Method and apparatus for telephone dialling using a network device

• US 6,771,745 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2001
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Valtrus Innovations Limited (f/k/a Dolya Holdco 9 Limited) (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Ivory, William James
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Escalante, Ovidio
• Application Number:
  US09/862,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20020141550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/77, 379/84, 379/87, 379/88.12, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.16, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/88-2-, 379/88.17, 709/200, 709/201, 709/212, 709/217, 709/227
• US Class Current: 379/88.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53341 Message reply

Abstract

A voicemail processing system and method for use in a communications system for returning a telephone call in response to a voicemail message is disclosed. The processing system comprises a processor for receiving caller identifying information relating to a voicemail message. The processor is configured to use the received caller identifying information to generate a file or script containing the caller identifying information for inclusion in an email, for example as an attachment. The email is preferably sent to a network device upon user request, so that the user can use the email attachment in conjunction with a software application running on the network device to automatically initiate the return of the telephone call using an associated telephone device. In a preferred embodiment, the software application is a Telephony Application Program Interface (TAPI) application.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a telephone call to be returned in response to a voicemail message received by a communications system, the method comprising:

receiving data relating to the voicemail message, the data including caller identifying information, and

generating an email including audio data containing the voicemail message, and an executable file or script containing instructions executable by a software application and including the caller identifying information, wherein a network device receiving the email can use the executable file or script with the caller identifying information in conjunction with said software application running thereon to automatically initiate the return of the telephone call.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of receiving comprises retrieving the data from memory.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the file or script containing the caller identifying information is included in the email as an attachment.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the generated attachment is of a type suitable for use with a Telephony Application Program Interface (TAPI) software application.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method is performed in response to receiving a request from a user.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the request from a user is received from a network device on the communications system.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising sending the email to said network device.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising, receiving the email at the network device, and running a software application to return the call, in response to a user command.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the software application is associated with a predetermined telephone device, and running the software application causes the call to be returned using the predetermined telephone device.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the predetermined telephone device is located in proximity to the network device.

11. A computer readable medium including a computer program for carrying out the method as defined in claim 1.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the audio data is included in the email as a wave file (.wav) attachment.

13. A computer readable medium including a computer program for use in returning a telephone call in response to a voicemail message received by a communications system, the program comprising:

a program step for receiving data relating to the voicemail message, the data including caller identifying information, and

a program step for generating an email including audio data containing the voicemail message, and an executable file or a script containing instructions executable by a software application and including the caller identifying information, wherein a network device receiving the email can use the executable file or script with the caller identifying information in conjunction with said software application running thereon to automatically initiate the return of the telephone call.

14. A voicemail processing system, for use in a communications system, for enabling a telephone call to be returned in response to a voicemail message received by the processing system, the processing system comprising:

a processor for receiving data relating to the voicemail message, the data including caller identifying information, the processor generating an email including audio data containing the voicemail message, and an executable file or script containing instructions executable by a software application and including the caller identifying information, wherein a network device receiving the email can use the executable file or script with the caller identifying information in conjunction with said software application running thereon to automatically initiate the return of the telephone call.

15. A processing system as claimed in claim 14, further comprising memory, associated with the processor, for storing voicemail messages and caller identifying information for retrieval in response to a request from a system user.