Voicemail notification messaging for mobile communication devices

• US 8,005,461 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2003
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Vander Veen, Raymond P., Lazaridis, Mihal
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang; Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sabouri; Mazda
• Application Number:
  US10/456,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20040023643A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,000 Days
• Field of Search: 455/413, 379/88.12
• US Class Current: 455/412.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/256 comprising a service specific user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53358 Message preview
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

Voicemail notification messaging for mobile communication devices is disclosed. Voicemail notification messages corresponding to voicemail messages are received through a wireless receiver of the mobile device and voicemail message header lines corresponding to them are displayed in a message list. The mobile device receives the voicemail notification messages from several different voicemail systems for consolidating voicemail message processing using a single common user interface. Preferably, the mobile device provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for the end-user with visual objects corresponding to PLAY, REWIND, FAST FORWARD, SKIP BACK, SKIP FORWARD, as examples, which provides for transparency of voicemail system-specific commands. Advantageously, each voicemail notification message includes voicemail message summary information, such as a calling party identifier, a message time stamp, and message length, for use in providing voicemail message header information in the message list. In addition, each voicemail notification message includes voicemail message retrieval/processing information, such as a voicemail access telephone number, a voicemail message identification number, and voicemail message processing commands, for use in providing the system interface transparency.

Claims

1. A method in a mobile communication device for use in processing voicemail messages at a plurality of different voicemail systems, each voicemail system being configured to process voicemail messages in accordance with one of a plurality of protocols, each protocol being uniquely identified by a protocol identifier and defined by one of a plurality of mappings between access control commands and dual-tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones corresponding thereto, the method comprising the acts of:

providing, in a user interface, a plurality of end-user selectable visual objects or switches corresponding to a plurality of voicemail message processing functions, each visual object or switch having a visual indicator indicative of its voicemail message processing function;

maintaining, in memory of the mobile communication device, storage of the plurality of mappings between the access control commands and the DTMF tones for the different voicemail systems;

for each stored mapping, maintaining storage, in the memory, of one of the protocol identifiers that uniquely identifies the protocol defined by the stored mapping;

receiving, through a wireless receiver of the mobile communication device, a voicemail notification message corresponding to a voicemail message received at one of the voicemail systems;

storing, in the memory of the mobile communication device, voicemail message processing information from the voicemail notification message, the voicemail message processing information including;

a vendor identification which identifies a vendor of the voicemail system;

a voicemail access telephone number for accessing the voicemail system;

a voicemail message identification number which uniquely identifies the received voicemail message;

a received protocol identifier that uniquely identifies the protocol utilized by the voicemail system for processing voicemail messages, the received protocol identifier being utilized by the mobile communication device for selecting one of the stored mappings for processing the received voicemail message;

detecting, through the user interface by the one or more processors, an end-user selection of one of the visual objects or switches for playing the received voicemail message;

causing the following acts to be performed by the one or more processors in response to detecting the end-user selection of the visual object or switch for playing the received voicemail message;

initiating a connection with the voicemail system with use of the voicemail access telephone number indicated in the voicemail notification message;

causing one or more of the DTMF tones from the selected stored mapping, and the voicemail message identification number indicated in the voicemail notification message, to be communicated to the voicemail system for identifying and playing the received voicemail message from the voicemail system at the mobile communication device; and

in response to detecting an end-user selection of any one of the other visual objects or switches corresponding to a voicemail message processing function;

causing one or more of the DTMF tones from the selected stored mapping that corresponds to the selected voicemail message processing function to be communicated to the voicemail system for performing the voicemail message processing function at the voicemail system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the voicemail message processing information further comprises:

a voicemail mailbox identification associated with the voice mailbox having the received voicemail message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual object or switch comprises a PLAY icon or menu item.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein for each stored mapping, the mobile communication device maintains storage, in the memory, of a protocol version that uniquely identifies a version of the protocol defined by the stored mapping, and wherein the voicemail message processing information further comprises:

a received protocol version which identifies a version of the protocol utilized by the voicemail system; and

wherein the received protocol identifier and the received protocol version together indicate the stored mapping to be selected by the mobile communication device for processing the received voicemail message.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after receiving the voicemail notification message;

visually displaying voicemail message header information identified from the voicemail notification message in a visual display of the mobile communication device; and

wherein the act of detecting the end user selection of the visual object or switch comprises detecting an end user selection of the voicemail message header information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of voicemail message processing functions include PLAY, SKIP BACK, and SKIP FORWARD.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of voicemail message processing functions include PLAY, REWIND, and FAST FORWARD.

