Storage of voicemail messages at an alternate storage location

• US 7,190,950 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Scott, David, Baker, La Veria, Meadows, Vernon
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Duc M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GENACK, MATTHEW W
• Application Number:
  US10/184,193
• Time in Patent Office: 1,720 Days
• Field of Search: 379/1.02, 379/88.04, 379/88.07, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.18, 379/88.26, 379/88.27, 379/93.15, 379/201.01, 379/211.02, 379/221.12, 379/908, 455/413, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.4
• US Class Current: 455/413
• 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 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/36 Memories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/908 Multimedia

Abstract

A method and system are provided for storing received voicemail messages to alternate storage locations. A subscriber to voicemail services provides a voicemail system with an address or a number of addresses to which the subscriber may forward voicemail messages for extended storage. The subscriber may provide an electronic mail address, facsimile device number, a forwarding telephone directory number, or the address of a wireless electronic device, such as a hand-held computer, personal digital assistant, or pager. After receiving and reviewing a voicemail message left for the subscriber at the voicemail system, the subscriber may select an alternate storage address to have the voicemail message forwarded to that address for extended storage and for subsequent review and use. The message may be converted from speech-to-text at the voicemail system prior to forwarding the message. If the message is converted to text format, the message may be sent to a forwarding facsimile device, or the message may be electronically mailed to an email address, Internet-based web page, or wireless electronic device. Alternatively, the message may be converted to a digital audio format and may be electronically mailed as an attachment to an electronic mail message to an address provided by the subscriber.

Claims

1. A method of storing voice messages received at a network-based voicemail system to an alternate storage location, comprising:

receiving at the voicemail system a forwarding address for forwarding voice messages to an alternate storage location;

receiving forwarding instructions for forwarding voice messages to the alternate storage location;

receiving a voice message from a calling party at a subscriber voicemail box at the voicemail system, the voicemail system configured to delete the voice message after a predetermined time period;

determining whether the voice message is to be forwarded to the alternate storage location based upon input provided by a voicemail service subscriber, the input indicating one of the following;

that the voice message is to be forwarded to the alternate storage location after a first defined time period and that the voice message is to be forwarded to the alternate storage location upon receipt at the subscriber voicemail box;

forwarding the voice message to the alternate storage location; and

wherein the voice message is saved at the alternate storage location for a second defined time period, the second defined time period being defined by the voicemail service subscriber.

2. The method of claim 1, prior to receiving at the voicemail system a forwarding address for forwarding voice messages to an alternate storage location, further comprising the step of contacting the voicemail system telephonically for providing the forwarding address and forwarding instructions for forwarding the voicemail messages.

3. The method of claim 1, prior to receiving at the voicemail system a forward addresses for forwarding voicemail messages to an alternate storage location, further comprising contacting the voicemail system via an internet-based web page for providing the voicemail system with a forwarding address and forwarding instructions.

4. The method of claim 1, whereby receiving at the voicemail system with a forwarding address further comprises receiving at the voicemail system an electronic mail address for forwarding voice messages to the alternate storage location.

5. The method of claim 4, whereby the electronic mail address includes an electronic mail address associated with a computing system of the subscriber.

6. The method of claim 4, whereby the electronic mail address is associated with an Internet-based web page from which the subscriber may receive and review alternatively stored voice messages.

7. The method of claim 1, whereby receiving at the voicemail system a forwarding address for forwarding voice message to an alternate storage location further comprises receiving at the voicemail system a facsimile device directory number.

8. The method of claim 1, whereby receiving at the voicemail system a forwarding address for forwarding the voice messages to an alternate storage location, further comprises receiving at the voicemail system a forwarding telephone directory number at which the voice message may be saved to an alternate voice message system.

9. The method of claim 1, whereby receiving at the voicemail system a forwarding address for forwarding the voice messages to an alternate storage location, further comprises receiving at the voice message system an electronic mail address on a wireless electronic device.

10. The method of claim 9, whereby the wireless electronic device includes a wireless hand-held computer.

11. The method of claim 9, whereby the wireless electronic device includes a wireless personal digital assistant.

12. The method of claim 9, whereby the wireless electronic device includes a wireless pager.

13. The method of claim 1, whereby receiving forwarding instructions for forwarding voice messages to an alternate storage location, further comprises instructing the voicemail system to allow the subscriber to forward voice messages to an alternate storage location upon command from the subscriber.

14. The method of claim 1, whereby receiving forwarding instructions for forwarding voice messages to an alternate storage location, further comprises instructing the voicemail system to forward messages to the alternate storage location after a set period of time has elapsed.

15. The method of claim 1, whereby receiving forwarding instructions for forwarding voice messages to the alternate storage location, further comprises instructing the voicemail system to forward voice messages to the alternate storage location upon receipt of the voice messages at the voicemail system.

