System and method for voice scheduling and multimedia alerting

• US 7,532,877 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cruz, Aristotle H., Patel, Labhesh, Jabbour, Fadi R., Lee, David C., Lee, Johnny H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; CongVan
• Application Number:
  US10/851,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20050260974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.2, 455/567, 455/414, 455/1, 455418-420, 455/403, 379/201.1, 379/211.01
• US Class Current: 455/412.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/10 with dictation recording and playback systems

Abstract

A method for communicating a reminder message includes establishing a first connection between a user and a reminder center. The method includes communicating, from the user to the reminder center, a reminder time. The method also includes scheduling a reminder message at the reminder center, and terminating the first connection between the user and the reminder center. The method includes selecting, at the reminder center, a preferred endpoint associated with the user, from a plurality of endpoints associated with the user. The method also includes attempting to establish a second connection between the user and the reminder center, using the preferred endpoint associated with the user, at is approximately the reminder time, and communicating the reminder message from the reminder center to the user.

Claims

1. A method for communicating a reminder message, comprising:

establishing a first connection between a user and a reminder center;

receiving, from the user, a reminder time;

scheduling a reminder message at the reminder center;

terminating the first connection between the user and the reminder center;

at approximately the reminder time, determining which of a plurality of endpoints associated with the user is available to the user;

attempting to establish a second connection between the user and the reminder center at approximately the reminder time; and

communicating the reminder message from the reminder center to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a presence server is used to determine which of the plurality of endpoints associated with the user is available to the user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a preferred endpoint from any ones of the plurality of endpoints associated with the user that were determined to be available to the user;

wherein the preferred endpoint is selected from a predefined priority list provided by the user.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising continuing to attempt to establish the second connection using different ones of the plurality of endpoints in an order of the predefined priority list, until the second connection is established.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of endpoints associated with the user is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a laptop computer, an analog telephone, an IP Phone, a mobile phone, a pager, a facsimile machine, and a personal digital assistant.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the reminder message comprises a recorded voice message in the user'"'"'s voice.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from the user to delay communication of the reminder message by a period of time; and

wherein the reminder message is communicated from the reminder center to the user approximately the period of time after the reminder time.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the period of time is predetermined.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing the user to select a message priority from a plurality of message priorities; and

alerting the user according to the message priority selected.

10. A method for communicating a reminder message, comprising:

establishing a first connection between a user and a reminder center;

receiving, from the user, a reminder time;

scheduling a reminder message at the reminder center;

terminating the first connection between the user and the reminder center;

selecting, at the reminder center, a preferred endpoint associated with the user, from a plurality of endpoints associated with the user;

attempting to establish a second connection between the user and the reminder center, using the preferred endpoint associated with the user, at approximately the reminder time;

establishing the second connection between the user and the reminder center, while the user is communicating with a third party over an existing communication connection; and

communicating the reminder message to the user without terminating the existing communication connection.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the reminder message is transparent to the third party.

12. A method for scheduling a reminder, comprising:

establishing a first connection between a user and a reminder center;

receiving, from the user, a reminder time;

scheduling a reminder message at the reminder center;

terminating the first connection between the user and the reminder center;

attempting to establish a second connection between the user and the reminder center at approximately the reminder time;

detecting that the user is communicating with a third party over an existing communication connection; and

communicating the reminder message to the user while maintaining the existing communication connection.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the reminder message is transparent to the third party.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining, using a presence server, which of a plurality of endpoints associated with the user is available to the user at approximately the reminder time.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising selecting an endpoint from a plurality of endpoints on a predefined priority list provided by the user prior to attempting to establish the second connection.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising continuing to attempt to establish the second connection using different ones of the plurality of endpoints in an order of the predefined priority list, until the second connection is established.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the reminder message comprises a recorded voice message in the user'"'"'s voice.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a request from the user to delay communication of the reminder message by a period of time; and

wherein the reminder message is communicated from the reminder center to the user approximately the period of time after the reminder time.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the period of time is predetermined.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

allowing the user to select a message priority from a plurality of message priorities; and

alerting the user according to the message priority selected.

