Voicemail recall feature
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising:
- a voicemail database for storing messages awaiting retrieval by a subscriber, each stored message comprising a message header and message data, said message header including a calling party phone number and calling party network information; and
a voicemail controller for coupling to said voicemail database and to a switch of a telecommunications network for handling an incoming call from a calling party to said subscriber which is not answered by said subscriber, wherein said voicemail controller compares said calling party phone number of said incoming call with calling party phone numbers of each of said stored messages for said subscriber;
wherein if said calling party phone number of said incoming call matches at least one calling party phone number of said stored messages then authenticating said incoming call by comparing said calling party network information for said incoming call with calling party network information stored for said calling party phone number matching messages; and
wherein if said calling party network information for said incoming call matches calling party network information stored for said calling party phone number matching messages then presenting an option to said calling party of said incoming call to alter those stored message for which said calling party network information matches.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A voicemail apparatus comprises a voicemail database for storing messages awaiting retrieval by a subscriber, wherein each stored message comprises a message header and message data, the message header including a calling party phone number and calling party network information. A voicemail controller is coupled to the voicemail database for handling an incoming call from a calling party to the subscriber. The voicemail controller compares the calling party phone number of the incoming call with calling party phone numbers of each of the stored messages for the subscriber. If the calling party phone number of the incoming call matches at least one calling party phone number of the stored messages then the incoming call is authenticated by comparing the calling party network information for the incoming call with calling party network information stored for the calling party phone number matching messages. If authenticated, then an option is presented to the calling party of the incoming call to alter those stored message for which the calling party network information matches.
35 Citations
23 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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a voicemail database for storing messages awaiting retrieval by a subscriber, each stored message comprising a message header and message data, said message header including a calling party phone number and calling party network information; and a voicemail controller for coupling to said voicemail database and to a switch of a telecommunications network for handling an incoming call from a calling party to said subscriber which is not answered by said subscriber, wherein said voicemail controller compares said calling party phone number of said incoming call with calling party phone numbers of each of said stored messages for said subscriber; wherein if said calling party phone number of said incoming call matches at least one calling party phone number of said stored messages then authenticating said incoming call by comparing said calling party network information for said incoming call with calling party network information stored for said calling party phone number matching messages; and wherein if said calling party network information for said incoming call matches calling party network information stored for said calling party phone number matching messages then presenting an option to said calling party of said incoming call to alter those stored message for which said calling party network information matches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for operating a voicemail system comprising the steps of:
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activating a voicemail processor in response to an incoming call from a calling party; said voicemail processor receiving call signaling information from a telecommunications switch handling said call; determining if said calling party previously left a stored message which is awaiting retrieval by a subscriber in response to a calling party telephone number included in said call signaling information; comparing calling party network information included in said call signaling information with calling party network information of stored messages found in said determining step; if matching calling party network information is found, then playing identifying information of said matching stored message to said calling party; prompting said calling party for a command for altering said matching stored message; and altering said matching stored message according to said command. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification