Controlling messaging actions using form-based user interface

• US 7,346,150 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2005
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Adomo, Inc. (Avaya Incorporated)
• Inventors: Potze, Willem R. B., Frifeldt, Heine, Shaffer, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang; Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SING, SIMON P
• Application Number:
  US11/053,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20060177006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.22, 379/88.25, 379/88.12, 379/88.17, 709/206
• US Class Current: 379/88.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• 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 2203/4509 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 3/53333 Message receiving aspects

Abstract

An integrated messaging system for performing various types of messaging across different types of networks, including integrated user interfaces and administrator interfaces. Embodiments include a communication server that couples among networks of different types, and an interface module that couples to the communication server. The interface module may be hosted on a messaging server of a network. The interface module pulls various user information from the messaging server, including information relevant to at least the network that includes the messaging server. A cache couples to the communication server and to the interface module to hold information from the communication server and/or the user information pulled from messaging server. The interface module directs a message from the messaging server and/or the cache to at least one device on the networks using the user information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transferring a voicemail message from a messaging communication server, the messaging communication server including a telephony interface that couples calls and connects callers to the messaging communication server and including circuitry for receiving and processing voicemail messages, to an enterprise email server, the enterprise email server including logic for exchanging emails among members of an enterprise, the transferring from the messaging communication server via a first coupling;

generating a second message at the enterprise email server in response to a type of the voicemail message and transferring the second message to a client device via a second coupling, wherein the second message is of a different type and includes data of the voicemail message;

transferring to the client device form data that corresponds to the voicemail message; and

establishing a third coupling between the client device and the communication server using the form data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the enterprise email server transfers the form to the client device via the second coupling.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the form includes an embedded browser control for use in establishing the third coupling.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising directing actions on the first message from the client device using the form data, the actions directed via the third coupling.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the form data conforms to a message structure of the enterprise email server.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the form data includes a form-based user interface form (“

FBUI”

), and wherein the FBUI is transferred via an electronic mail message from the enterprise email server, the FBUI enabling actions on at least one of user information and message information by users of the client device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the messaging server caches at least one of the user information and the message information.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the network stores at least one of the user information and the message information.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the actions include routing a message, playing a message, replying to a message, forwarding a message, generating an audio call, and modifying the user information.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising action buttons displayed on the form-based user interface, the action buttons controlling actions via the communication coupling on at least one of user information and message information.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the third coupling occurs through at least one network node other than the messaging communication server.

33. The method of claim 1, including providing an embedded browser for use in establishing the third coupling.

12. A method comprising:

generating a voice message to include a property, including a message type;

transferring the voice message to a mail server from a communication server via a first coupling, wherein the communication server includes a telephony interface that couples calls and connects callers to the communication server and includes circuitry for receiving and processing voicemail messages, and wherein the mail server includes logic for exchanging electronic mail messages to and from users;

generating an electronic mail message at the mail server in response to the property and transferring the mail message to a client device via a second coupling, wherein the mail message includes information of the voice message;

transferring form data to the client device via the second coupling, the form data corresponding to the property;

establishing a third coupling between the client device and the communication server using the form data; and

directing actions on the voice message from the client device via the third coupling, the third coupling established using the form data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the form data is displayed in response to selection of a voice message listed in a message structure format of the mail server.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the form data includes a plurality of action buttons for allowing the selection of actions to be performed on a selected voice message.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the form data includes an embedded browser, and when an action button is selected, the browser is launched to establish the third coupling.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein a voice message listing in the message structure format includes an embedded browser, and when the listing is selected, the browser is launched to establish the third coupling.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of action buttons includes:

a play voice message on phone button;

a play voice message on computer button;

a call sender button;

a reply by voice message button; and

a forward voice message button.

18. A method comprising:

transferring form data to a client device from a first server via a first coupling, wherein the first server includes a telephony interface that couples calls and connects callers to the communication server and includes circuitry for receiving and processing voicemail messages;

receiving a first message at the first server, the first message being of a first type;

generating a second message at the first server in response to the first message, the second message being of a second type;

transferring the second message to the client device via the first coupling;

establishing a second coupling between the client device and a second server using the form data, wherein the second server includes logic for exchanging emails to and from users; and

controlling the first message at the first server using selections made via the form data and transferred from the client device to the first server via the second coupling.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein controlling the first message at the first server comprises controlling via a web browser launched by manipulating the form data.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first type of message is a voice message and wherein the second type of message is an email message according to a message structure of the first server.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first server is an enterprise groupware email server.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the first coupling is a local area network (“

LAN”

) coupling and wherein the second coupling is a web browser coupling.

23. A method comprising:

receiving an audio stream at a first server and generating a voice message using information of the audio stream, wherein the first server includes a telephony interface that couples calls and connects callers to the communication server and includes circuitry for receiving and processing voice messages;

transferring the voice message to a second server via a first path, wherein the second server includes logic for exchanging electronic mail messages to and from users;

generating an electronic mail message at the second server in response to receiving the voice message, the electronic mail message including identification information of the voice message;

transferring the electronic mail message to a client device via a second path;

displaying the electronic mail message using form data received from the second server via the second path;

establishing a third path between the client device and the first server using control data of the form; and

controlling actions on the voice message at the second server by communicating actions selected in the form to the first server via the third path.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first path is a path within an enterprise network.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the third path is an Internet path.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the second path is an enterprise network path.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein displaying the electronic mail message comprises displaying an email application form on a client device display, wherein voice mail messages are listed.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising, in response to a selection of a listed voice mail message, launching a popup window that includes a plurality of action button for performing actions on the displayed message.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein selection of an action button causes communication of the desired action to the first server, including establishing the third path.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein establishing the third path includes establishing communication between the client device and a web server.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein the third path occurs through at least one network node other than the first server.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein the actions cause transfer of information from the first sever to the client device through the third path.

34. A method comprising:

generating a voice message;

transferring the voice message to a mail server from a communication server via a first coupling;

generating an electronic mail message at the mail server and transferring the mail message to a client device via a second coupling, wherein the mail message includes information of the voice message;

transferring form data to the client device via the second coupling, the form data corresponding to the property;

establishing a third coupling between the client device and the communication server using the form data;

directing actions on the voice message from the client device via the third coupling, the third coupling established using the form data; and

providing an embedded browser, and when an action button is selected, the browser is launched to establish the third coupling.

35. A method comprising:

generating a voice message;

transferring the voice message to a mail server from a communication server via a first coupling;

generating an electronic mail message at the mail server and transferring the mail message to a client device via a second coupling, wherein the mail message includes information of the voice message;

transferring form data to the client device via the second coupling, the form data corresponding to the property;

establishing a third coupling between the client device and the communication server using the form data; and

directing actions on the voice message from the client device via the third coupling, the third coupling established using the form data;

wherein the form data includes a plurality of action buttons for allowing the selection of actions to be performed on a selected voice message, the plurality of action buttons including;

a play voice message on phone button;

a play voice message on computer button;

a call sender button;

a reply by voice message button; and

a forward voice message button.