System and method for unified messaging in inter/intranet telephony

• US 7,257,201 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2001
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alianza, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Inventors: Schulzrinne, Henning, Singh, Kundan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tieu; Benny Q
• Application Number:
  US10/333,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20030165231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,192 Days
• Field of Search: 37920101-20105, 379/201.12, 379/207.02, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379 8801- 8828, 379/67.1, 709/205, 709/227, 719/311, 719/318, 719/328, 370352-356
• US Class Current: 379/88.13
• 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 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/253 where a visual mode is used instead of a voice mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/301 Management of recordings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems unified messaging in packet switching networks H04L51/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4563 Voicemail monitoring during recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/459 Calling party redirected to message centre on called party request
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5315 where the non-audio components are still images or video still image mailbox systems H04N1/324, intermediate storage of video signals for videophones H04N7/147
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53383 Message registering commands or announcements; Greetings
• 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: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/126 Interworking of session control protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling

Abstract

A network telephony system is provided which enables unified messaging services. The system generally includes at least one user agent (102,104) operatively coupled to a data network (106) and a signalling server operatively coupled to the data network (106). The user agents (102,104) are telephony endpoints, such as standalone Internet telephony appliances or personal computers with appropriate telephony software. A messaging server (110) is provided which is operatively coupled to the data network (106) and is responsive to the signaling server (108). The system also includes a media server (112A,112B) which is operatively coupled to the network and includes computer data storage media for storing message files. The media server is responsive to the messaging server (110) and, on occurrence of a message condition, is directly accessible to a calling party to store a message file for subsequent retrieval by a called party.

Claims

1. A network telephony system providing unified messaging services comprising:

at least one user agent operatively coupled to a data network;

a signaling server operatively coupled to the data network;

a messaging server operatively coupled to the data network and responsive to the signaling server;

a media server operatively coupled to the network, the media server including computer data storage media for storing message files, the media server being responsive to the messaging server and, on occurrence of a message condition, being directly accessible to a calling party to exchange a message file.

2. The network telephony system of claim 1, wherein the signaling server operates in accordance with the session initiation protocol.

3. The network telephony system of claim 1, wherein the signaling server further comprises a database of network addresses for registered user agents and wherein on receipt of a call request from a calling party, generates a call request to an address of the called user agent stored in the database and generates a call request to a network address of the messaging server.

4. The network telephony system of claim 3, wherein the signaling server cancels the call request to the messaging server in the event the call request to the called user agent is accepted.

5. The network telephony system of claim 3, wherein the signaling server cancels the call request to the called user agent in the event a message condition is detected.

6. The network telephony system of claim 5, wherein after a message condition is detected, an invite request is provided to the called user agent to reclaim the call from the media server.

7. The network telephony system of claim 5, wherein the media server provides a stored greeting message to the calling party in the event a message condition is detected.

8. The network telephony system of claim 7, wherein the greeting message is presented in a real time streaming media protocol.

9. The network telephony system of claim 1, further comprising a message management system for accessing message files stored on the media server.

10. The network telephony system of claim 1, wherein in response to a calling party storing a message on the media server, the media server provides a notification to a called party that a message is available.

11. The network telephony system of claim 10, wherein the notification includes a network address for accessing the message.

12. The network telephony system of claim 10, wherein the notification includes a copy of the message.

13. The network telephony system of claim 1, wherein the called user agent redirects a call to the messaging server on occurrence of a message condition.

14. A network telephony system, for operation with a data network, providing unified messaging services comprising:

at least one user agent operatively coupled to a data network;

a signaling server operatively coupled to the data network, the signaling server maintaining a registration database of network addresses of user agents;

a messaging server operatively coupled to the data network and responsive to the signaling server;

at least two media servers operatively coupled to the network, the at least two media servers being responsive to the messaging server, each media server including computer data storage media for storing and retrieving message files, the media servers being accessible to the at least one user agent to store, manage and retrieve message files.

15. The network telephony system of claim 14, wherein the signaling server operates in accordance with the session initiation protocol.

16. The network telephony system of claim 14, wherein the signaling server further comprises a database of network addresses for registered user agents and wherein on receipt of a call request from a calling party, generates a call request to an address of the called user agent stored in the database and generates a call request to a network address of the messaging server.

17. The network telephony system of claim 16, wherein the signaling server cancels the call request to the messaging server in the event the call request to the called user agent is accepted.

18. The network telephony system of claim 16, wherein the signaling server cancels the call request to the called user agent in the event a message condition is detected.