21. A method for communicating a reminder message, comprising:

establishing a first connection between a user and a reminder center;

receiving, from the user, a reminder time;

scheduling a reminder message at the reminder center;

terminating the first connection between the user and the reminder center;

selecting, at the reminder center using a presence server, a preferred endpoint associated with the user, from a plurality of endpoints associated with the user;

attempting to establish a second connection between the user and the reminder center, using the preferred endpoint associated with the user, at approximately the reminder time;

detecting that the user is communicating with a third party over an existing communication connection;

receiving a request from the user to delay communication of the reminder message by a period of time; and

communicating the reminder message to the user while maintaining the existing communication connection at approximately the period of time after the reminder time.

22. A system for communicating a reminder message, comprising:

an interface being operable to establish a first connection between a user and a reminder center;

the interface being further operable to receive, from the user, a reminder time;

a reminder center being operable to schedule a reminder message at the reminder center;

the interface being further operable to terminate the first connection between the user and the reminder center;

a processor being operable to determine, at approximately the reminder time, which of a plurality of endpoints associated with the user is available to the user;

the processor being further operable to attempt to establish a second connection between the user and the reminder center approximately the reminder time; and

the processor being further operable to communicate the reminder message from the reminder center to the user.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein a presence server is operable to determine which of the plurality of endpoints associated with the user is available to the user.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the reminder message comprises a recorded voice message in the user'"'"'s voice.

25. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

the processor being further operable to receive a request from the user to delay communication of the reminder message by a period of time; and

wherein the reminder message is communicated from the reminder center to the user approximately the period of time after the reminder time.

26. A system for communicating a reminder message, comprising:

an interface being operable to establish a first connection between a user and a reminder center;

the interface being further operable to receive, from the user, a reminder time;

a reminder center being operable to schedule a reminder message at the reminder center;

the interface being further operable to terminate the first connection between the user and the reminder center;

a processor being operable to select, at the reminder center, a preferred endpoint associated with the user, from a plurality of endpoints associated with the user;

the processor being further operable to attempt to establish a second connection between the user and the reminder center, using the preferred endpoint associated with the user, at approximately the reminder time;

the processor being further operable to establish the second connection between the user and the reminder center, while the user is communicating with a third party over an existing communication connection; and

the processor being further operable to communicate the reminder message to the user without terminating the existing communication connection.

27. A system for scheduling a reminder, comprising:

an interface being operable to establish a first connection between a user and a reminder center;

the interface being further operable to receive, from the user, a reminder time;

a reminder center being operable to schedule a reminder message at the reminder center;

the interface being further operable to terminate the first connection between the user and the reminder center;

a processor being operable to attempt to establish a second connection between the user and the reminder center at approximately the reminder time;

the processor being further operable to detect that the user is communicating with a third party over an existing communication connection; and

the processor being further operable to communicate the reminder message to the user while maintaining the existing communication connection.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the reminder message is transparent to the third party.

29. The system of claim 27, further comprising a presence server operable to determine which of a plurality of endpoints associated with the user is available to the user at approximately the reminder time.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the reminder message comprises a recorded voice message in the user'"'"'s voice.

31. The system of claim 27, further comprising:

the processor being further operable to receive a request from the user to delay communication of the reminder message by a period of time; and

wherein the reminder message is communicated from the reminder center to the user approximately the period of time after the reminder time.

32. A system for communicating a reminder message, comprising:

means for establishing a first connection between a user and a reminder center;

means for receiving, from the user, a reminder time;

means for scheduling a reminder message at the reminder center;

means for terminating the first connection between the user and the reminder center;

means for determining, at approximately the reminder time, which of a plurality of endpoints associated with the user is available to the user;

means for attempting to establish a second connection between the user and the reminder center at approximately the reminder time; and

means for communicating the reminder message from the reminder center to the user.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein a presence server is used for determining which of the plurality of endpoints associated with the user is available to the user at approximately the reminder time.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the reminder message comprises a recorded voice message in the user'"'"'s voice.

35. The system of claim 32, further comprising:

means for receiving a request from the user to delay communication of the reminder message by a period of time; and

wherein the reminder message is communicated from the reminder center to the user approximately the period of time after the reminder time.

