Method and apparatus for a user controlled voicemail management system

• US 6,928,149 B1
• Filed: 05/17/1999
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interwoven Incorporated (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Araujo, Neil, Panjwani, Mahmood, Ali, Yasmeen Noor, Rashid, Shamshad, Mohammadi, Rafiq, Bhatti, Zia
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sing, S. P.
• Application Number:
  US09/312,926
• Time in Patent Office: 2,276 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.23, 379/88.25, 379/88.26, 379/88.18, 379/88.17, 379/88.12, 379/67.1, 379/68, 379/88.13, 379/88.22
• US Class Current: 379/88.25
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/301 Management of recordings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a user controlled voicemail management system (UCVMS) is provided. The UCVMS includes a first interface for interfacing with a voice mail provider, the first interface for receiving a voicemail message from the voice mail provider, the voice mail message including an owner identification. The UCVMS further includes a repository for storing the voicemail message, the repository being accessible only to the owner by using the owner identification.

Claims

1. A user controlled voicemail management system comprising:

means for receiving data packets carrying a voicemail message forwarded by a third-party voicemail service provider pursuant to a command of a user, said command being executed within said voicemail service provider'"'"'s system, said data packets comprising the user'"'"'s identification information, the user'"'"'s identification information comprising the user'"'"'s telephone number and the user'"'"'s voicemail password registered with said voicemail service provider, said data packets being encrypted in such a manner that only the user being authenticated by said voicemail management system can access said voicemail message;

at least one database for storing received voicemail messages user'"'"'s information, and other data;

means for prompting the user to open an account when said voicemail management system receives a voicemail message but fails to locate an existing account for the user; and

a user interface which allows the user to perform management operations on the user'"'"'s account over a computer based network;

wherein said user interface is communicatively coupled to;

means for authenticating the user to access said voicemail management system, said authentication means using said telephone number and said voicemail password as the user'"'"'s default authentication identification for accessing said voicemail management system;

means for enabling the user to configure display of said user interface;

means for means for automatically generating a profile for each received voicemail message and storing said generated profile in said at least one database, wherein each generated profile comprises a number of searchable parameters and a link to its corresponding voicemail message; and

means for enabling the user to store a copy of any electronic document in the user'"'"'s account;

wherein said management operations comprise any of;

searching a voicemail message or an electronic document;

retrieving a voicemail message or an electronic document;

deleting a voicemail message or an electronic document;

filing voicemail messages or electronic documents in folders;

configuring profile layout;

adding a note into a profile;

attaching a stored voicemail message or/and a stored electronic document to an outbound electronic mall; and

attaching a profile link of a stored voicemail message or a stored electronic document to an outbound electronic mail.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said profile of said received voicemail message comprises one or more fields for displaying information on a caller'"'"'s identification and telephone number, time and date of said voicemail message, length of voicemail message, time and date of storage, and the user'"'"'s notes added via said user interface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said command can be any of:

manual operation of key pressing to initiate forwarding a new voicemail message to said voicemail management system; and

automatic forwarding any new voicemail message based on the user'"'"'s preset preferences.

4. In a computer network based voicemail management system, a method for archiving users'"'"' voicemail messages, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a voicemail message forwarded pursuant to a user'"'"'s command by a third-party voicemail service provider, said voicemail message comprising the user'"'"'s identification information, wherein, the user'"'"'s identification information comprising the user'"'"'s telephone number and the user'"'"'s voicemail password registered with said voicemail service provider;

(b) storing said received voicemail message in a data storage which comprises at least one database;

(c) checking whether the user has an account with said voicemail management system;

(d) if the check result in step (c) is yes, continuing on step (f);

(e) if the check result in step (c) is no, prompting the user to open an account with said voicemail management system;

(f) upon confirmation of the user'"'"'s account, generating a profile for said received voicemail message, said profile comprising a number of searchable parameters and a link to said received voicemail message;

(g) storing said profile in said data storage;

(h) adding said received voicemail message and said profile to user'"'"'s account; and

(i) responding to the user'"'"'s query via a user interface which allows the user to log in said voicemail management system and to perform management operations on the user'"'"'s account over the computer network;

wherein the user logs in said voicemail management system by entering the user'"'"'s telephone number and the user'"'"'s voicemail password registered with said voicemail service provider; and

wherein said management operations comprise any of;

searching a voicemail message;

retrieving a voicemail message;

deleting a voicemail message;

organizing voicemail messages in folders;

configuring profile layout;

adding a note into a profile;

attaching a stored voicemail message to an outbound electronic mail; and

attaching a profile link of a stored voicemail message to an outbound electronic mail.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said profile of said received voicemail message comprises one or more fields for displaying information on a caller'"'"'s identification, telephone number, time and date of said voicemail message, length of voicemail message, time and date of storage, and the user'"'"'s notes added via said user interface.