Methods and apparatus for implementing voice messaging using E-mail

• US 7,609,822 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2006
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Telesector Resources Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Swingle, Loren, Naik, Jayant M., Reformato, John, Reding, Craig L., Baruch, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwah; Olisa
• Application Number:
  US11/548,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20070127632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.12, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.17, 379/88.24, 379/88.25
• US Class Current: 379/88.25
• 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 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• 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 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53325 Interconnection arrangements between voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53383 Message registering commands or announcements; Greetings

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for controlling and retrieving messages from multiple voice mail systems used by a single individual are described. A voice messaging retrieval and forwarding (VMRAF) system checks a subscriber'"'"'s voice message systems for messages, retrieves the messages and forwards them to the subscriber as attachments to E-mail files. E-mail replay messages are used to control deleting of the messages from the original systems. Prompt messages played to callers by different voice messaging systems before they leave a message can be updated automatically. This is done by indicating to the VMRAF system when one or more prompt messages are to be updated and which messages, from a set of prerecorded messages, are to be loaded into the voice message systems to replace the existing prompt messages. Accordingly, the VMRAF system facilities message retrieval and the updating of prompt messages, e.g., on a preselected schedule or at preselected times.

Claims

1. A method of using a voice message storage and retrieval system to update prompt messages on a plurality of voice message systems, comprising:

storing a plurality of prompt messages;

operating the retrieval system to;

receive information from a user identifying a first one of said prompt messages and indicating that the first one of said prompt messages should be loaded onto a designated one of said remote voice message systems;

access the said remote voice message system; and

control the said remote voice message system to store said first one of said prompt messages.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of receiving information from the user includes:

receiving said information from the Internet.

2. A method of updating prompt messages on a plurality of voice message systems, comprising:

storing a plurality of prompt messages;

receiving information from a user identifying a first one of said prompt messages and indicating that the first one of said prompt messages should be loaded onto a first remote voice message system;

accessing the first remote voice message system by placing a call to said first remote voice message system; and

controlling the first remote voice message system to store said first one of said prompt messages by transmitting a DTMF signal to the first remote voice message system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the information received from the user includes scheduling information indicating the time at which the first one of said prompt messages should be loaded onto the first remote voice message system and when a second one of said prompt messages should be loaded onto the first remote voice message system, the method further comprising:

accessing the first remote voice message system

when the schedule indicates that the second one of said prompt messages should be loaded onto the first remote voice messaging system; and

controlling the first remote voice message system to store said second one of said prompt messages.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

receiving an E-mail message from said user including a prompt message as an attached audio file; and

adding the prompt message in said attached audio file to said plurality of stored prompt messages.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the information received from the user includes information indicating when a second one of said prompt messages should be loaded onto a second remote voice messaging system, the method further comprising:

accessing the second remote voice message system when the information received from the user indicates that the second one of said prompt messages should be loaded onto the second remote voice messaging system; and

controlling the second remote voice message system to store said second one of said prompt messages.

7. An apparatus for updating prompt messages on a plurality of voice message systems, comprising:

a memory device including a plurality of stored prompt messages;

means for receiving information from a user, said information identifying one of said prompt messages stored in the memory and indicating that a particular one of said prompt messages should be loaded onto a particular one of said remote voice message systems;

means for accessing said particular one of said remote voice message systems; and

means for controlling said particular one of said remote voice message systems to store said particular one of said prompt messages.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for receiving information includes:

at least one of a modem and network interface card.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for accessing the said particular remote voice message system includes:

a DTMF signal generator.