IP-based notification architecture for unified messaging

• US 6,665,378 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2000
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lockwood, Robert James, Joshi, Satish, Dodrill, Lewis Dean, Spielman, Brenda Gates, Parasu, Nagendran
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, JOSEPH T
• Application Number:
  US09/629,053
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.12, 379/88.13, 379/93.24, 379/88.14, 379/88.17, 455/466, 455/458, 370/352, 370/353, 370/356, 370/395.5, 709/230, 709/318
• US Class Current: 379/88.12
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]

Abstract

A notification architecture utilizes multiple processes configured for managing notification operations based on reception of SMTP-based messages within IMAP based message stores. The notification architecture includes a notification process, configured for receiving notification messages for respective subscribers from messaging sources according to a prescribed open protocol such as Internet Protocol. The notification process accesses subscriber profile information from an open protocol-based subscriber directory based on the received notification messages. The notification process determines, for each received notification message, the subscriber'"'"'s notification preference based on the accessed profile information, and selectively outputs a notification delivery message according to a prescribed open protocol to at least one notification delivery process within the notification architecture based on the subscriber'"'"'s notification preference. The notification process may have access via the prescribed open protocol to multiple notification delivery processes, each configured for outputting a notification to a subscriber'"'"'s notification device according to a corresponding device protocol. Hence, subscribers may be notified of events according to their respective preferences, including subscriber device type, or time of notification.

Claims

1. A method in a server, the method comprising:

obtaining a notification message having been sent from a notification source according to a first open network protocol, the notification message specifying at least one notification recipient and notification information;

accessing a subscriber directory, according to a second open network protocol for subscriber attribute information specifying subscriber notification preference for the specified at least one notification recipient;

generating, based on the subscriber notification preference, at least one notification delivery message that specifies a destination address of a corresponding notification device for the notification recipient and at least a corresponding selected portion of the notification information; and

outputting, according to a third open network-protocol, the at least one notification delivery message to a selected corresponding at least one of a plurality of notification delivery processes for delivery oft he selected portion of the notification information to the notification device according to a corresponding device protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining step includes retrieving the notification message from an Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)-based mailbox configured for receiving e-mail messages as notification messages for notification subscribers.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the accessing step includes accessing the subscriber directory according to Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) as the second open network protocol for the subscriber attribute information.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the accessing step includes:

first accessing the subscriber directory according to LDAP protocol for determining whether the specified at least one notification recipient is a notification subscriber; and

second accessing the subscriber directory according to LDAP protocol for the subscriber notification preference based on determining that the specified at least one notification recipient is a notification subscriber.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the retrieving step includes retrieving the notification message according to Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) protocol as the first open network protocol.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the generating step includes selectively attaching a MIME-encoded data structure obtained from the notification information into the selected portion of the notification information based on selection of the selected at least one notification delivery process.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the selectively attaching step includes attaching the MIME-encoded data structure, carrying encoded audio data, based on selection of the selected at least one notification delivery process configured for initiating an audio-based notification.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the generating step includes outputting the at least one notification delivery message according to SMTP protocol as the third open network protocol.

52. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification message specifies multiple notification recipients, the accessing including retrieving, in a single access operation, the respective subscriber notification preferences from the subscriber directory according to Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) as the second open network protocol.

9. A method comprising the steps of:

obtaining by a notification process a notification message having been sent from a notification source according to a first open network protocol, the notification message specifying at least one notification recipient and notification information;

accessing by the notification process a subscriber directory, according to a second open network protocol, for subscriber attribute information specifying subscriber notification preference for the specified at least one notification recipient;

generating, based on the subscriber notification preference, at least one notification delivery message that specifies a destination address of a corresponding notification device for the notification recipient and at least a corresponding selected portion of the notification information;

outputting, according to a third open network protocol, the at least one notification delivery message by the notification process to a selected corresponding at least one of a plurality of notification delivery processes; and

delivering by the selected at least one notification delivery process the corresponding selected portion of the notification information to the corresponding notification device according to a corresponding device protocol.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the obtaining step includes retrieving the notification message from an Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)-based mailbox configured for receiving e-mail messages as notification messages for notification subscribers.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the accessing step includes accessing the subscriber directory according to Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) as the second open network protocol for the subscriber attribute information.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the accessing step includes:

first accessing the subscriber directory according to LDAP protocol for determining whether the specified at least one notification recipient is a notification subscriber; and

second accessing the subscriber directory according to LDAP protocol for the subscriber notification preference based on determining that the specified at least one notification recipient is a notification subscriber.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the retrieving step includes retrieving the notification message according to Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) protocol as the first open network protocol.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the outputting step includes sending the at least one notification delivery message according to SMTP protocol to a corresponding at least one mailbox for the corresponding selected at least one notification delivery process.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the delivering step by each selected notification delivery process includes:

accessing the notification delivery message from the corresponding mailbox according to Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) protocol;

parsing the notification delivery message for the corresponding selected portion of the notification information and a destination address of the corresponding notification device; and

sending the selected portion oft he notification information to the corresponding notification device according to the corresponding device protocol.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the sending step includes sending the selected portion using one of at least a Short Message Service (SMS), SMTP, a paging protocol, an outbound audio call protocol, an outbound fax call protocol, and a message waiting indicator protocol, as the corresponding device protocol.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the sending step includes outputting the selected portion to a device server, configured for supplying the selected portion to the device according to the corresponding device protocol, according to a corresponding device server protocol.

53. The method of claim 9, wherein the notification message specifies multiple notification recipients, the accessing including retrieving, in a single access operation, the respective subscriber notification preferences from the subscriber directory according to Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) as the second open network protocol.

18. A notification system comprising:

means for obtaining a notification message having been sent from a notification source according to a first open network protocol, the notification message specifying at least one notification recipient and notification information;

means for accessing a subscriber directory, according to a second open network protocol, for subscriber attribute information specifying subscriber notification preference for the specified at least one notification recipient;

means for generating, based on the subscriber notification preference, at least one notification delivery message that specifies a destination address of a corresponding notification device for the notification recipient and at least a corresponding selected portion of the notification information; and

means for outputting, according to a third open network protocol, the at least one notification delivery message to a selected corresponding at least one of a plurality of notification delivery processes for delivery oft he selected portion oft he notification information to the notification device according to a corresponding device protocol.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the obtaining means retrieves the notification message from an Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)-based mailbox configured for receiving e-mail messages as notification messages for notification subscribers.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the accessing means accesses the subscriber directory according to Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) as the second open network protocol for the subscriber attribute information.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the accessing means is configured for first accessing the subscriber directory according to LDAP protocol for determining whether the specified at least one notification recipient is a notification subscriber, and second accessing the subscriber directory according to LDAP protocol for the subscriber notification preference based on determining that the specified at least one notification recipient is a notification subscriber.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the retrieving means is configured for retrieving the notification message according to Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) protocol as the first open network protocol.

54. The system of claim 18, wherein the notification message specifies multiple notification recipients, the accessing means configured for retrieving, in a single access operation, the respective subscriber notification preferences from the subscriber directory according to Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) as the second open network protocol.

23. A notification system comprising:

a notification process configured for;

(1) obtaining a notification message having been sent from a notification source according to a first open network protocol, each notification message specifying at least one notification recipient and notification information,

(2) accessing a subscriber directory according to a second open network protocol for subscriber notification preference information for the at least one notification recipient,

(3) generating at least one notification delivery message that specifies a destination address of a corresponding notification device for the notification recipient and at least a corresponding selected portion of the notification information based on the subscriber notification preference information, and

(4) outputting the at least one notification delivery message according to a third open network protocol; and

a plurality of notification delivery processes, each configured for delivering a notification to a subscriber device according to a corresponding device protocol based on a corresponding received notification delivery message.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the notification process is configured for obtaining the notification message from an SMTP-based mailbox configured for receiving e-mail messages as notification messages for notification subscribers.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the notification process is configured for obtaining the notification message from the SMTP-based mailbox according to Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) protocol as the first open network protocol.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the notification process is configured for accessing the subscriber directory according to LDAP protocol as the second open network protocol.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the notification process is configured for outputting the at least one notification delivery message according to SMTP protocol as the third open network protocol.

28. The system of claim 23, further comprising a primary SMTP-based mailbox for receiving the notification message from the notification source, the notification process configured for periodically obtaining the notification message according to Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) protocol.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising secondary SMTP-based mailboxes configured for receiving the notification delivery messages for the respective notification delivery processes, each notification delivery process accessing its corresponding secondary SMTP-based mailbox for the corresponding notification delivery message.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the notification process selects at least one of the notification delivery processes for receipt of the corresponding at least one notification delivery message based on the notification preference information.

55. The system of claim 23, wherein the notification message specifies multiple notification recipients, the notification process configured for accessing the subscriber directory by retrieving, in a single access operation, the respective subscriber notification preferences from the subscriber directory according to Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) as the second open network protocol.

31. A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions for notifying a subscriber, the sequences of instructions including instructions for performing the steps of:

obtaining a notification message having been sent from a notification source according to a first open network protocol, the notification message specifying at least one notification recipient and notification information;

accessing a subscriber directory, according to a second open network protocol, for subscriber attribute information specifying subscriber notification preference for the specified at least one notification recipient;

generating, based on the subscriber notification preference, at least one notification delivery message that specifies a destination address of a corresponding notification device for the notification recipient and at least a corresponding selected portion of the notification information; and

outputting, according to a third open network protocol, the at least one notification delivery message to a selected corresponding at least one of a plurality of notification delivery processes for delivery of the selected portion of the notification information to the notification device according to a corresponding device protocol.

32. The medium of claim 31, wherein the obtaining step includes retrieving the notification message from an Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)-based mailbox configured for receiving e-mail messages as notification messages for notification subscribers.

33. The medium of claim 32, wherein the accessing step includes accessing the subscriber directory according to Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) as the second open network protocol for the subscriber attribute information.

34. The medium of claim 32, wherein the accessing step includes:

first accessing the subscriber directory according to LDAP protocol for determining whether the specified at least one notification recipient is a notification subscriber; and

second accessing the subscriber directory according to LDAP protocol for the subscriber notification preference based on determining that the specified at least one notification recipient is a notification subscriber.

35. The medium of claim 34, wherein the retrieving step includes retrieving the notification message according to Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) protocol as the first open network protocol.

36. The medium of claim 34, wherein the generating step includes selectively attaching a MIME-encoded data structure obtained from the notification information into the selected portion of the notification information based on selection of the selected at least one notification delivery process.

37. The medium of claim 36, wherein the selectively attaching step includes attaching the MIME-encoded data structure, carrying encoded audio data, based on selection of the selected at least one notification delivery process configured for initiating an audio-based notification.

38. The medium ofclaim 34, wherein the generating step includes outputting the at least one notification delivery message according to SMTP protocol as the third open network protocol.

56. The medium of claim 31, wherein the notification message specifies multiple notification recipients, the accessing including retrieving, in a single access operation, the respective subscriber notification preferences from the subscriber directory according to Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) as the second open network protocol.

39. A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions for notifying a subscriber, the sequences of instructions including instructions for performing the steps of:

obtaining by a notification process a notification message having been sent from a notification source according to a first open network protocol, the notification message specifying at least one notification recipient and notification information;

accessing by the notification process a subscriber directory, according to a second open network protocol, for subscriber attribute information specifying subscriber notification preference for the specified at least one notification recipient;

generating, based on the subscriber notification preference, at least one notification delivery message that specifies a destination address of a corresponding notification device for the notification recipient and at least a corresponding selected portion of the notification information;

outputting, according to a third open network protocol, the at least one notification delivery message by the notification process to a selected corresponding at least one of a plurality of notification delivery processes; and

delivering by the selected at least one notification delivery process the corresponding selected portion of the notification information to the corresponding notification device according to a corresponding device protocol.

40. The medium of claim 39, wherein the obtaining step includes retrieving the notification message from an Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)-based mailbox configured for receiving e-mail messages as notification messages for notification subscribers.

41. The medium of claim 40, wherein the accessing step includes accessing the subscriber directory according to Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) as the second open network protocol for the subscriber attribute information.

42. The medium of claim 40, wherein the accessing step includes:

first accessing the subscriber directory according to LDAP protocol for determining whether the specified at least one notification recipient is a notification subscriber; and

second accessing the subscriber directory according to LDAP protocol for the subscriber notification preference based on determining that the specified at least one notification recipient is a notification subscriber.

43. The medium of claim 42, wherein the retrieving step includes retrieving the notification message according to Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) protocol as the first open network protocol.

44. The medium of claim 39, wherein the outputting step includes sending the at least one notification delivery message according to SMTP protocol to a corresponding at least one mailbox for the corresponding selected at least one notification delivery process.

45. The medium of claim 44, wherein the delivering step by each selected notification delivery process includes:

accessing the notification delivery message from the corresponding mailbox according to Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) protocol;

parsing the notification delivery message for the corresponding selected portion of the notification information and a destination address of the corresponding notification device; and

sending the selected portion oft he notification information to the corresponding notification device according to the corresponding device protocol.

46. The medium of claim 45, wherein the sending step includes sending the selected portion using one of at least a Short Message Service (SMS), SMTP, a paging protocol, an outbound audio call protocol, an outbound fax call protocol, and a message waiting indicator protocol, as the corresponding device protocol.

47. The medium of claim 45, wherein the sending step includes outputting the selected portion to a device server, configured for supplying the selected portion to the device according to the corresponding device protocol, according to a corresponding device server protocol.

57. The medium of claim 39, wherein the notification message specifies multiple notification recipients, the accessing including retrieving, in a single access operation, the respective subscriber notification preferences from the subscriber directory according to Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) as the second open network protocol.

48. A notification server comprising:

a first resource configured for periodically retrieving, from a primary message store, a notification message having been sent from a notification source according to a first open network protocol, the notification message specifying at least one notification recipient and notification information; and

a message generator configured for obtaining, from a subscriber directory according to a second open network protocol, subscriber attribute information specifying subscriber notification preference for the specified at least one notification recipient, the message generator configured for generating at least one notification delivery message that specifies a destination address of a corresponding notification device for the notification recipient and at least a corresponding selected portion of the notification information, the message generator outputting the at least one notification delivery message to a selected corresponding at least one of a plurality of notification delivery processes for delivery of the selected portion oft he notification information to the notification device according to a corresponding device protocol.

49. The server ofclaim 48, wherein the first resource retrieves the notification message according to Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) protocol.

50. The server of claim 48, wherein the message generator is configured for accessing the subscriber attribute information by issuing a function call to a prescribed resource.

51. The server of claim 48, wherein the message generator selects the portion of the. notification information based on a group of key value pairs specified by a notification template loaded during initialization of the message generator.

58. The server of claim 48, wherein the notification message specifies multiple notification recipients, the message generator configured for retrieving, in a single access operation, the respective subscriber notification preferences from the subscriber directory according to Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) as the second open network protocol.