System and method for enhanced message notification

• US 7,248,857 B1
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cingular Wireless LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Richardson, Simon James, Wuthnow, Mark Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang; Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Hemant
• Application Number:
  US10/938,350
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.05, 379/88.12, 379/88.14, 379/88.26, 455/413
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/652 Call initiation triggered by text message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages
• 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

Abstract

Enhanced message notification is provided by an enhanced notification function element and a subscriber preference profile database. The enhanced notification function element queries the subscriber preference profile database to obtain subscriber communication terminal capabilities information, which it uses to select a message notification technology. The enhanced notification function element may then format an enhanced notification that is delivered to a communication terminal through a delivery system architecture appropriate for the selected message notification technology. The enhanced notification may contain: a message type indicator; an identifier of the party leaving the message; a date and time that the message was deposited; multimedia objects; and other enhanced information. The enhanced notification function element may also query a terminal roaming status database in order to determine if the enhanced message should be sent when the terminal is roaming. The enhanced notification function element may also provide content adaptation for the enhanced notification.

Claims

1. A system for providing enhanced voicemail message notification in a wireless environment having multiple voicemail message notification technologies, said system comprising:

a subscriber preference profile database relating subscriber identifier information with subscriber terminal capabilities information;

a terminal roaming status database for relating subscriber identifier information with terminal roaming status information;

an enhanced voicemail notification function element in communication with said subscriber preference profile database and said terminal roaming database, said enhanced voicemail notification function element being operative to;

receive a basic message notification request including an identifier of the subscriber to whom the basic message notification is directed;

obtain subscriber terminal capabilities information from said subscriber preference profile database utilizing said subscriber identifier;

select a voicemail message notification technology from a plurality of voicemail message notification technologies for delivery of an enhanced voicemail notification to the subscriber by using said subscriber terminal capabilities information; and

format said enhanced voicemail notification with information based on said subscriber terminal capabilities information;

a communication network; and

a communication terminal in communication with said enhanced voicemail notification function element through said communication network utilizing said selected message notification technology, and communication terminal having a client application program for receiving said enhanced voicemail notification and a display for displaying the details of said enhanced voicemail notification, said client application program being a Java Wireless Messaging API, whereby said display of the details of said enhanced voicemail notification is independent of any difference in brand of said communication terminal, and whereby said client application program may be readily updated by downloading updated versions to said communication terminal, and wherein said enhanced voicemail notification function element is further operative to;

obtain terminal roaming status information from said terminal roaming status database utilizing said subscriber identifier;

determine if said communication terminal is roaming; and

if said communication terminal is roaming, apply rules for determining if an enhanced voicemail notification should be sent prior to said step of selecting a voicemail message notification technology.

2. A system for providing enhanced voicemail message notification in a wireless environment having multiple voicemail message notification technologies, said system comprising:

a subscriber preference profile database relating subscriber identifier information with subscriber terminal capabilities information;

a terminal roaming status database for relating subscriber identifier information with roaming status of a communication terminal;

an enhanced voicemail notification function element in communication with said subscriber preference profile database, said enhanced voicemail notification function element being operative to;

receive a basic message notification request including an identifier of the subscriber to whom the basic message notification is directed;

obtain subscriber terminal capabilities information from said subscriber preference profile database utilizing said subscriber identifier;

select a voicemail message notification technology from a plurality of voicemail message notification technologies for delivery of an enhanced voicemail notification to the subscriber by using said subscriber terminal capabilities information;

format said enhanced voicemail notification with information based on said subscriber terminal capabilities information, said enhanced voicemail notification having a multimedia object selected from the group consisting of;

an audio clip of a caller'"'"'s name, a photo associated with a caller, a mood icon associated with a caller, or a presence and availability indicator associated with a caller;

obtain terminal roaming status information from said terminal roaming status database utilizing said subscriber identifier;

determine if said communication terminal is roaming; and

if said communication terminal is roaming, apply rules for determining if an enhanced voicemail notification should be sent prior to said step of selecting a voicemail message notification technology.

3. A method of enhanced voicemail message notification to a subscriber communication terminal in a wireless environment having multiple voicemail message notification technologies, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a basic message notification request, said basic message notification request including an identifier of the subscriber to whom the basic notification is directed;

obtaining subscriber terminal capabilities information from a subscriber preference profile database utilizing said subscriber identifier, said subscriber terminal capabilities information including whether said subscriber communication terminal is capable of receiving enhanced voicemail messages and whether said terminal has an enhanced voicemail notification client application program;

selecting a voicemail message notification technology from a plurality of voicemail message notification technologies for delivery of an enhanced voicemail notification to said subscriber communication terminal by using said subscriber terminal capabilities information, including selecting an enhanced voicemail notification technology if said subscriber terminal capabilities information indicates that said terminal is capable of receiving enhanced voicemail messages and that said terminal has an enhanced voicemail notification client application program;

obtaining terminal roaming status information from a terminal roaming status database utilizing said subscriber identifier;

determining if said subscriber communication terminal is roaming;

if said subscriber communication terminal is roaming applying rules for determining if an enhanced voicemail notification should be sent to said step of selecting a voicemail message notification technology;

receiving an identifier of the party leaving the message and a multimedia object associated with said party leaving the message;

formatting said enhanced voicemail notification with a message type indicator, the identifier of the party leaving the message, and said multimedia object; and

delivering said enhanced voicemail notification to said subscriber communication terminal using said selected voicemail message notification technology.

