Modular multi-media communication management system

• US 7,054,416 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2001
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Teleware Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Teleware Incorporated
• Inventors: Meyerson, Robert F., Lewis, Calvin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bing Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/000,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20030059024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,680 Days
• Field of Search: 455525-561, 370332-338, 379 8813- 9317, 379/88.11, 379/420.04, 379/428.03, 379/428.04
• US Class Current: 379/88.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/02 Constructional features of telephone sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2478 Telephone terminals specially adapted for non-voice services, e.g. email, internet access centralized arrangements where telephones services are combined H04M7/0024; for recording text messages H04M3/5322; for accessing Internet H04M3/4938
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

The present multi-media communication management system comprises a controller that interfaces with a plurality of space station communication devices and with one or more communication medium service providers. The controller translates multi-media communications received from a multi-media service provider into the protocols required for use by the space station communication devices as well as any convention telephone stations that may be coupled to the controller. The communication and control signaling between the controller and the space station communication devices may be wireless in nature with the space station communication devices being powered by an internal battery and/or connection to a local source of conventional line voltage. Modular docking interfaces may be used to couple the space station communication device to portable subscriber devices and to enable integrated and coordinated communication through multiple communication medium service providers.

Claims

1. A multi-media communication management system for providing voice mail service to each of a plurality of subscribers wherein each of the plurality of subscribers is uniquely associated with a portable subscriber device, the multi-media communication management system comprising:

a plurality of subscriber desk top telephone stations, at least one of which includes a docking bay for coupling to one of the plurality of portable subscriber devices;

a control unit comprising;

a network communication circuit coupling the control unit to a communication network for communication with each of said plurality of subscriber desk top telephone stations;

a voice server for;

storing an audio message for a subscriber as a digital file associated with identification of the portable subscriber device that is associated with the subscriber, and

a session control circuit for;

establishing a communication session with a selected subscriber desk top telephone station through the network communication circuit;

obtaining, from the selected subscriber desk top telephone station, identification of the one of a plurality of portable subscriber devices coupled to the docking bay of the selected subscriber desk top telephone station;

obtaining, from the selected subscriber desk top telephone station, an indication that a subscriber has activated a control to obtain an audio message; and

providing the contents of a digital file associated with the identification of the portable subscriber device to the selected subscriber desk top telephone station for audible playing of content of the digital file by the subscriber desk top telephone station.

2. The multi-media communication management system of claim 1, wherein:

the control unit further comprises;

a service provider interface for coupling the control unit to a service provider network for communication with a remote audio endpoint device; and

the audio message for a subscriber represents a portion of an audio communication session established with the remote audio endpoint device in response to the remote audio endpoint device dialing a telephone number associated with the subscriber and being routed to the control unit by the service provider network.

3. The multi-media communication management system of claim 2, wherein the session control circuit further:

provides control messages to the selected subscriber desktop telephone station to effect the display of a list of audio messages that are associated with the portable subscriber device coupled to the docking bay on a display screen; and

wherein obtaining, from the selected subscriber desktop telephone station, an indication that a subscriber has activated a control to obtain an audio message includes obtaining identification of one or the audio messages included in the list; and

wherein providing the contents of a digital file associated with the identification of the portable subscriber device comprises providing the contents of the digital file that is associated with the audio message identified from the list.

4. The multi-media communication management system of claim 3, wherein the session control circuit further:

provides control messages to the selected subscriber desktop telephone station to obtain, from the subscriber desk top telephone station, voice mail content messages that are stored in the portable subscriber device that is coupled to the docking bay of the subscriber desk top telephone station; and

stores the voice mail content messages as a digital file associated with identification of the portable subscriber device from which the voice mail content message was obtained.

5. The multi-media communication management system of claim 2, wherein:

the control unit further comprises;

a service provider interface for coupling the control unit to a service provider network for communication with a remote messaging system; and

the voice server stores an audio message for a subscriber by transferring the digital file associated with identification of the portable subscriber device that is associated with the subscriber to the remote messaging system via the service provider interface.