8. A method in a voicemail system for use in facilitating the processing of voicemail messages for a mobile communication device which accesses a plurality of different voicemail systems, wherein each voicemail system is configured to process voicemail messages in accordance with one of a plurality of protocols, each protocol being uniquely identified by a protocol identifier and defined by one of a plurality of mappings between access control commands and dual-tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones corresponding thereto, the method comprising the acts of:

providing a voicemail notification message corresponding to a voicemail message received by the voicemail system;

causing the voicemail notification message to be sent to a mobile communication device which includes one or more processors, a memory which stores the plurality of mappings between the access control commands and the DTMF tones for the different voicemail systems, and stores for each stored mapping one of the protocol identifiers that uniquely identifies the protocol defined by the stored mapping, and a user interface comprising a plurality of visual objects or switches which are visually indicative of the access control commands;

wherein the voicemail notification message includes voicemail message processing information associated with the received voicemail message, the voicemail message processing information including;

a vendor identification which identifies a vendor of the voicemail system;

a voicemail access telephone number for accessing the voicemail system

a voicemail message identification number which uniquely identifies the received voicemail message; and

protocol identifier that uniquely identifies the protocol utilized by the voicemail system for processing voicemail messages, the protocol identifier being utilized by the one or more processors for selecting one of the stored mappings and communicating to the voicemail system one or more DTMF tones from the selected stored mapping that corresponds to an end user selection of one of the visual objects or switches which are visually indicative of the access control commands.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the voicemail message processing information are included in a plurality of type-length encoded fields of the voicemail notification message.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein a plurality of type codes are included in the voicemail notification to identify the voicemail message processing information.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the voicemail message processing information comprises:

a voice mailbox identification associated with a voice mailbox having the received voicemail message.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein for each stored mapping, the mobile communication device maintains storage, in the memory, of a protocol version that uniquely identifies a version of the protocol defined by the stored mapping, and wherein the voicemail message processing information further comprises:

a protocol version which identifies a version of the protocol utilized by the voicemail system; and

wherein the protocol identifier and the protocol version together indicate the stored mapping to be selected by the one or more processors for processing the received voicemail message.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the access control commands include PLAY, SKIP BACK, and SKIP FORWARD.

14. A mobile communication device which is configured for use in processing voicemail messages at a plurality of different voicemail systems, each voicemail system being operative to process voicemail messages in accordance with one of a plurality of protocols, each protocol being uniquely identified by a protocol identifier and defined by one of a plurality of mappings between access control commands and dual-tone multiple frequency (DTMF) tones corresponding thereto, the mobile communication device comprising:

one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors;

the memory being configured to store the plurality of mappings between the access control commands and the DTMF tones of the different voicemail systems;

the memory being further configured to store, for each stored mapping, one of the protocol identifiers that uniquely identifies the protocol defined by the stored mapping;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the one or more processors;

a user interface which includes a display;

the user interface providing a plurality of end-user selectable visual objects or switches corresponding to a plurality of voicemail message processing functions, each visual object or switch having a visual indicator indicative of its voicemail message processing function;

the one or more processors being operative to;

receive, through the wireless transceiver, a voicemail notification message corresponding to a voicemail message received at one of the voicemail systems;

store, in the memory, voicemail message processing information from the voicemail notification message, the voicemail message processing information including a vendor identification which identifies a vendor of the voicemail system, a voicemail access telephone number for accessing the voicemail system, a voicemail message identification number which uniquely identifies the received voicemail message, and a received protocol identifier that uniquely identifies the protocol utilized by the voicemail system for processing voicemail messages, the received protocol identifier being utilized by the one or more processors for selecting one of the stored mappings for processing the received voicemail message;

detect, via the user interface, an end-user selection of one of the visual objects or switches for playing the received voicemail message;

cause the following acts to be performed in response to detecting the end-user selection of the visual object or switch for playing the received voicemail message;

(1) initiate a connection with the voicemail system with use of the voicemail access telephone number indicated in the voicemail notification message; and

(2) cause one or more of the DTMF tones associated with the selected stored mapping, and the voicemail message identification number indicated in the voicemail notification message, to be communicated to the voicemail system for identifying and playing the received voicemail message from the voicemail system at the mobile communication device; and

in response to detecting an end-user selection of any one of the other visual objects or switches corresponding to a voicemail message processing function;

cause one or more of the DTMF tones from the selected stored mapping that corresponds to the selected voicemail message processing function to be communicated to the voicemail system for performing the voicemail message processing function at the voicemail system.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 14, wherein the voicemail message processing information further comprises a voicemail mailbox identification associated with the voice mailbox having the received voicemail message.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 14, wherein the memory is further configured to store, for each stored mapping, a protocol version that uniquely identifies a version of the protocol defined by the stored moping, and wherein the voicemail message processing information further comprises;

a received protocol version which identifies a version of the protocol utilized by the voicemail system; and

wherein the received protocol identifier and the received protocol version together indicate the stored mapping to be selected by the one or more processors of the mobile communication device.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

after receiving the voicemail notification message;

cause voicemail message header information identified from the voicemail notification message to be visually displayed in the visual display; and

wherein the detecting of the end user selection of the visual object or switch comprises detecting an end user selection of the voicemail message header information.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of voicemail message processing functions include PLAY, SKIP BACK, and SKIP FORWARD.