36. A system for communicating a reminder message, comprising:

means for establishing a first connection between a user and a reminder center;

means for receiving, from the user, a reminder time;

means for scheduling a reminder message at the reminder center;

means for terminating the first connection between the user and the reminder center;

means for selecting, at the reminder center, a preferred endpoint associated with the user, from a plurality of endpoints associated with the user;

means for attempting to establish a second connection between the user and the reminder center, using the preferred endpoint associated with the user, at approximately the reminder time;

means for establishing the second connection between the user and the reminder center, while the user is communicating with a third party over an existing communication connection; and

means for communicating the reminder message to the user without terminating the existing communication connection.

37. A system for scheduling a reminder, comprising:

means for establishing a first connection between a user and a reminder center;

means for receiving, from the user, a reminder time;

means for scheduling a reminder message at the reminder center;

means for terminating the first connection between the user and the reminder center;

means for attempting to establish a second connection between the user and the reminder center at approximately the reminder time;

means for detecting that the user is communicating with a third party over an existing communication connection; and

means for communicating the reminder message to the user while maintaining the existing communication connection.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the reminder message is transparent to the third party.

39. The system of claim 37, further comprising determining, using a presence server, which of a plurality of endpoints associated with the user is available to the user at approximately the reminder time.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein the reminder message comprises a recorded voice message in the user'"'"'s voice.

41. The system of claim 37, further comprising:

means for receiving a request from the user to delay communication of the reminder message by a period of time; and

wherein the reminder message is communicated from the reminder center to the user approximately the period of time after the reminder time.

42. Software embodied in a computer readable medium, the computer readable medium comprising code operable to:

establish a first connection between a user and a reminder center;

receive, from the user, a reminder time;

schedule a reminder message at the reminder center;

terminate the first connection between the user and the reminder center;

at approximately the reminder time, determine which of a plurality of endpoints associated with the user is available to the user;

attempt to establish a second connection between the user and the reminder center at approximately the reminder time; and

communicate the reminder message from the reminder center to the user.

43. The medium of claim 42, wherein the code is further operable to determine, using a presence server, which of the plurality of endpoints associated with the user is available to the user.

44. The medium of claim 42, wherein the reminder message comprises a recorded voice message in the users'"'"'s voice.

45. The medium of claim 42, wherein the code is further operable to:

receive a request from the user to delay communication of the reminder message by a period of time; and

wherein the reminder message is communicated from the reminder center to the user approximately the period of time after the reminder time.

46. Software embodied in a computer readable medium, the computer readable medium comprising code operable to:

establish a first connection between a user and a reminder center;

receive, from the user, a reminder time;

schedule a reminder message at the reminder center;

terminate the first connection between the user and the reminder center;

select, at the reminder center, a preferred endpoint associated with the user, from a plurality of endpoints associated with the user;

attempt to establish a second connection between the user and the reminder center, using the preferred endpoint associated with the user, at approximately the reminder time;

establish the second connection between the user and the reminder center, while the user is communicating with a third party over an existing communication connection; and

communicate the reminder message to the user without terminating the existing communication connection.

47. Software embodied in a computer readable medium, the computer readable medium comprising code operable to:

establish a first connection between a user and a reminder center;

receive, from the user, a reminder time;

schedule a reminder message at the reminder center;

terminate the first connection between the user and the reminder center;

attempt to establish a second connection between the user and the reminder center at approximately the reminder time;

detect that the user is communicating with a third party over an existing communication connection; and

communicate the reminder message to the user while maintaining the existing communication connection.

48. The medium of claim 47, wherein the reminder message is transparent to the third party.

49. The medium of claim 47, wherein the code is further operable to determine, using a presence server, which of a plurality of endpoints associated with the user is available to the user at approximately the reminder time.

50. The medium of claim 47, wherein the reminder message comprises a recorded voice message in the user'"'"'s voice.

51. The medium of claim 47, wherein the code is further operable to:

receive a request from the user to delay communication of the reminder message by a period of time; and

wherein the reminder message is communicated from the reminder center to the user approximately the period of time after the reminder time.