Method and system for delivering a voice mail notification to a subscriber using cellular phone network

• US 7,062,257 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2002
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Amin, Umesh J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vuong, Quochien B.
• Application Number:
  US10/147,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20020160756A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/413, 455/414.1, 455/415, 455/426.1, 455/461, 455/462, 455/433, 455/554.1, 455/554.2, 455/555, 379/88.02, 379/88.12, 379/88.22
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

A method and system of the present invention delivers a voice mail notification to a subscriber of a voice mail system to indicate that a voice mail message is waiting in the subscriber mailbox. The voice mail system cellular phone network. The voice mail notification typically includes the calling party number and the name of the calling party if available, and an index. This is forwarded through the cellular phone network to the subscriber to indicate that a voice mail message is waiting in a subscriber mailbox. Subscribers can retrieve a specific message from the Voice Mail System.

Claims

1. A voice mail method, comprising:

requesting that a calling party leave a message in a mailbox;

forwarding a voice mail notification associated with the message to a first mobile device configured to display the voice mail notification, wherein the voice mail notification identifies the calling party, and wherein the voice mail notification comprises a name associated with the calling party;

forwarding the message to a second mobile device configured to display the voice mail notification; and

displaying the voice mail notification on the second device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice mail notification further comprises a number of the calling party and an index.

3. The method of claim 1, the voice mail notification is forwarded to the mobile device along a digital control channel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mobile device is a cellular phone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first mobile device includes a storage device and a display.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising storing the voice mail notification at the first mobile device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the display of the first mobile device is configured to display two or more voice mail notifications.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving the message based on an identification of the calling party associated with the voice mail notification.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a distinctive sound alert based on the voice mail notification.

10. A method of forwarding a voice mail notification, comprising:

sending a voice mail notification to a first mobile device, wherein the voice mail notification comprises an identification of a calling party and an index associated with a message left by the calling party in a network-based mailbox;

transmitting a request from the first mobile device to forward the voice mail notification from the network-based mailbox, wherein the identification of the calling party is a name associated with the calling party;

forwarding the voice mail message to a second mobile device; and

displaying the voice mail notification on the second mobile device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising retrieving the message from the network-based mailbox based on the index.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the voice mail notification is forwarded along a digital control channel.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the mobile device is a cellular phone.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the mobile device includes a storage device and a display.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising storing the voice mail notification at the mobile device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the display is configured to display two or more voice mail notifications.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a distinctive sound alert based on the voice mail notification.