Accessing messages stored in one communication system by another communication system

• US 7,184,525 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2003
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale W., Arnoff, Mary S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier; Gerald
• Application Number:
  US10/747,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20050147220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.13, 379/88.25, 379/93.35, 370/352, 455/461
• US Class Current: 379/88.25
• 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 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4288 Notifying a called subscriber of an incoming call during an ongoing call, e.g. Call Waiting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5237 Interconnection arrangements between ACD systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0033 Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 where the data service is an electronic mail service
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/121 Details of network access arrangements or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/126 Interworking of session control protocols

Abstract

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for accessing messages in one communication system by another communication system. In some embodiments, a request to access data is received from a second communication system. The data is located at a first communication system. The first communication system is configured to communicate using a first standard communication protocol, while the second communication system is configured to communicate using a second standard communication protocol. The received request is converted to a command of the first standard communication protocol. Using the command, the data at the first communication system is accessed.

Claims

1. A method for accessing messages, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a digital voicemail system, a request from an Internet user, to access a voicemail message in a legacy voicemail system, the legacy voicemail system being configured to receive and store analog messages, the request being received over the Internet;

converting the request to a command of the legacy voicemail system;

retrieving the voicemail message from the legacy voicemail system, using the command;

converting the voicemail message to a voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP) message; and

transmitting the VoIP message to the Internet user over the Internet.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a query regarding whether the Internet user is a subscriber of the analog voicemail system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an indication regarding whether the Internet user is a subscriber of the analog voicemail system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising deleting the retrieved message.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a query for information related to the Internet user.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving information related to the Internet user.