Unified messaging gateway device for providing operation during a network failure

• US 8,144,842 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wilson, Michael Geoffrey Andrew, Didcock, Clifford, Howell, David Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Hemant
• Application Number:
  US11/608,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20080137817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,936 Days
• Field of Search: 370259-271, 370351-356, 379 671- 8828, 379/201.01, 4554121-417, 709201-207, 709217-244, 348 1401- 1416
• US Class Current: 379/88.22
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]

Abstract

A Unified Messaging (UM) gateway device located at a branch office of a UM system manages calls if the network connecting the branch office to a UM server of the UM system is unavailable. The UM gateway device contains relatively simple hardware and software as compared to the hardware and software of a UM server. The UM gateway device provides call answering functionality, in the absence of the UM server. In various configurations, the UM gateway device provides access to mailboxes, manages incoming calls, provides an outgoing message (e.g., an announcement or prompt), provides an indication where the called-for person can be reached, and, when the network becomes available, returns management of incoming calls to the UM server and/or handles incoming calls in conjunction with the Unified Messaging server.

Claims

1. A method for processing a call, the method comprising:

receiving, by a gateway device configured to perform protocol conversion, an indication that a network connecting the gateway device to a Unified Messaging (UM) server is unavailable;

in response to the indication that the network is unavailable;

deactivating the gateway device to perform protocol conversion;

activating the gateway device to manage incoming calls, the managing comprising transmitting a message in response to an incoming call, the message indicating that the network is unavailable, and further indicating where a called-for individual can be reached;

the gateway device providing a request to leave a message;

recording messages until memory therefore is unavailable; and

thereafter discontinuing providing the request to leave a message.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the gateway device, an indication that the network is available;

in response to the indication that the network is available;

deactivating the gateway device to manage incoming calls; and

activating the gateway device to perform protocol conversion.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising, in response to the indication that the network is available, providing to the UM server, each message recorded in response to one or more incoming calls when the network was unavailable.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3, further comprising, in response to the indication that the network is available, erasing each message recorded in response to the one or more incoming calls.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising providing an indication of a recorded message to an email server.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein protocol conversion comprises converting between a protocol compatible with an office telephone switch protocol and a VoIP protocol.

15. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein indicating where a called-for individual can be reached comprises a message indicating an alternate telephone number.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the alternate telephone number is a mobile phone number.

7. A gateway device for processing a call, the gateway device comprising:

an input/output portion configured to;

receive an indication that a network connecting the gateway device to a Unified Messaging (UM) server is unavailable; and

provide a request to leave a message;

a processing portion configured to;

convert the gateway device from protocol conversion mode to call management mode upon receiving the indication, wherein;

in protocol conversion mode the gateway device is configured to perform protocol conversion; and

in call management mode the gateway device is configured to manage incoming calls, the call management mode comprising transmitting a message in response to an incoming call, the message indicating that the network is unavailable, and further indicating where a called-for individual can be reached;

record messages until memory therefore is unavailable; and

thereafter discontinue providing the request to leave a message; and

a memory portion configured to store recorded messages associated with one or more incoming calls during the call management mode.

8. A device in accordance with claim 7, wherein:

the input/output portion is further configured to;

receive an indication that the network is available; and

the processing portion is further configured to;

in response to the indication that the network is available, convert the gateway device from call management mode to protocol conversion mode.

9. A device in accordance with claim 8, the input/output portion further configured to, in response to the indication that the network is available, provide to the UM server, each message recorded during the call management mode.

10. A device in accordance with claim 8, the processing portion further configured to, in response to the indication that the network is available, erase from the memory portion each recorded message.

11. A device in accordance with claim 7, the input/output portion further configured to provide an indication of a recorded message to an email server.

12. A device in accordance with claim 7, wherein protocol conversion comprises converting between a protocol compatible with an office telephone switch protocol and a VoIP protocol.

13. A device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the memory portion comprises at least one of a semiconductor memory, a flash memory, a magnetic memory, and an optical memory.

14. A computer-readable medium that is not a transient signal, the computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for processing a call by performing the steps of:

causing a gateway device configured to perform protocol conversion to receive an indication that a network connecting the gateway device to a Unified Messaging (UM) server is unavailable;

in response to the indication that the network is unavailable;

deactivating the gateway device to perform protocol conversion; and

activating the gateway device to manage incoming calls, the managing comprising transmitting a message in response to an incoming call, the message indicating that the network is unavailable, and further indicating where a called-for individual can be reached;

causing the gateway device to provide a request to leave a message;

recording messages until memory therefore is unavailable; and

thereafter discontinuing providing the request to leave a message.