Architecture for unified messaging

• US 7,327,836 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2002
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Uk
• Original Assignee: Avaya Uk
• Inventors: Cook, Charles Ronald, Wilson, Michael Geoffrey Andrew, Didcock, Clifford Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier; Gerald
• Application Number:
  US10/151,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20040109544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,087 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.13, 379/88.02, 379/88.18, 379/88.25, 455/413, 709/206, 725/34
• US Class Current: 379/88.25
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53325 Interconnection arrangements between voice mail systems

Abstract

There is disclosed a unified messaging system in which a voice mail domain object comprising a plurality of fields is provided. At least one of such fields is selected to be defined as an open field such that it is accessible to an administration application of the system. The open fields are preferably stored as a voice mail domain summary in the e-mail directory of the unified messaging system.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a unified messaging system including a voice mail domain and an administration application, the method comprising the steps of:

a. defining a voice mail domain object comprising a plurality of fields proprietary to the voice mail domain, said plurality of fields proprietary to the voice mail domain comprising closed fields not accessible by the administration application; and

b. selecting at least one of said plurality of fields proprietary to the voice mail domain to be provided additionally as an open field accessible by the administration application.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a voice mail domain summary comprising said at least one open field.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one open field is accessible as read only data.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein an open field in the voice mail domain summary is changed responsive to a change in the corresponding open field in the voice mail domain object.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein an open field in the voice mail domain object is changed under the control of a voice server.

6. A method according to claim 2 wherein the voice mail domain summary is provided in a directory of the unified messaging system.

7. A unified messaging system comprising:

a directory;

at least one voice server defining a voice mail domain; and

an administration application;

wherein the directory is adapted to store a voice mail domain object corresponding to the at least one voice server and comprising a plurality of fields proprietary to the voice mail domain, said plurality of fields proprietary to the voice mail domain comprising closed fields not accessible by the administration application; and

wherein the directory is further adapted such that at least one of said plurality of fields proprietary to the voice mail domain is additionally stored as an open field accessible by the administration application.

8. A unified messaging system according to claim 7 wherein the directory further comprises a means for storing a voice mail domain summary comprising said at least one open field.

9. A unified messaging system according to claim 7 wherein the directory is further adapted such that the at least one open field is accessible by the administration application as read only data.

10. A unified messaging system according to claim 7 wherein the directory is further adapted such that the open field in the voice mail domain summary is changed responsive to a change in the corresponding open field in the voice mail domain object.

11. A unified messaging system according to claim 7 wherein the directory is further adapted such that an open field in the voice mail domain object is changed under the control of a voice server.

12. A unified messaging system according to claim 7 wherein the directory is further adapted such that the at least one of said fields accessible by the administration application is stored as a voice mail domain summary.

13. A unified messaging system according to claim 7 wherein the voice mail domain comprises a plurality of voice servers.

14. A unified messaging system according to any one of claims 7 to 13 further comprising a plurality of voice mail domains.

15. A unified messaging system according to any one of claims 7 to 13 further comprising at least one message store and at least one client.