16. The method of claim 1, whereby determining whether the voice message is to be forwarded to an alternate storage location, further comprises searching at the voicemail system for the forwarding instructions for forwarding voice messages to an alternate storage location.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising prompting the subscriber for a command for forwarding the voice message to the alternate storage location.

18. The method of claim 4, whereby forwarding the voice message to the alternate storage location, further comprises forwarding the voice message to the alternate storage location via the electronic mail address.

19. The method of claim 18, prior to forwarding the voice message to the alternate storage location via the electronic mail address,

converting the voice message from a speech format to a text format;

and

at the voicemail system, inserting the text format voice message in an electronic mail message for forwarding to the alternate storage location via the electronic mail address.

20. The method of claim 18, prior to forwarding the voice message to the alternate storage location via the electronic mail address, further comprising:

converting the voice message to a digital audio format message; and

attaching the digital audio format message to an electronic mail message for forwarding to the alternate storage location via the electronic mail address.

21. The method of claim 7, whereby forwarding the voice message to the alternate storage location further comprises:

converting the voice message from a speech format to a text format; and

forwarding the text format message to the facsimile device directory number.

22. The method of claim 8, whereby forwarding the voice message to the alternate storage location further comprises:

forwarding the voice message to the forwarding telephone directory number; and

receiving the forwarded voice message at the alternate voicemail system.

23. The method of claim 9, whereby forwarding the voice message to the alternate storage location, further comprises forwarding the voicemail message to the wireless electronic device.

24. The method of claim 23, prior to forwarding the voice message to the wireless electronic device, further comprising:

converting the voice message from a speech format message to a text format message; and

inserting the text format message in an electronic mail message for forwarding to the wireless electronic device via the electronic mail address.

25. The method of claim 24, prior to forwarding the voice message to the wireless electronic device, further:

converting the voice message to a digital audio format message; and

attaching the digital audio format message to an electronic mail address for forwarding to the wireless electronic device via the electronic mail address.

26. A voice mail system for storing voice messages received at a network-based voicemail system to an alternate storage location, comprising:

means for receiving a forwarding address for forwarding voice messages to an alternate storage location;

means for receiving forwarding instructions for forwarding voice messages to the alternate storage location;

means for receiving a voice message from a calling part at a subscriber voicemail box at the voicemail system, the voicemail system configured to delete the voice message after a predetermined time period;

means for determining whether the voice message is to be forwarded to the alternate storage location based upon input provided by a voicemail service subscriber, the input indicating one of the following;

that the voice message is to be forwarded to the alternate storage location after a first defined time period and that the voice message is to be forwarded to the alternate storage location upon receipt at the subscriber voicemail box;

means for forwarding the voice message to the alternate storage location based on the forwarding instructions and forwarding address; and

wherein the voice message is saved at the alternate storage location for a second defined time period, the second defined time period being defined by the voicemail service subscriber.

27. The system of claim 26, the voicemail system including an electronic mail server operative to forward the voice message to an electronic mail address.

28. The system of claim 27, whereby the electronic mail address includes an electronic mail address associated with a computing system of the subscriber.

29. The system of claim 27, whereby the electronic mail address is associated with an Internet-based web page from which a forwarded voice message may be retrieved and reviewed.

30. The system of claim 27, whereby the electronic mail address includes an electronic mail address associated with a wireless electronic device.

31. The system of claim 26, whereby the voicemail system is further operative to forward the voice message to a facsimile device directory number.

32. The system of claim 26, whereby the voicemail system is further operative to forward the voice message to a forwarding telephone directory number.

33. The system of claim 26, whereby the voicemail system is further operative

to convert the voice message from a speech format to a text format;

and

to insert the text format voice message in an electronic mail message for forwarding to the alternate storage location via an electronic mail address.

34. The system of claim 26, whereby the voicemail system is further operative

to convert the voice message to a digital audio format message;

and

to attach the digital audio format message to an electronic mail message for forwarding to the alternate storage location via an electronic mail address.

35. A computer-readable medium which stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a method for storing voice messages received at a network-based voicemail system to an alternate storage location, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

receiving at the voicemail system a forwarding address for forwarding voice messages to an alternate storage location;

receiving forwarding instructions for forwarding voice messages to the alternate storage location;

receiving a voice message from a calling party at a subscriber voicemail box at the voicemail system, the voicemail system configured to delete the voice message after a predetermined time period;

determining whether the voice message is to be forwarded to the alternate storage location based upon input provided by a voicemail service subscriber, the input indicating one of the following;

that the voice message is to be forwarded to the alternate storage location after a first defined time period and that the voice message is to be forwarded to the alternate storage location upon receipt at the subscriber voicemail box;

forwarding the voice message to the alternate storage location; and

wherein the voice message is saved at the alternate storage location for a second defined time period, the second defined time period being defined by the voicemail service subscriber.