Unified messaging architecture

• US 8,090,083 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2009
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fong, David T., Howell, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sing, Simon
• Application Number:
  US12/472,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20090290692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 379 8813- 8814, 379/100.13
• US Class Current: 379/88.14
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/205 Broadcasting broadcasting in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/253 where a visual mode is used instead of a voice mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/358 Digital rights management
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems unified messaging in packet switching networks H04L51/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6009 Personal information, e.g. profiles or personal directories being only provided to authorised persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/385 using speech signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42204 Arrangements at the exchange for service or number selection by voice at the terminal H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53366 Message disposing or creating aspects
• 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

A system and/or methodology that unifies a telephonic communication component and/or system with a data (e.g., messaging) server component and/or system. The system can facilitate telephonically accessing rich information in the server (e.g., messaging server). This rich information can include email content, calendar content, contacts information, or the like. Moreover, with access to an application programming interface, the invention can add functionality to initiate email communications as well as to accept or cancel meetings. Furthermore, the invention can synchronize messages of disparate formats. By way of example a user can set an “Out of Office” (OOF) status on both an email systems and telephone voicemail system from one location in one action. In another aspect, it will be appreciated that any message or data component can be analyzed, transformed, matched and/or communicated from one system to another (e.g., server to telephone) in accordance with the subject invention.

Claims

1. A method for rendering communications, the method comprising:

receiving a message in a first media format; and

converting, by a system, the message to a second media format that conveys the message, wherein the message in the first media format has a restricted access that prevents the message from being forwarded, wherein converting the message maintains the restricted access such that the message is prevented from being forwarded in the second media format, the message comprising multipages comprising a first page and remaining pages, wherein converting to the second media format comprises converting the first page separately from the remaining pages, the first page not having the restricted access, the remaining pages being restricted to have access by only a recipient specified in the multipages.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the message comprises receiving the message wherein the received message comprising a fax.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the message comprises receiving the message wherein the received message comprises a voicemail.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the message comprises receiving the message from a first device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the message comprises receiving the message from a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) gateway.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the message comprises:

receiving the message from a publicly switched telephone network (PSTN);

transmitting the message from the PSTN to a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) gateway; and

receiving the message from a VOIP gateway.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein converting the message comprises converting the message wherein the converted message comprising an e-mail.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein converting the message comprises converting the message wherein the received message and the converted message are date and time synchronized.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein converting the message comprises converting the message wherein the received message and the converted message are date synchronized.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein converting the message comprises converting the message wherein the received message and the converted message are time synchronized.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein converting the message to the second media format comprises converting the message to the second media format that corresponds to a target device.

12. A computer-readable medium that stores a set of instructions which when executed perform a method for rendering communications, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

receiving a message of a first media format; and

converting the message to a second media format that conveys the message, wherein the message in the first media format has a restricted access that prevents the message from being forwarded, wherein converting the message maintains the restricted access such that the message is prevented from being forwarded in the second media format, the message comprising multipages comprising a first page and remaining pages, wherein converting to the second media format comprises converting the first page separately from the remaining pages, the first page not having the restricted access, the remaining pages being restricted to have access by only a recipient specified in the multipages.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein receiving the message comprises receiving the message wherein the received message comprising a fax.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein receiving the message comprises receiving the message wherein the received message comprises a voicemail.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein receiving the message comprises receiving the message from a first device.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein converting the message comprises converting the message wherein the converted message comprising an e-mail.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein converting the message comprises converting the message wherein the received message and the converted message are synchronized.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein converting the message comprises converting the message wherein the received message and the converted message are date and time synchronized.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein converting the message to the second media format comprises converting the message to the second media format that corresponds to a target device.

20. A system for rendering communications, the system comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to convert a message of a first media format to a second media format that conveys the message, wherein the message in the first media format has a restricted access that prevents the message from being forwarded, the conversion maintains the restricted access such that the message is prevented from being forwarded in the second media format, the message comprising multipages comprising a first page and remaining pages, conversion to the second media format converts the first page separately from the remaining pages, the first page not having the restricted access, the remaining pages being restricted to have access by only a recipient specified in the multipages.