Voice mailbox with management support

• US 8,036,345 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2006
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jordan, Royce D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwah; Olisa
• Application Number:
  US11/610,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20070129060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,762 Days
• Field of Search: 455/413, 455/414.1, 455/414.3, 455/414.4, 455/412.2, 379/67.1, 379/68, 379/88.11, 379/88.12, 379/88.16, 379/88.14, 379/88.22, 379/88.23, 379/88.25, 379/88.09
• US Class Current: 379/88.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• 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

Abstract

Systems and techniques for providing telecommunications services by receiving a notification forwarded from a wireless device, the notification indicating that a voicemail message intended for a recipient associated with the wireless device was received. The voicemail message associated with the notifications is retrieved and forwarded to an alternate device associated with the recipient and/or converted into a text message representative of the content of the voicemail message.

Claims

1. A communications method, comprising:

receiving a notification forwarded from a first wireless device, the notification indicating that a voicemail message intended for a recipient associated with the wireless device was received;

responsive to receiving the notification forwarded from the wireless device, retrieving the voicemail message associated with the notification;

after receiving the notification and responsive to retrieving the voicemail message, converting the voicemail message into a text message representative of the content of the voicemail message; and

responsive to converting the voicemail message into the text message, sending the text message to a second wireless device designated in the notification forwarded from the first wireless device.

2. The communications method of claim 1, wherein the second wireless device comprises at least one of an interactive pager, a personal digital assistant, and a mobile telephone.

3. The communications method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the voicemail message intended for the recipient.

4. The communications method of claim 1, further comprising storing the voicemail message intended for the recipient.

5. The communications method of claim 1, further comprising associating a message identifier with a stored voicemail message.

6. The communications method of claim 1, further comprising sending a further notification to the first wireless device associated with the recipient.

7. The communications method of claim 1, further comprising receiving processing instructions from the recipient with the notification forwarded.

8. The communications method of claim 1, wherein the notification comprises a message identifier.

9. The communications method of claim 1, wherein the notification comprises at least one of a time of receipt, a sender attribute, and a duration of the voicemail message.

10. The communications method of claim 9, wherein the sender attribute comprises a telephone number associated with a sender.

11. The communications method of claim 1, wherein the notification forwarded is received by a wireless network.

12. The communications method of claim 1, wherein the notification forwarded is received by at least one of a voicemail system, a gateway system, and an operator system.

13. The communications method of claim 1, wherein converting the voicemail message into a text message comprises transcribing by a human operator.

14. The communications method of claim 1, wherein converting the voicemail message into a text message comprises transcribing by voice recognition software.

15. A communications method, comprising:

receiving a notification forwarded from a wireless device with an instruction, the notification indicating that a voicemail message intended for a recipient associated with the wireless device was received and the instruction instructing the voicemail message to be forwarded to a designated telephone number of an alternate device;

responsive to receiving the notification with the instruction forwarded from the wireless device, retrieving the voicemail message associated with the notification; and

forwarding the voicemail message to the alternate device associated with the recipient by placing a telephone call to the designated telephone number and playing the voicemail message when the telephone call is answered.

16. The communications method of claim 15, wherein the wireless device comprises at least one of an interactive pager, a personal digital assistant, and a mobile telephone.

17. The communications method of claim 15, further comprising receiving the voicemail message intended for the recipient.

18. The communications method of claim 15, further comprising storing the voicemail message intended for the recipient.

19. The communications method of claim 15, further comprising associating a message identifier with a stored voicemail message.

20. The communications method of claim 15, further comprising sending a further notification to the wireless device associated with the recipient.