Method and system for managing messages

• US 6,772,143 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2001
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Hung, Yat-Sang
• Primary Examiner(s): Rones, Charles
• Application Number:
  US09/753,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20020087584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/204, 707/200, 706/45, 706/47, 709/206, 709/207, 709/217, 709/234, 370/356
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/301 Management of recordings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method and system for management of messages. Upon receipt of a message, or at another time, the machine may automatically extract a parameter value from the message and create a new folder for storing messages that match that parameter value. The machine may thus store the message, and other messages that match the parameter value, in the folder. Alternatively, the machine may present the message to a user and allow a user to select one or more values from the message, to be used as a filter for a folder. The machine may then store the message, and other messages that match the filter, in the folder.

Claims

1. A method for managing messages, the method comprising:

receiving a message into a machine; and

executing machine language instructions upon receipt of the message, to perform a set of functions including (i) automatically determining a value of a predetermined parameter of the message, (ii) automatically creating a folder for holding messages that match the value, and (iii) automatically storing the message in the folder.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after creating the folder, receiving a new message; and

executing machine language instructions to determine if the new message matches the value and, if so, to store the new message in the folder.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the message defines a message type, and wherein determining a value of a predetermined parameter comprises:

using the message type as a basis to identify the predetermined parameter; and

thereafter determining from the message the value of the predetermined parameter.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the new message defines a new value, and wherein executing machine language instructions to determine if the new message matches the value comprises executing machine language instructions to determine if the new value is the same as the value.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the set of functions further includes:

prompting a user to authorize creation of the folder and receiving user authorization before creating the folder.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the parameter value comprises a value selected from the group consisting of (i) a word, (ii) a plurality of words, (iii) an image, and (iv) a sound.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the parameter value comprises a value selected from the group consisting of (i) a return ID, (ii) a message ID, and (iii) a content descriptor.

8. A method for managing messages, the method comprising:

receiving a message into a machine;

executing machine language instructions to cause the machine to present the message to a user and to prompt the user to select one or more parameter values from the message;

thereafter receiving user input provided in response to the prompt, the user input indicating a selection of at least one parameter value from the message;

executing machine language instructions, in response to the user input, to create a folder for holding messages that match the at least one parameter value;

executing machine language instructions to store the message in the folder;

thereafter receiving a new message; and

executing machine language instructions to determine if the new message matches the at least one parameter value and, if so, to store the new message in the folder,

wherein the message defines a message body containing words,

wherein executing machine language instructions to cause the machine to present the message to a user comprises executing machine language instructions to cause the machine to present the words of the message body to the user,

wherein executing machine language instructions to cause the machine to prompt the user for the user input comprises executing machine language instructions to cause the machine to highlight at least one word of the message body, and

wherein the method further comprises providing the user with a selection key that is selectable by the user to establish that the at least one word is the selection.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one parameter value comprises a value selected from the group consisting of (i) a word, (ii) a plurality of words, (iii) an image, and (iv) a sound.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one parameter value comprises a value selected from the group consisting of (i) a return ID, (ii) a message ID, and (iii) a content descriptor.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein executing machine language instructions to create a folder for holding messages that match the at least one parameter value comprises executing machine language instructions to perform functions comprising:

creating the folder;

creating an auto-file rule for the folder, indicating that a message that matches the at least one parameter value should be stored in the folder; and

labeling the folder with a label associated with the at least one parameter value, whereby the label may be presented to a user to facilitate user selection of the folder.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein creating an auto-file rule comprises:

translating the at least one parameter value from a first value to a second value, and establishing for the folder a message-filter expression comprising the second value.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first value comprises a callback number, the second value comprises a name, and translating the at least one parameter value comprises determining by reference to a directory that the name corresponds to the callback number.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one parameter value comprises a callback number, and wherein labeling the folder with a label associated with the at least one parameter value comprises:

finding a directory listing that correlates the callback number with a name; and

labeling the folder with the name.

15. An automatic message-organization system comprising, in combination:

a processor;

a data storage medium;

an interface for receiving messages; and

a set of machine language instructions stored in the data storage medium and executable by the processor, in response to receipt of a message, (i) to automatically select at least one parameter value from the message, (ii) to responsively generate in the data storage medium a folder for holding messages that match the at least one parameter value, and (iii) to automatically store the message in the folder.

16. The automatic message-organization system of claim 15, wherein the message defines a message type, and wherein the machine language instructions are executable by the processor (i) to use the message type as a basis to identify a predetermined parameter of the message and (ii) to select a value of the predetermined parameter as the at least one parameter value.

17. The automatic message-organization system of claim 15, wherein the machine language instructions are executable by the processor to present the message to a user and to prompt the user to select the at least one parameter value from values defined by the message.

18. The automatic message-organization system of claim 15, wherein the message defines a message body containing words, wherein the machine language instructions are executable by the processor to present the words of the message to the user and to receive from the user a selection signal indicating as the at least one parameter value at least one word of the message.

19. The automatic message-organization system of claim 15, wherein the at least one parameter value comprises a value selected from the group consisting of (i) a word, (ii) a plurality of words, (iii) an image, and (iv) a sound.

20. The automatic message-organization system of claim 15, wherein the at least one parameter value comprises a value selected from the group consisting of (i) a return ID, (ii) a message ID, and (iii) a content descriptor.

21. The automatic message-organization system of claim 15, wherein the at least one parameter value comprises a callback number, and wherein the machine language instructions are executable by the processor (i) to find a directory listing that correlates the callback number with a name and (ii) to label the folder with the name, whereby the label may be presented to a user to facilitate user selection of the folder.

22. The automatic message-organization system of claim 15, wherein, in response to receipt of a new message after the folder has been created, the machine language instructions are executable by the processor (i) to determine whether the new message matches the at least one parameter value and, if so, (ii) to store the new message in the folder.

23. The automatic message-organization system of claim 15, embodied in a mobile station.