System and method for simple unified messaging
First Claim
1. A machine-implemented method comprising:
- answering a call from a calling party in a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) format at a premises of a called party;
saving at least a portion of a message as an electronic audio file, wherein the message is received from the calling party via the call;
preparing an electronic mail message in response to recognizing that the message has been received, wherein the electronic mail message includes an electronic mail address associated with the calling party;
attaching the electronic audio file to the electronic mail message;
addressing the electronic mail message to a plurality of recipients associated with a unified messaging mailbox of the called party; and
initiating sending of the electronic mail message and the attached electronic audio file from the premises to an email server,wherein the email server appends the electronic mail message to a file in an order that the electronic mail message is received, the file including received electronic mail messages, andwherein the email server sends a copy of the file to an email client in response to the email server receiving a request from the email client to view the received electronic mail messages.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are disclosed for providing simple unified messaging. A method incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include receiving an indication of a call from a calling party to a called party and answering the call at a premises of the called party. The calling party may be prompted to leave a message, and at least a portion of the message may be saved as an audio file. In response to recognizing that the calling party left the message, an outgoing message may be prepared. The audio file may be attached to the outgoing message, which may be addressed to a network node associated with a unified messaging mailbox of the called party. The message may then be sent from the premises to the network node. By employing teachings disclosed herein, a user may be able to make use of existing premises components and equipment to implement a network-based unified messaging system.
23 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A machine-implemented method comprising:
answering a call from a calling party in a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) format at a premises of a called party; saving at least a portion of a message as an electronic audio file, wherein the message is received from the calling party via the call; preparing an electronic mail message in response to recognizing that the message has been received, wherein the electronic mail message includes an electronic mail address associated with the calling party; attaching the electronic audio file to the electronic mail message; addressing the electronic mail message to a plurality of recipients associated with a unified messaging mailbox of the called party; and initiating sending of the electronic mail message and the attached electronic audio file from the premises to an email server, wherein the email server appends the electronic mail message to a file in an order that the electronic mail message is received, the file including received electronic mail messages, and wherein the email server sends a copy of the file to an email client in response to the email server receiving a request from the email client to view the received electronic mail messages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of facilitating unified messaging, the method comprising:
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communicatively coupling a messaging device to a premises network that is communicatively coupled to a wide-area communication network, the wide-area communication network comprising an Internet Protocol network; and employing the messaging device to; answer an incoming telephone call from a calling party; play a pre-recorded message to the calling party; record a message from the calling party; compare caller identification (ID) information received with the incoming telephone call to a contact list to identify an email address associated with the calling party; compose an electronic mail message in response to the message, wherein the electronic mail message includes the email address associated with the calling party, and wherein the electronic mail message is addressed to a plurality of recipients associated with a unified messaging mailbox of a called party of the incoming telephone call; attach at least one file representing the message to the electronic mail message; and initiate sending of the electronic mail message to an email server via the wide-area communication network, wherein the email server appends the electronic mail message to a file in an order that the electronic mail message is received, the file including received electronic mail messages, and wherein the email server sends a copy of the file to an email client in response to the email server receiving a request from the email client to view the received electronic mail messages. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
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answer an incoming telephone call from a calling party via an Internet Protocol network; play a pre-recorded message that prompts the calling party to leave data; record a message from the calling party, wherein the message has an audio portion and a visual portion; obtain an email address associated with the calling party by comparing caller identification information to a contact list, wherein the caller identification information is received with the incoming telephone call; compose an electronic mail message in response to the message, wherein the electronic mail message includes the email address associated with the calling party, and wherein the electronic mail message is addressed to a plurality of recipients associated with a unified messaging mailbox of a called party of the incoming telephone call; attach at least one file representing the message to the electronic mail message; and initiate sending of the electronic mail message to an email server, wherein the email server appends the electronic mail message to a file in an order that the electronic mail message is received, the file including received electronic mail messages, and wherein the email server sends a copy of the file to an email client in response to the email server receiving a request from the email client to view the received electronic mail messages. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A messaging system, comprising:
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a network interface responsive to an Internet Protocol network to receive a call; a call answering mechanism to; answer the call; prompt a calling party to leave an audio portion of a message; and prompt the calling party to leave a visual portion of the message; and a messaging engine to; obtain an email address associated with the calling party by comparing caller identification information to a contact list, wherein the caller identification information is received with the call; compose an electronic mail message that includes the audio portion of the message, the visual portion of the message, and the email address associated with the calling party, wherein the electronic mail message is addressed to a plurality of recipients associated with a unified messaging mailbox of a called party to the call; and transmit the electronic mail message to an email server, wherein the email server appends the electronic mail message to a file in an order that the electronic mail message is received, the file including received electronic mail messages, and wherein the email server sends a copy of the file to an email client in response to the email server receiving a request from the email client to view the received electronic mail messages. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification