System and method for providing prioritized access to a messaging system

• US 7,224,775 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Khouri, Joseph F., Shaffer, Shmuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier; Gerald
• Application Number:
  US09/751,757
• Time in Patent Office: 2,342 Days
• Field of Search: 379/86, 379/88.01, 379/88.02, 379/88.04, 379/88.18, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/67.1, 379/88.24, 379/352, 379/93.24, 379/210.01, 379/214.01, 379/266.01, 379/265.14, 379/88.17, 379/88.16, 379/142.05, 379/144.01, 379/207.2, 379/211.02, 379/215.01, 379/243, 370/232, 370/352, 705/7, 711/158
• US Class Current: 379/88.16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/367 Traffic or load control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A method and system for providing prioritized access to a messaging system includes receiving at an access controller for a messaging system a request for connection by a user to the messaging system. The access controller determines whether the messaging system is available. The access controller further queues the request if the messaging system is not available.

Claims

1. A method for prioritized access to a messaging system, comprising:

receiving, at an access controller for a messaging system, a request by a user of the messaging system to be connected with the messaging system;

determining whether the messaging system is available;

if the messaging system is available, establishing a telecommunications connection between the user and the messaging system;

if the messaging system is not available;

queuing the request; and

maintaining a telecommunications connection between the access controller and the user while the request is queued;

determining a class of service (CoS) for the connection;

queuing the request based on the CoS;

wherein the CoS includes a priority associated with a called party; and

wherein the priority associated with the called party is established according to a telephone number of the called party.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising immediately connecting the user with the messaging system if the messaging system is initially available.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the CoS includes a priority associated with the user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the priority associated with the user is established according to an identification number of the user.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining a telephone number of the user, at the access controller; and

wherein the identification number corresponds to the telephone number of the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the CoS includes a priority associated with a type of the request for connection.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the type of the request for connection is selected from the group consisting of an internal network request to review a message, an internal network request to leave a message, an external network request to review a message and an external network request to leave a message.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising queuing the request based on a time at which the request for connection is received.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the messaging system comprises a voicemail system.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting the user to the messaging system when the messaging system becomes available and the request is at a primary position in a queue of the access controller.

11. An access controller for a messaging system, comprising:

means for receiving, at an access controller for a messaging system, a request by a user of the messaging system to be connected with the messaging system;

means for determining whether the messaging system is available;

means for establishing a telecommunications connection between the user and the messaging system, if the messaging system is initially available;

means for queuing the request at the access controller and maintaining a telecommunications connection between the user and the access controller, if the messaging system is not available;

means for determining a class of service (CoS) for the connection;

means for queuing the request based on the CoS;

wherein the CoS includes a priority associated with a called party; and

wherein the priority associated with the called party is established according to a telephone number of the called party.

12. The access controller of claim 11, further comprising means for immediately connecting the user with the messaging system if the messaging system is initially available.

13. The access controller of claim 11, wherein the CoS includes a priority associated with the user.

14. The access controller of claim 13, wherein the priority associated with the user is established according to an identification number of the user.

15. The access controller of claim 14, further comprising:

means for determining a telephone number of the user; and

wherein the identification number corresponds to the telephone number of the user.

16. The access controller of claim 11, wherein the CoS includes a priority associated with a type of the request for connection.

17. The access controller of claim 16, wherein the type of the request for connection is selected from the group consisting of an internal network request to review a message, an internal network request to leave a message, an external network request to review a message and an external network request to leave a message.

18. The access controller of claim 11, further comprising means for queuing the request based on a time at which the request for connection is received.

19. The access controller of claim 11, wherein the messaging system comprises a voicemail system.

20. The access controller of claim 11, further comprising means for connecting the user to the messaging system when the messaging system becomes available and the request is at a primary position in a queue of the access controller.

21. A system for prioritized access to a messaging system, comprising:

logic encoded in media; and

the logic operable to;

receive a request for connection by a user to a messaging system;

determine whether the messaging system is available; and

queue the request and maintain a telecommunications connection with the user while the request is queued, if the messaging system is not available;

establish a telecommunications connection between the user and the messaging system, if the messaging system is initially available;

determine a class of service (CoS) for the connection and to queue the request based on the CoS;

wherein the CoS includes a priority associated with a called party; and

wherein the priority associated with the called party is established according to a telephone number of the called party.

22. The system of claim 21, the logic further operable to immediately connect the user with the messaging system if the messaging system is initially available.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the CoS includes a priority associated with the user.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the priority associated with the user is established according to an identification number of the user.

25. The system of claim 24, the logic further operable to determine a telephone number of the user, wherein the identification number corresponds to the telephone number of the user.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the CoS includes a priority associated with a type of the request for connection.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the type of the request for connection is selected from the group consisting of an internal network request to review a message, an internal network request to leave a message, an external network request to review a message and an external network request to leave a message.

28. The system of claim 21, the logic further operable to queue the request based on a time at which the request for connection is received.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein the messaging system comprises a voicemail system.

30. The system of claim 21, the logic further operable to connect the user to the messaging system when the messaging system becomes available and the request is at a primary position in a queue of the access controller.

31. A method for prioritized access to a messaging system, comprising:

receiving at an access controller remote from a messaging system a request for connection by a user to the messaging system;

determining at the access controller whether ports of the messaging system are available;

queuing the request at the access controller if a port of the messaging system is not available;

authenticating the user for access to the messaging system while the request is queued;

establishing a telecommunications connection between the user and the messaging system when a port of the messaging system becomes available and the request is at a primary position in a queue of the access controller;

queuing the request based on a class of service (CoS) for the connection;

wherein the CoS includes a priority associated with a called party; and

wherein the priority associated with the called party is established according to a telephone number of the called party.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising transferring a login token generated by authentication from the access controller to the messaging system.