Unified messaging system

• US 7,349,528 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2004
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Bucchieri, Vittorio, Schmidt, Albert L. Jr., Virzi, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier; Gerald
• Application Number:
  US10/801,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20050018819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 379/265.09, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/76, 379/88.17, 379/88.18, 379/88.22, 379/88.25, 370/352, 455/419
• US Class Current: 379/88.13
• 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 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components

Abstract

Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide a unified messaging system. The unified messaging system comprises a unified messaging system server and clients, such as personal computers, telephones, facsimile machines, and two-way paging machines connected via both land based and wireless connections. This system enables a user to access and retrieve a variety of messages, including voice mail messages, facsimiles, and electronic mail messages via a unified user interface that clearly distinguishes each message type using message identifiers, and segregates messages by type.

Claims

1. A method for providing unified messaging, comprising:

storing a plurality of input messages directed to a user, each input message being of a particular type selected from a group consisting of a voice message, a text message, and an image, wherein the input messages further identify different user destinations;

determining the type of each input message;

assigning an identifier for each input message based on the determined message type;

displaying a view of the input messages, the view including information identifying and the assigned identifier for each input message;

providing in the displayed view at least one icon associated with one of the input message types that, when selected, eliminates from the view all of the input messages except those associated with the input message type of the icon;

receiving a signal indicating a selection to view messages identifying a particular user destination; and

modifying the view of the input messages based on the received signal.

2. A method for providing unified messaging, comprising:

storing a plurality of input messages directed to a user, each input message being of a particular type selected from a group consisting of a voice message, a text message, and an image, wherein the input messages further identify different user destinations;

displaying a view of at least a subset of the input messages, the view including, for each input message, information identifying the message and a corresponding identifier determined based on the type of the message;

receiving a signal indicating a selection to view only messages of a particular type;

modifying the view of the subset of the input messages based on the received signal;

receiving a signal indicating a selection to view messages identifying a particular user destination; and

modifying the view of the subset of the input messages based on the received signal.

3. A method for providing unified messaging, comprising:

storing a plurality of input messages directed to a user, each input message being of a particular type selected from a group consisting of a voice message, a text message, and an image, wherein the input messages further identify different user destinations;

determining the type of each input message;

assigning an identifier for each input message based on the determined message type;

displaying a view of the input messages, the view including, for each input message, information identifying and the assigned identifier for the input message;

providing in the displayed view a plurality of icons, each icon associated with one of the types of input messages;

inputting a signal indicating selection of one of the icons;

modifying the view of the input messages such that only the identifying information for each input message of a particular type based on the inputted signal is included in the view;

receiving a signal indicating a selection to view messages identifying a particular user destination; and

modifying the view of the input messages based on the received signal.

4. A method for providing unified messaging, comprising:

storing a plurality of input messages directed to a user, each input message being of a particular type selected from a group consisting of a voice message, a text message, and an image, wherein the input messages further identify different user destinations;

determining the type of each input message;

assigning an identifier for each input message based on the determined message type;

identifying a set of the input messages that indicate receipt within a predetermined period of time;

displaying a view of the set of the input messages, the view including information identifying and the assigned identifier for each input message in the set, segregated by type;

providing in the displayed view at least one icon associated with one of the input message types that, when selected, eliminates from the view all of the input messages except those associated with the input message type of the icon;

receiving a signal indicating a selection to view messages identifying a particular user destination; and

modifying the view of the set of the input messages based on the received signal.

5. A method for providing unified messaging comprising the steps, performed by a processor, of;

storing a plurality of input messages directed to a user, each identifying one of at least two different user destinations, the at least two different user destinations including the user'"'"'s office and the user'"'"'s home;

displaying a view of at least a subset of the input messages, the view including, for each input message, information identifying the message;

receiving a signal indicating a selection to view messages identifying a particular destination of the at least two different user destinations; and

modifying the view of the subset of the input messages based on the received signal.