System and method for managing messages in a packetized voice environment

• US 7,684,549 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2004
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ying, Goangshiuan Shawn, Edmon, Eugene L.
• Primary Examiner(s): SING, SIMON P
• Application Number:
  US10/887,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20060008059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,084 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.17, 379/88.23, 379/88.25, 379/88.18, 379/88.22, 379/142.06, 370/352
• US Class Current: 379/88.17
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/642 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53308 Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for managing messages in a packetized voice environment. A system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone. The VoIP telephone may include an interface for communicatively coupling with a broadband network access device. The VoIP telephone may also include an answering machine module that is capable of initiating the answering of an incoming VoIP call, the playing of a recorded announcement to a calling party, and the saving of a message from the calling party. In some embodiments, the answering machine module may be integral with the VoIP telephone and the saved message may be stored on a local memory.

Claims

1. A message management system comprising:

a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone;

a broadband network access device communicatively coupled to an interface of the VoIP telephone and operable to form at least a portion of a link communicatively coupling the VoIP telephone to a remote broadband network node;

a premises-based answering machine module associated with the VoIP telephone, the premises-based answering machine module comprising a memory populated with a subscriber identifier and updatable call completion rules to manage incoming calls to a subscriber, the updatable call completion rules including a particular updatable call completion rule to selectively save voice messages at a premises of a subscriber, the premises-based answering machine module operable to initiate answering of an incoming VoIP call to the VoIP telephone, playing of a recorded announcement to a calling party, saving a message from the calling party, and presenting a graphical user interface (GUI) element to present information about the incoming VoIP call on a display, wherein the premises-based answering machine module has an address and the VoIP telephone has a different address; and

a housing component of the VoIP telephone, the housing component at least partially defining an interior cavity and an exterior surface, wherein at least a portion of the premises-based answering machine module resides in the interior cavity.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a selector responsive to a user interface, the selector operable to initiate placing the answering machine module in an active state in response to receiving an enable signal via the user interface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the answering machine module memory is a removable memory.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the premises-based answering machine module has a first internet protocol address and the VoIP telephone has a second internet protocol address.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the address has a type selected from a group consisting of an Internet Protocol address, a telephone number, a Media Access Control address, and a Data Link Control (DLC) address.

6. The system of claim 1,

wherein the housing component of the VoIP telephone at least partially defines an interconnect location for communicatively coupling an element of the VoIP telephone with a portion of the answering machine module;

and

further comprising a module mechanism having an output, the module mechanism operable to initiate communication of an engaged signal via the output in response to determining that the element of the VoIP telephone is coupled with the portion of the answering machine.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the broadband network access device is operable to initiate communication of an active local answering machine signal in response to the engaged signal.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the premises-based answering machine module is further operable to initiate a transfer of a copy of a previously stored voicemail message from a network-based voicemail box to the premises-based answering machine module.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a Session Initiation Protocol user agent application; and

wherein the premises-based answering machine module is further operable to execute the Session Initiation Protocol user agent.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the premises-based answering machine module is operable to initiate saving the message from the calling party on a memory device of the premises-based answering machine module and to communicate a copy of the saved message to a network-based voicemail box.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the updatable call completion rules represent a subsequent modification of earlier rules.

12. A method comprising:

invoking an updatable call completion rule to selectively save voice messages at a premises-based answering machine module associated with a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone, wherein the premises-based answering machine module and the VoIP telephone are located in the same housing and the premises-based answering machine module has an address and the VoIP telephone has a different address, wherein the premises-based answering machine module includes a memory populated with a subscriber identifier and updatable call completion rules to manage incoming calls to a subscriber, the updatable call completion rules including a particular updatable call completion rule to selectively save voice messages at a premises of a subscriber and the premises-based answering machine module is operable to;

initiate answering of an incoming VoIP call to the VoIP telephone;

play a recorded announcement to a calling party;

save a message from the calling party; and

present a graphical user interface (GUI) element including information about the incoming VoIP call on a display.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the particular updatable call completion rule represents a subsequent modification of an earlier rule.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the premises-based answering machine module resides in an interior cavity of the VoIP telephone.