4. The method of enhanced voicemail message notification of claim 3, wherein said multimedia object is an audio clip of the name of the party leaving the message.

5. The method of enhanced voicemail message notification of claim 3, wherein said multimedia object is a file containing a photograph associated with said party leaving the message.

6. The method of enhanced voicemail message notification of claim 3, wherein said multimedia object is a mood icon associated with said party leaving the message.

7. The method of enhanced voicemail message notification of claim 3, wherein said multimedia object is a presence and availability indicator.

8. A method of enhanced voicemail message notification to a subscriber communication terminal in a wireless environment having multiple voicemail message notification technologies, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a basic message notification request, said basic message notification request including an identifier of the subscriber to whom the basic notification is directed;

obtaining subscriber terminal capabilities information from a subscriber preference profile database utilizing said subscriber identifier, said subscriber terminal capabilities information including whether said subscriber communication terminal is capable of receiving enhanced voicemail messages and whether said terminal has an enhanced voicemail notification client application program;

selecting a voicemail message notification technology from a plurality of voicemail message notification technologies for delivery of an enhanced voicemail notification to said subscriber communication terminal by using said subscriber terminal capabilities information, including selecting an enhanced voicemail notification technology if said subscriber terminal capabilities information indicates that said terminal is capable of receiving enhanced voicemail messages and that said terminal has an enhanced voicemail notification client application program;

obtaining terminal roaming status information from a terminal roaming status database utilizing said subscriber identifier;

determining if said subscriber communication terminal is roaming;

if said subscriber communication terminal is roaming, applying rules for determining if an enhanced voicemail notification should be sent to said step of selecting a voicemail message notification technology;

receiving an identifier of the party leaving the message and information regarding a subscriber phone number to which the message was directed;

formatting an enhanced voicemail notification with a message type indicator, the identifier of the party leaving the message, and said subscriber phone number to which the message was directed; and

delivering said enhanced voicemail notification to said subscriber communication terminal using said selected voicemail message notification technology.

9. A method of enhanced voicemail message notification to a subscriber communication terminal in a wireless environment having multiple voicemail message notification technologies, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a basic message notification request, said basic message notification request including an identifier of the subscriber to whom the basic notification is directed;

obtaining subscriber terminal capabilities information from a subscriber preference profile database utilizing said subscriber identifier, said subscriber terminal capabilities information including whether said subscriber communication terminal is capable of receiving enhanced voicemail messages and whether said terminal has an enhanced voicemail notification client application program;

selecting a voicemail message notification technology from a plurality of voicemail message notification technologies for delivery of an enhanced voicemail notification to said subscriber communication terminal by using said subscriber terminal capabilities information;

obtaining terminal roaming status information from a terminal roaming status database utilizing said subscriber identifier;

determining if said subscriber communication terminal is roaming;

if said subscriber communication terminal is roaming, applying rules for determining if an enhanced voicemail notification should be sent to said step of selecting a voicemail message notification technology.

10. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for providing enhanced voicemail message notification to a subscriber communication terminal in a wireless environment having multiple voicemail message notification technologies, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a basic message notification request, said basic message notification request including an identifier of the subscriber to whom the basic notification is directed;

obtaining subscriber terminal capabilities information from a subscriber preference profile database utilizing said subscriber identifier, said subscriber terminal capabilities information including whether said subscriber communication terminal is capable of receiving enhanced voicemail messages and whether said terminal has an enhanced voicemail notification client application program;

selecting a voicemail message notification technology from a plurality of voicemail message notification technologies for delivery of an enhanced voicemail notification to said subscriber by using said subscriber terminal capabilities information;

obtaining terminal roaming status information from a terminal roaming status database utilizing said subscriber identifier;

determining if said subscriber communication terminal is roaming;

if said subscriber communication terminal is roaming, applying rules for determining if an enhanced voicemail notification should be sent to said step of selecting a voicemail message notification technology;

receiving a phone number of the party leaving the message;

obtaining calling party name information from a Line Information Data Base (LIDB) utilizing said phone number of said party leaving the message;

formatting an enhanced voicemail notification with a message type indicator, the phone number of the party leaving the message, and said calling party name information;

delivering said enhanced voicemail notification to said subscriber communication terminal using said selected voicemail message notification technology.

11. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for providing enhanced voicemail message notification to a subscriber communication terminal in a wireless environment having multiple voicemail message notification technologies, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a basic message notification request, said basic message notification request including an identifier of the subscriber to whom the basic notification is directed;

obtaining subscriber terminal capabilities information from a subscriber preference profile database utilizing said subscriber identifier, said subscriber terminal capabilities information including whether said subscriber communication terminal is capable of receiving enhanced voicemail messages and whether said terminal has an enhanced voicemail notification client application program;

selecting a voicemail message notification technology from a plurality of voicemail message notification technologies for delivery of an enhanced voicemail notification to said subscriber by using said subscriber terminal capabilities information;

obtaining terminal roaming status information from a terminal roaming status database utilizing said subscriber identifier;

determining if said subscriber communication terminal is roaming;

if said subscriber communication terminal is roaming, applying rules for determining if an enhanced voicemail notification should be sent to said step of selecting a voicemail message notification technology;

receiving a phone number of the party leaving the message and an audio clip of the name of the party leaving the message;

formatting an enhanced voicemail notification with a message type indicator, the phone number of the party leaving the message, and said name audio clip; and

delivering said enhanced voicemail notification to said subscriber communication terminal using said selected voicemail message notification technology.

12. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for providing enhanced voicemail message notification to a subscriber communication terminal in a wireless environment having multiple voicemail message notification technologies, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a basic message notification request, said basic message notification request including an identifier of the subscriber to whom the basic notification is directed;

obtaining subscriber terminal capabilities information from a subscriber preference profile database utilizing said subscriber identifier, said subscriber terminal capabilities information including whether said subscriber communication terminal is capable of receiving enhanced voicemail messages and whether said terminal has an enhanced voicemail notification client application program;

selecting a voicemail message notification technology from a plurality of voicemail message notification technologies for delivery of an enhanced voicemail notification to said subscriber by using said subscriber terminal capabilities information;

obtaining terminal roaming status information from a terminal roaming status database utilizing said subscriber identifier;

determining if said subscriber communication terminal is roaming;

if said subscriber communication terminal is roaming, applying rules for determining if an enhanced voicemail notification should be sent to said step of selecting a voicemail message notification technology;

receiving a phone number of the party leaving the voicemail message and a multimedia object associated with said party leaving the voicemail message;

formatting an enhanced voicemail notification with a message type indicator, the phone number of the party leaving the voicemail message, and said multimedia object; and

delivering said enhanced voicemail notification to said subscriber communication terminal using said selected voicemail message notification technology.

13. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for providing enhanced voicemail message notification to a subscriber communication terminal in a wireless environment having multiple voicemail message notification technologies, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a basic message notification request, said basic message notification request including an identifier of the subscriber to whom the basic notification is directed;

obtaining subscriber terminal capabilities information from a subscriber preference profile database utilizing said subscriber identifier, said subscriber terminal capabilities information including whether said subscriber communication terminal is capable of receiving enhanced voicemail messages and whether said terminal has an enhanced voicemail notification client application program;

selecting a voicemail message notification technology from a plurality of voicemail message notification technologies for delivery of an enhanced voicemail notification to said subscriber by using said subscriber terminal capabilities information;

obtaining terminal roaming status information from a terminal roaming status database utilizing said subscriber identifier determining if said subscriber communication terminal is roaming;

if said subscriber communication terminal is roaming, applying rules for determining if an enhanced voicemail notification should be sent to said step of selecting a voicemail message notification technology;

receiving a phone number of the party leaving the voicemail message and information regarding a subscriber phone number to which the voicemail message was directed;

formatting an enhanced voicemail notification with a message type indicator, the phone number of the party leaving the voicemail message, and said subscriber phone number to which the voicemail message was directed; and

delivering said enhanced voicemail notification to said subscriber communication terminal using said selected voicemail message notification technology.

14. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for providing enhanced voicemail message notification to a subscriber communication terminal in a wireless environment having multiple voicemail message notification technologies, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a basic message notification request, said basic message notification request including an identifier of the subscriber to whom the basic notification is directed;

obtaining subscriber terminal capabilities information from a subscriber preference profile database utilizing said subscriber identifier, said subscriber terminal capabilities information including whether said subscriber communication terminal is capable of receiving voicemail enhanced messages and whether said terminal has an enhanced voicemail notification client application program;

selecting a voicemail message notification technology from a plurality of voicemail message notification technologies for delivery of an enhanced voicemail notification to said subscriber by using said subscriber terminal capabilities information;

providing rules for determining if an enhanced voicemail notification should be sent if said subscriber communication terminal is roaming;

obtaining terminal roaming status information from a terminal roaming status database utilizing said subscriber identifier;

determining if said terminal is roaming; and

if said terminal is roaming, applying said rules to said step of selecting a voicemail message notification technology.