Methods, systems, and storage mediums for providing information storage services

• US 7,334,090 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2003
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zellner, Samuel N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sparks; Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Farrokh; Hashem
• Application Number:
  US10/740,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20050138305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 711/154
• US Class Current: 711/154
• 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 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

Embodiments relate to a method, system, and storage medium for providing information storage services to a service application user via a service provider. The method includes presenting options to the service application user operable for specifying a duration of time for storing an information element at a remote location. The method further includes receiving a selection from the service application user in response to options presented and assigning a storage period to the information element based upon the selection. Embodiments also include a system and a storage medium.

Claims

1. A method for providing information storage services to a service application user via a service provider, the method comprising:

presenting options to the service application user operable for specifying a duration of time for storing an information element at a location remote from the service application user, the information element generated by the service application user via a service application in response to a voice communication;

receiving a selection from the service application user in response to the presented options;

assigning a storage period to the information element based upon the selection; and

rating the information elements by duration of storage time, the ratings of the information elements including;

important;

standard; and

bulk;

wherein the service application comprises at least one of;

an email messaging application;

an instant messaging application; and

a voicemail system;

wherein the voice communication occurs via the at least one of the email messaging application, the instant messaging application, and the voicemail system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

notifying the service application user before the storage period expires; and

extending the storage period upon a request to do so by the service application user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the information element in a data repository for the storage period, the data repository associated with at least one of:

the service provider; and

a remote information storage provider.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the information storage services are integrated with a service application, the service application executed by at least one of:

a device operated by the service application user; and

a server operated by the service provider.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the device includes at least one of a:

computer;

mobile telephone;

personal digital assistant; and

networked television.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the duration of time includes at least one of:

a choice of pre-set time periods provided by the service application;

a user-defined time period; and

an unlimited time period.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information element comprises at least one of:

an electronic message;

a voicemail message;

a television program;

a video file;

an image file;

a document;

a database record; and

a data file.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a size of the information element is limited to a pre-established number of bytes.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising billing the service application user in accordance with the selection.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

rating the information elements by duration of storage time; and

assigning billing fees in accordance with the rating.

11. A storage medium including machine-readable computer program code for providing information storage services to a service application user via a service provider, the storage medium including instructions for causing a computer to implement a method comprising:

presenting options to the service application user operable for specifying a duration of time for storing an information element at a location remote from the service application user, the information element generated by the service application user via a service application in response to a voice communication;

receiving a selection from the service application user in response to the presented options;

assigning a storage period to the information element based upon the selection; and

rating the information elements by duration of storage time, the ratings of the information elements including;

important;

standard; and

bulk;

wherein the service application comprises at least one of;

a messaging application; and

a voicemail system;

wherein the voice communication occurs via the at least one of the messaging application and the voicemail system, and the information element comprises at least one of an email message, an instant message, and a voicemail message.

12. The storage medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions for causing the computer to implement:

notifying the service application user before the storage period expires; and

extending the storage period upon a request to do so by the service application user.

13. The storage medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions for causing the computer to implement:

storing the information element in a data repository for the storage period, the data repository associated with at least one of;

the service provider; and

a remote information storage provider.

14. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein the information storage services are integrated with a service application, the service application executed by at least one of:

a device operated by the service application user; and

a server operated by the service provider.

15. The storage medium of claim 14, wherein the device includes at least one of a:

computer;

mobile telephone;

personal digital assistant; and

networked television.

16. The storage medium of claim 11, wherein the duration of time includes at least one of:

a choice of pre-set time periods provided by the service application;

a user-defined time period; and

an unlimited time period.

17. The storage medium of claim 11, wherein the information element comprises at least one of:

a television program;

a video file;

an image file;

a document;

a database record; and

a data file.

18. The storage medium of claim 11, wherein a size of the information element is limited to a pre-established number of bytes.

19. The storage medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions for causing the computer to implement:

billing the service application user in accordance with the selection.

20. The storage medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions for causing the computer to implement:

rating the information elements by duration of storage time; and

assigning billing fees in accordance with the rating.

21. A system for providing information storage services, comprising:

a server in communication with a service provider and at least one service application user device;

an information storage system in communication with the service provider;

a data repository in communication with the server, the data repository storing;

consumer records associated with service application users; and

information elements;

wherein the information storage system performs;

presenting options to at least one of the service application users operable for specifying a duration of time for storing an information element in the data repository, the data repository remotely located from the service application user device, the information element generated by the service application user via a service application in response to a voice communication;

receiving a selection from the service application user in response to the presented options;

assigning a storage period to the information element based upon the selection;

notifying the service application user before the storage period expires;

extending the storage period upon a request to do so by the service application user;

billing the service application user in accordance with the selection;

rating the information elements by duration of storage time; and

assigning billing fees in accordance with the rating;

wherein ratings of the information elements include;

important;

standard; and

bulk;

wherein the service application comprises at least one of;

an email messaging application;

an instant messaging application; and

a voicemail system;

wherein the voice communication occurs via the at least one of the email messaging application, the instant messaging application, and the voicemail system.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the duration of time includes at least one of:

a choice of pre-set time periods provided by a service application;

a user-defined time period; and

an unlimited time period.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the information element comprises at least one of:

an electronic message;

a voicemail message;

a television program;

a video file;

an image file;

a document;

a database record; and

a data file.