6. The multi-media communication management system of claim 5, wherein the session control circuit further:

provides control messages to the selected subscriber desktop telephone station to effect the display of a list of audio messages that are associated with the portable subscriber device coupled to the docking bay on a display screen; and

wherein obtaining, from the selected subscriber desktop telephone station, an indication that a subscriber has activated a control to obtain an audio message includes obtaining identification of one of the audio messages included in the list; and

wherein providing the contents of a digital file associated with the identification of the portable subscriber device comprises providing the contents of the digital file that is associated with the audio message identified from the list.

7. The multi-media communication management system of claim 1, wherein the session control circuit further:

provides control messages to the selected subscriber desktop telephone station to obtain, from the subscriber desk top telephone station, voice mail content messages that are stored in the portable subscriber device that is coupled to the docking bay of the subscriber desktop telephone station; and

stores the voice mail content messages as a digital file associated with identification of the portable subscriber device from which the voice mail content message was obtained.

8. A method of operating a multi-media communication management system for providing voice mail service to each of a plurality of subscribers wherein each of the plurality of subscribers is uniquely associated with a portable subscriber device, the method comprising the steps of:

storing an audio message for a subscriber as a digital file associated with identification of the portable subscriber device that is associated with the subscriber;

establishing a communication session with a selected subscriber desktop telephone station over a network communication link, the subscriber desktop telephone station including a docking bay for coupled to one of the plurality of portable subscriber devices;

obtaining, from the selected subscriber desk top station, identification of the portable subscriber device that is coupled to the docking bay of the selected subscriber desk top telephone station;

obtaining, from the selected subscriber desk top telephone station, an indication that a subscriber has activated a control to obtain an audio message; and

providing the contents of a digital file associated with identification of the portable subscriber device to the selected subscriber desktop telephone station via the network communication link for audibly playing content of the digital file by the subscriber desk top telephone station.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein storing an audio message for a subscriber comprises:

establishing an audio communication session with a remote audio endpoint device over a service provider communication medium in response to the remote audio endpoint device dialing a telephone number associated with the subscriber and being routed to the system by the service provider communication medium; and

storing a digital file representing a portion of audio content received from the audio endpoint device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing control messages to the selected subscriber desktop telephone station to effect the display of a list of audio messages that are associated with the portable subscriber device coupled to the docking bay on a display screen; and

wherein obtaining, from the selected subscriber desk top telephone station, an indication that a subscriber has activated a control to obtain an audio message includes obtaining identification of one of the audio messages included in the list; and

wherein providing the contents of a digital file associated with the identification of the portable subscriber device comprises providing the contents of the digital file that is associated with the audio message identified from the list.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

providing control messages to the selected subscriber desktop telephone station to obtina, from the subscriber desktop telephone station voice mail content messages from the portable subscriber device that is coupled to the docking bay of the subscriber desktop telephone station; and

storing the voice mail content messages as a digital file associated with identification of the portable subscriber device from which the voice mail content message was obtained.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein storing an audio message for a subscriber comprises:

transferring the digital file associated with identification of the portable subscriber device that is associated with the subscriber to a remote messaging system via a service provider communication medium; and

providing the contents of a digital file associated with identification of the portable subscriber device to the selected subscriber desktop telephone station comprises obtaining the digital file from the remote messaging system via the service provider communication medium.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing control messages to the selected subscriber desktop telephone station to effect the display of a list audio messages that are associated with the portable subscriber device coupled to the docking bay on a display screen; and

wherein obtaining, from the selected subscriber desktop telephone station, an indication that a subscriber has activated a control to obtain an audio message includes obtaining identification of one of the audio messages included in the list; and

wherein providing the contents of a digital file associated with the identification of the portable subscriber device comprises providing the contents of the digital file that is associated with the audio message identified from the list.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

providing control messages to the selected subscriber desktop telephone station to obtain, from the subscriber desktop telephone station, voice mail content messages from the portable subscriber device that is coupled to the docking bay of the subscriber desktop telephone station; and

storing such voice mail content messages as a digital file associated with identification of the portable subscriber device from which the voice mail content message was obtained.