19. The network telephony system of claim 18, wherein after a message condition is detected, an invite request is provided to the called user agent to reclaim the call from the media server.

20. The network telephony system of claim 18, wherein the media server provides a stored greeting message to the calling party in the event a message condition is detected.

21. The network telephony system of claim 20, wherein the greeting message is presented in a real time streaming media protocol.

22. The network telephony system of claim 14, further comprising a message management system for accessing message files stored on the media server.

23. The network telephony system of claim 14, wherein in response to a calling party storing a message on the media server, the media server provides a notification to a called party that a message is available.

24. The network telephony system of claim 23, wherein the notification includes a network address for accessing the message.

25. The network telephony system of claim 23, wherein the notification includes a copy of the message.

26. The network telephony system of claim 14, wherein the called user agent redirects a call to the messaging server on occurrence of a message condition.

27. The network telephony system of claim 14, wherein the at least one user agent includes a first group of user agents and a second group of user agents, wherein the at least two media servers include at least first and second media servers and wherein the first group of user agents is associated with the first media server and the second group of user agents is associated with the second media server.

28. The network telephony system of claim 27, wherein the association between user agents and media servers is maintained by the messaging server.

29. A network telephony system including unified messaging services comprising:

a digital data network;

a gateway server computer interposed between a public switched telephony network (PSTN) and the digital data network;

a signaling server operatively coupled to the digital data network;

a messaging server operatively coupled to the digital data network and responsive to the signaling server;

a media server, the media server being responsive to the messaging server, the media server including computer data storage media for storing message files; and

a DTMF translator, the DTMF translator being interposed between to the gateway server and the media server.

30. The network telephony system of claim 29, wherein the signaling server operates in accordance with the session initiation protocol.

31. The network telephony system of claim 29, wherein the signaling server further comprises a database of network addresses for registered user agents and wherein on receipt of a call request from a calling party, generates a call request to an address of the called user agent stored in the database and generates a call request to a network address of the messaging server.

32. The network telephony system of claim 31, wherein the signaling server cancels the call request to the messaging server in the event the call request to the called user agent is accepted.

33. The network telephony system of claim 31, wherein the signaling server cancels the call request to the called user agent in the event a message condition is detected.

34. The network telephony system of claim 33, wherein after a message condition is detected, an invite request is provided to the called user agent to reclaim the call from the media server.

35. The network telephony system of claim 33, wherein the media server provides a stored greeting message to the calling party in the event a message condition is detected.

36. The network telephony system of claim 35, wherein the greeting message is presented in a real time streaming media protocol.

37. The network telephony system of claim 29, further comprising a message management system for accessing message files stored on the media server.

38. The network telephony system of claim 29, wherein in response to a calling party storing a message on the media server, the media server provides a notification to a called party that a message is available.

39. The network telephony system of claim 38, wherein the notification includes a network address for accessing the message.

40. The network telephony system of claim 38, wherein the notification includes a copy of the message.

41. The network telephony system of claim 29, wherein the called user agent redirects a call to the messaging server on occurrence of a message condition.

42. The network telephony system of claim 29, wherein the DTMF translator converts DTMF command signals provided by a user agent to equivalent command signals in a protocol compatible with the media server.

43. The network telephony system of claim 42, wherein the command signals provide direct access to the media server to enable message exchange with a user agent.

44. A method for providing messaging services in a data network telephony system, comprising:

receiving a call request from a first user agent to a second user agent;

generating a call request to an address for the second user agent and to a messaging server associated with the second user agent;

establishing a connection between the first user agent and a media server in the event of a message condition to provide for message exchange with the media server;

terminating the call request to the messaging server if no message condition occurs.

45. The method for providing messaging services in accordance with claim 44, wherein the message exchange further comprises recording a message from the first user agent and storing the message as a message file on the media server.

46. The method for providing messaging services in accordance with claim 44, wherein the message exchange further comprises providing a message file from the media server to the first user agent.

47. The method for providing messaging services in accordance with claim 44, further comprising providing a notification to the called party that a message is available.

48. The method for providing messaging services in accordance with claim 44, further comprising inviting the called party to reclaim the call while the first user agent is recording a message.

49. The method for providing messaging services in accordance with claim 44, wherein the message condition is the passage of a predetermined time period from the call request.

50. The method for providing messaging services in accordance with claim 44, wherein the message condition is an entry in a registration record associated with the called party.

51. The method for providing messaging services in accordance with claim 44, wherein the message condition is a response from the called party indicating the unavailability of the called party.