Method and system for call, facsimile and electronic message forwarding

• US 7,466,804 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2005
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: King, Kathryn D., Carter, Sharon E., Moore, Darryl Cynthia
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US11/295,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20060083360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.01, 379/88.25, 379/88.13
• US Class Current: 379/88.25
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2016 Call initiation by network rather than by subscriber
• 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 2203/60 related to security aspects in telephonic communication systems network architectures or network communication protocols for network security H04L63/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/543 Call deflection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00228 Image push arrangements, e.g. from an image reading device to a specific network destination push-based network services H04L67/55
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00302 with a telephonic apparatus, e.g. telephone answering machine or videotex terminal H04N1/00307 takes precedence; telephonic communication H04M
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32037 Automation of particular transmitter jobs, e.g. multi-address calling, auto-dialing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32704 Establishing a communication with one of a facsimile and another telecommunication apparatus sharing a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32713 Data transmission device, e.g. switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32723 speech signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32745 Generating messages, indications or warnings locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and system are provided for forwarding telephone calls, facsimile transmissions and electronic messages to a single forwarding telephone number. The telephone calls, fax transmissions and electronic messages are first forwarded to a central forwarding repository by the forwarding party where the fax transmissions, and messages are converted to audio formats. Forwarded telephone calls and audio formatted versions of the fax transmissions and electronic messages are then forwarded directly to a designated forwarding number. If the forwarding party answers at the forwarding number, she will receive forwarded calls, and the audio formatted versions of fax transmissions and electronic messages will be played to her over her telephone. If the forwarding party does not answer the forwarded call, she subsequently may retrieve saved telephone calls, saved telephone messages and saved audio versions of fax transmissions and electronic messages from the central forwarding repository. The forwarding party may retrieve saved messages as a retrieving party from the central forwarding repository after entry of a personal identification number to authenticate the forwarding (retrieving) party'"'"'s permission to retrieve saved calls and messages.

Claims

1. A method of forwarding a facsimile communication in a telecommunications system from a called address to a forwarding address, comprising:

receiving a facsimile communication directed to the called address;

converting only an address header of the facsimile communication to an audio formatted communication;

storing the audio formatted communication in a storage; and

routing the audio formatted communication to the forwarding address.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving the audio formatted communication from the storage;

designating a forwarding telephone directory number for receiving the communication; and

capturing caller identification information for the communication.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

prior to retrieving the audio formatted communication from the storage, receiving a personal identification number for authenticating a retrieving party.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein routing the audio formatted communication to the forwarding address includes providing identification information for the audio formatted communication at the forwarding address.

5. A computer-readable medium with computer-executable instructions encoded thereon for forwarding a facsimile transmission in a telecommunications system, the instructions comprising:

designating a forwarding address for the facsimile transmission;

receiving the facsimile transmission directed to a subscriber address;

converting the facsimile transmission from an image formatted transmission to an audio formatted transmission;

storing the audio formatted transmission in a storage; and

routing the audio formatted transmission from to the forwarding address by;

routing only the audio formatted address header to the forwarding address, and

retaining the image formatted body portion of the fascimile transmission.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, the instructions further comprising:

retrieving the audio formatted transmission from the storage; and

prior to retrieving the audio formatted transmission, receiving a personal identification number for authenticating a retrieving party.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein designating the forwarding address includes designating a forwarding telephone directory number for receiving the audio formatted message.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, the instructions further comprising:

forwarding the audio-formatted transmission to a second forwarding address.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the second forwarding address comprises a facsimile receiving device.

10. A system for forwarding a facsimile transmission in a telecommunications system, comprising:

a service node for performing actions including;

receiving a designation of a forwarding address for the facsimile transmission;

receiving the facsimile transmission directed to a subscriber address; and

routing the facsimile transmission to a central forwarding repository; and

a central forwarding repository for performing actions including;

converting only an address header of the facsimile transmission to an audio formatted transmission;

retaining a body portion of the facsimile transmission as an image formatted transmission;

saving the audio formatted transmission at the central forwarding repository;

routing only the audio formatted address header to the forwarding address; and

retaining the image formatted body portion of the facsimile transmission at the central forwarding repository.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the central forwarding repository is further configured to perform actions including:

retrieving the audio formatted transmission;

providing the audio formatted transmission to the forwarding address; and

prior to providing the audio formatted transmission, receiving a personal identification number for authenticating a retrieving party.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein designating the forwarding address includes designating a forwarding telephone directory number for receiving the audio formatted message.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the central forwarding repository is further configured to perform actions including:

forwarding the audio-formatted transmission to a second forwarding address.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second forwarding address comprises a facsimile receiving device.

