Filtered in-box for voice mail, e-mail, pages, web-based information, and faxes

• US 6,628,194 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1999
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1999
• 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: Hellebust, Kent A., Trinneer, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, NAM V
• Application Number:
  US09/386,762
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 340/7-1-, 455/458
• US Class Current: 340/7.5
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/041 Encoding the ringing signal, i.e. providing distinctive or selective ringing capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

Wireless devices and systems are configured to display the number of voice mails, e-mails, and Internet information alerts that are received during a selected time interval. Incoming information can be organized by user-specified criteria such as sender identity or by information content so that, for example, work-related and personal messages are distinguished. Message classifications and numbers of messages associated with message classifications are displayed on a mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of organizing message information for a user of a wireless communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a plurality of messages of a first format intended for a user of a wireless communication device;

receiving a plurality of messages of a second format intended for said user of the wireless communication device;

determining classification information for each of the messages;

forwarding said classification information to the wireless communication device;

updating a first message counter or a second message counter corresponding to the first format or the second format, respectively, based on the forwarded classification information; and

displaying at the wireless communication device the updated first message counter or the updated second message counter in association with a first format classification indicator or a second format classification indicator, respectively.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said classification information includes information about the format of the message received.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said classification information includes information about the origin of the message received.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of:

receiving a plurality of messages of a third format intended for said user of a wireless communication device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said determining step is accomplished using predetermined rules.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said rules are provided by said user of said wireless communication device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said first format is a voice mail-format.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein first format is a fax format.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said first format is an e-mail format.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said first format is a paging format.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said first format is a short message service format.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said first format is based on a Wireless Markup Language.

13. A method of organizing message information for a user of a wireless communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a message intended for the user of a wireless communication device;

determining classification information for said message;

sending the classification information to said wireless communication device;

updating a message counter associated with the classification information sent to the wireless communication device; and

displaying the classification information and the updated message counter on the wireless communication device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the received message is sent to said wireless communication device.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said determining step is accomplished using predetermined rules.

16. The method of step 15 wherein said rules are provided by said user of said wireless communication device.