Method and apparatus for telephone messaging

• US 6,788,672 B1
• Filed: 04/15/1997
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Michael B., Shur, David Hilton, Buyukkoc, Cagatay
• Primary Examiner(s): VANDERPUYE, KENNETH N
• Application Number:
  US08/842,591
• Time in Patent Office: 2,702 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/401, 370/408, 370/410, 395/200.57, 395/200.58, 395/200.68, 395/200.74, 395/200.75
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal

Abstract

A method and apparatus for telephony messaging based on a network of packet telephony messaging (PTM) servers. A message is received at an originating PTM server from an originator for delivery to a target device for a recipient. The message is stored at the originating PTM server. The message is routed from the originating PTM server (possibly via a second and subsequent PTM servers) over a first network to a destination PTM server located near the target device. The recipient is notified of the message by the destination PTM server. The message is delivered to the target device from the second PTM server over a second network in response to a request by the recipient.

Claims

1. A method for telephony messaging, comprising the steps of:

receiving a message at an origination PTM server from an originator for delivery to a target device for a recipient;

storing said message at said origination PTM server;

routing said message from said origination PTM server over a first network to a destination PTM server located near said target device;

notifying said recipient of said message using a second network;

delivering said message to said target device from said destination PTM server over said second network;

wherein said originator and said recipient are bridged over said second network after said message has been delivered; and

wherein said originator or said recipient requests said bridge.

2. The method of 1 wherein said message is created using a voice prompt menu with responses interpreted using push button decoding using a telephone.

3. The method of 1 wherein said recipient is notified of said message using a voice prompt menu with responses interpreted using push button decoding using a telephone.

4. An apparatus for telephony messaging, comprising:

means for receiving a message at an origination PTM server from an originator for delivery to a target device for a recipient;

means for storing said message at said origination PTM server;

means for routing said message from said origination PTM server over a first network to a destination PTM server located near said target device;

means for notifying said recipient of said message using a second network;

means for delivering said message to said target device from said destination PTM server over said second network in response to a request by said recipient, wherein said originator and said recipient are bridged over said second network after said message has been delivered, and wherein said originator or said recipient requests said bridge.

5. The method of 4 wherein said recipient is notified of said message using a voice prompt menu with responses interpreted using push button decoding.

6. A system for telephony messaging using a packet-switched network, comprising:

a first PTM server including;

a PTM interface that receives message data from an originator for delivery to a target device;

memory coupled to said PTM interface and that stores said message;

a message router selecting a destination server based on the identity of the target device; and

a packet network interface coupled to said memory, said message router, and the packet-switched network;

a second PTM server, corresponding to said destination server and including;

a packet network interface, coupled to the packet-switched network and receiving said message data from said packet network interface of said first PTM server;

a second network interface; and

a message signal indicator that notifies the recipient of said message data over a second network using said second network interface.

7. The system of 6, wherein said second PTM server includes a memory that stores said message data and wherein said second network interface is coupled to said memory of said second PTM server to transfer said message to the recipient over said second network.

8. The method of 4 wherein said message is created using a voice prompt menu with responses interpreted using push button decoding.