15. A system for forwarding a facsimile communication in a telecommunications system from a called address to a forwarding address, comprising:

a central forwarding repository for performing actions including;

receiving a facsimile communication directed to the called address;

converting only an address header of the facsimile communication to an audio formatted communication;

storing the audio formatted communication in a storage; and

routing the audio formatted communication to the forwarding address.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the central forwarding repository is further configured to perform actions including:

retrieving the audio formatted communication from the storage;

receiving a designation of a forwarding telephone directory number for receiving the communication; and

capturing caller identification information for the communication.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the central forwarding repository is further configured to perform actions including:

prior to retrieving the audio formatted communication from the storage, receiving a personal identification number for authenticating a retrieving party.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein routing the audio formatted communication to the forwarding address includes providing identification information for the audio formatted communication at the forwarding address.

19. A method of forwarding a facsimile transmission, a telephone call, or an electronic message to a single forwarding address in a telecommunications system, comprising:

receiving a communication in a form of one of the facsimile transmission, the telephone call, and the electronic message directed to a called address;

if the communication is in the form of the facsimile transmission;

converting only an address header of the facsimile transmission to an audio formatted communication;

storing the audio formatted communication in a storage; and

routing the audio formatted communication to the forwarding address;

if the communication is in the form of the telephone call;

forwarding the telephone call to the forwarding address; and

if the communication is in the form of the electronic message;

converting the electronic message to an audio formatted communication;

storing the audio formatted communication in the storage; and

routing the audio formatted communication to the forwarding address.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

retrieving the audio formatted communication from the storage;

designating a forwarding telephone directory number for receiving the communication; and

capturing caller identification information for the communication.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

prior to retrieving the audio formatted communication from the storage, receiving a personal identification number for authenticating a retrieving party.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein routing the audio formatted communication to the forwarding address includes providing identification information for the audio formatted communication at the forwarding address.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein designating the forwarding address includes designating a forwarding telephone directory number for receiving the audio formatted message.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein designating the forwarding address includes designating a second forwarding address for receiving the audio formatted message.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

forwarding the audio-formatted transmission to the second forwarding address.

26. A computer-readable medium with computer-executable instructions encoded thereon for forwarding a facsimile transmission, a telephone call, or an electronic message to a single forwarding address in a telecommunications system, the instructions comprising:

receiving a communication in a form of one of the facsimile transmission, the telephone call, and the electronic message directed to a called address;

if the communication is in the form of the facsimile transmission;

converting the facsimile transmission from an image formatted transmission to an audio formatted transmission by;

converting only an address header of the facsimile transmission to an audio formatted communication; and

retaining a body portion of the facsimile transmission as an image formatted transmission;

storing the audio formatted communication in a storage; and

routing the audio formatted communication to the forwarding address by;

routing only the audio formatted address header to the forwarding address, while retaining the image formatted body portion of the facsimile transmission;

if the communication is in the form of the telephone call;

forwarding the telephone call to the forwarding address; and

if the communication is in the form of the electronic message;

converting the electronic message to an audio formatted communication;

storing the audio formatted communication in the storage; and

routing the audio formatted communication to the forwarding address.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the instructions further comprise:

retrieving the audio formatted communication from the storage;

designating a forwarding telephone directory number for receiving the communication; and

capturing caller identification information for the communication.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the instructions further comprise:

prior to retrieving the audio formatted communication from the storage, receiving a personal identification number for authenticating a retrieving party.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein routing the audio formatted communication to the forwarding address includes providing identification information for the audio formatted communication at the forwarding address.

30. A system for forwarding a facsimile transmission, a telephone call, or an electronic message to a single forwarding address in a telecommunications environment, comprising:

a service node for performing actions including;

receiving a designation of a forwarding address for a communication;

receiving the communication in a form of one of the facsimile transmission, the telephone call, and the electronic message directed to a subscriber address;

routing the communication to a central forwarding repository; and

the central forwarding repository for performing actions including;

if the communication is in the form of the facsimile transmission, converting only an address header of the facsimile transmission to an audio formatted communication and retaining a body portion of the facsimile transmission as an image formatted transmission;

if the communication is in the form of the electronic message, converting the electronic message to an audio formatted communication;

storing the audio formatted communication at the central forwarding repository;

routing one of the received telephone call and the audio formatted communication to the forwarding address; and

if the communication is in the form of the facsimile transmission, retaining the image formatted body portion of the facsimile transmission at the central forwarding repository.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the central forwarding repository is further configured to perform actions including:

retrieving the audio formatted transmission;

providing the audio formatted transmission to the forwarding address; and

prior to providing the audio formatted transmission, receiving a personal identification number for authenticating a retrieving party.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein designating the forwarding address includes designating a forwarding telephone directory number for receiving the audio formatted message.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the central forwarding repository is further configured to perform actions including:

forwarding the audio-formatted transmission to a second forwarding address.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the central forwarding repository is further configured to perform actions including:

prior to retrieving the audio formatted communication from the storage, receiving a personal identification number for authenticating a retrieving party.