include call placement and call receipt services.

4. The virtual assistant system of claim 3, wherein the call services further include coerce call setup and management services.

5. The virtual assistant system of claim 1, wherein the message services include voice mail services.

6. The virtual assistant system of claim 5, wherein the message services further include email services.

7. The virtual assistant system of claim 6, wherein the message services further include facsimile receipt, storage and delivery services.

8. The virtual assistant system of claim 7, wherein the message services further include multimedia messaging services.

9. The virtual assistant system of claim 1, wherein the profile services include reach list services that are used to deliver communication services to subscribers.

10. The virtual assistant system of claim 9, wherein the profile services further include scheduling services, wherein the scheduling services correspond to the reach list services.

11. The virtual assistant ten of claim 1, wherein the telephone network interface comprises a gateway.

12. The virtual assistant system of claim 1, wherein the data network interface includes a firewall.

13. The virtual assistant system of claim 1, wherein the virtual assistant system comprises a plurality of computer software instructions that are executed by at least one computer server.

14. The virtual assistant system of claim 1, wherein the virtual assistant system comprises a plurality of computer servers, each of which supports a service interface.

15. The virtual assistant system of claim 1, wherein:

the virtual assistant core is operable to provide an identification of a caller with the call notification; and

the virtual assistant system is operable to forward the call to the message services when the subscriber elects not to receive the call.

16. The virtual assistant system of claim 15, wherein when the call is an incoming facsimile, the virtual assistant core provides an option to the user to forward the call to a designated facsimile terminal that is identified by the profiles services interface.

17. The virtual assistant system of claim 1, wherein the virtual assistant system is operable to:

receive a communication from the subscriber;

interact with the message services to check messages for the subscriber;

interact with the subscriber to identify stored messages; and

deliver selected messages to the subscriber.

18. A virtual assistant system that services communications for at least one subscriber, the virtual assistant system comprising:

a telephone network interface computer server that couples the virtual assistant system to a telephone network, the telephone network interface operable to receive a call via the telephone network that is intended for a subscriber;

a data network interface that couples the virtual assistant system to a data network, the data network interface operable to receive a call via the data network that is intended for the subscriber;

at least one virtual assistant system computer sever coupled to the telephone network interface upon which the virtual assistant system runs that;

couples the virtual assistant system to a data network via the data network interface and to the telephone network via the telephone network interface;

provides core functions for the virtual assistant system;

couples the virtual assistant system to a plurality of call services;

couples the virtual assistant system to a plurality of message services; and

couples the virtual assistant system to a plurality of profile services;

wherein the virtual assistant system detennines a destination corresponding to the subscriber;

wherein the virtual assistant system is operable to forward a call notification to the subscriber via the telephone network interface when the destination corresponds to the telephone network;

wherein the virtual assistant system is operable to forward a notification to the subscriber via the data network interface when the destination corresponds to the data network; and

when the subscriber accepts the call, the virtual assistant system services the call in conjuntion with at least one of the telephone network interface and the data network interface.

19. The virtual assisant system of claim 18, wherein:

the telephone network is a circuit switched network; and

the data network is a packet switched network.

20. The virtual assistant system of claim 18, wherein the call services include call placement and call receipt services.

21. The virtual assistant system of claim 20, wherein the call services further include conference call setup and management services.

22. The virtual assistant system of claim 18, wherein the message services include voice mail services.

23. The virtual assistant system of claim 22, wherein the message services further include email services.

24. The virtual assistant system of claim 23, wherein the message services further include facsimile receipt, storage and delivery services.

25. The virtual assistant system of claim 24, wherein the message services further include multimedia messaging services.

26. The virtual assistant system of claim 18, wherein the profile services include reach list services that are used to deliver communication services to subscribers.

27. The virtual assistant system of claim 26, wherein the profile services further include scheduling services, wherein the scheduling services correspond to the reach list services.

28. The virtual assistant system of claim 18, wherein the telephone network interface computer server comprises a gateway to the telephone network.

29. The virtual assistant system of claim 18, wherein the at least one virtual assistant system computer server includes a firewall server that couples to a data network.

30. The virtual assistant system of claim 18, wherein the at least one virtual assistant system computer server comprises a plurality of computer servers, each of which sports a respective virtual assistant system function.

31. The virtual assistant system of claim 18, wherein:

the virtual assistant system is operable to provide an identification of a caller with the call notification; and

the virtual assistant system is operable to forward the call to the message services when the subscriber elects not to receive the call.

32. The virtual assistant system of claim 31, wherein when the call is an incoming facsimile, the virtual assistant core provides an option to the user to forward the call to a designated facsimile terminal that is identified by the profiles services interface.

33. The virtual assistant system of claim 18, wherein the virtual assistant system is operable to:

receive a communication from the subscriber;

interact with the message services to check messages for the subscriber;

interact with the subscriber to identify stored messages; and

deliver selected messages to the subscriber.