Creation and management of voicemail greetings for mobile communication devices

• US 8,145,196 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2008
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wood, Policarpo, Cannistraro, Alan, Hicks, Kourtny
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US11/969,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20090154669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• Field of Search: 455/415, 4554121-413, 379/88.19, 379 8822- 8824
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2745 using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/14 Delay circuits; Timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53391 dependent on calling party

Abstract

Methods, graphical user interfaces and devices for creation and management of voicemail greetings are disclosed. A user of a mobile communication device can create and manage multiple voicemail greetings. In one aspect, a user of a mobile communication device can create customized voicemails. The customized voicemails can be assigned to specific contacts (or groups of contacts) known to the mobile communication device. The customized voicemail greetings can also have controlled expiration dates. In another aspect, customized voicemails can be assigned to incoming calls in real-time.

Claims

1. A method operable on a wireless communication device for assigning a voicemail greeting to a contact, the wireless communication device having a memory configured to store contact data on a plurality of contacts, said method comprising:

selecting a predetermined contact from the plurality of contacts having contact data stored in the memory;

displaying a list of a plurality of predetermined voicemail greetings;

receiving a selection one of the predetermined voicemail greetings to be utilized with respect to an incoming call from the selected predetermined contact; and

associating the selected one of the predetermined voicemail greetings to the selected predetermined contact so that the selected one of the predetermined voicemail greetings can be utilized with respect to one or more incoming calls from the selected predetermined contact, such that the selected one of the predetermined voicemail greetings is assigned to the selected predetermined contact.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the predetermined voicemail greetings is personal to the selected predetermined contact and only made available as a voicemail greeting to the selected contact.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the predetermined voicemail greetings is general and available to all of the predetermined contacts associated with the wireless communication device.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

creating a personal voicemail greeting for the selected predetermined contact.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the personal voicemail greeting that has been created is thereafter displayed in the list of the plurality of predetermined voicemail greetings.

6. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the personal voicemail greeting that has been created is thereafter displayed in the list of the plurality of predetermined voicemail greetings only if the list of the plurality of predetermined voicemail greetings is being displayed for use with regard to the selected predetermined contact.

7. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein said creating of the voicemail greeting comprises setting an expiration date or time for expiration of the voicemail greeting.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

creating a voicemail greeting using the wireless communication device.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

transmitting the created voicemail greeting to a wireless network provider for use as a voicemail greeting associated with the wireless communication device.

10. A method operable on a wireless communication device for configuring a voicemail greeting, said method comprising:

displaying a list of a plurality of predetermined voicemail greetings;

receiving a selection of one of the predetermined voicemail greetings to be utilized with respect to an incoming call; and

notifying the wireless service provider of the selected one of the predetermined voicemail greetings.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

creating a voicemail greeting using the wireless communication device.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the personal voicemail greeting that has been created is thereafter displayed in the list of the plurality of predetermined voicemail greetings and available for selection.

13. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein said creating comprises:

configuring the voicemail greeting to automatically expire.

14. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein said creating comprises:

limiting the duration of the voicemail greeting being created.

15. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein said method further comprises:

playing the voicemail greeting for review on the wireless communication device.

16. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

playing any of the voicemail greetings for review on the wireless communication device.

17. A method for providing voicemail greetings to callers, said method comprising:

receiving an incoming call by a caller and directed to a particular subscriber;

determining whether a particular one of a plurality of voicemail greetings associated with the particular subscriber has been assigned for use with the caller; and

playing the particular voicemail greeting for the caller if it is determined that the particular subscriber has assigned the particular voicemail greeting to be used with the caller,

wherein said determining comprises;

determining whether the caller is one of a plurality of predetermined contacts for the particular subscriber; and

determining whether the particular subscriber has assigned a particular one of a plurality of voicemail greetings to be associated with the determined one of the predetermined contacts.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein said method further comprises:

determining a default voicemail greeting.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein said method further comprises:

playing the default voicemail greeting to the caller if it is determined that the particular subscriber has not assigned the particular voicemail greeting to be used with the caller.

20. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein said method further comprises:

displaying a visual indication of the selected one of the predetermined voicemail greetings to be used as the default voicemail greeting.

21. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein said method further comprises:

permitting the caller to record a voice message after playing of the particular voicemail greeting.

22. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the caller is identified by a caller identifier.

23. A method for providing voicemail greetings to callers, said method comprising:

receiving an incoming call by a caller and directed to a particular subscriber;

determining whether a particular one of a plurality of voicemail greetings associated with the particular subscriber has been assigned for use with the caller; and

playing the particular voicemail greeting for the caller if it is determined that the particular subscriber has assigned the particular voicemail greeting to be used with the caller,

wherein the caller is one of a plurality of predetermined contacts for the particular subscriber,

wherein the voicemail greetings includes a general voicemail greeting and a personal voicemail greeting,

wherein the general voicemail greeting is available for use with any of the predetermined contacts, and

wherein the personal voicemail greeting is available for use with only the predetermined contact for which the voicemail greeting was originally made.

24. A method for delivering a message to a recipient, said method comprising:

scheduling a date and/or time for a message to be delivered to the recipient;

recording, by a user of mobile communication device, an audio and/or video message for the recipient; and

submitting the audio and/or video message for delivery at the scheduled date and/or time.

25. A graphical user interface for presentation on a display of a mobile communication device, said graphical user interface comprising:

a greeting screen that presents a plurality of available greetings, said greeting screen including at least a create greeting control configured to assist a user of the mobile electronic device in creating a new greeting;

a visual designator configured to designate a selected one of the available greetings to be utilized; and

a greeting creation screen configured to create a new greeting, said greeting creation screen including at least one of (i) an expiration control configured to set an expiration for the new greeting, (ii) a group control configured to select a group of contacts to receive the new greeting, and (iii) a priority control configured to set a priority for the new greeting.

26. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 25, wherein a user input operates to select one of the available greetings to be utilized.

27. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 26, wherein the display is a touch screen, and wherein the user input is provided via the touch screen.

28. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 25, wherein when said create greeting control is selected by the user, said greeting creation screen is displayed on the display of the mobile communication device.

29. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 25, wherein said greeting creation screen further comprises:

a record user control configured to assist with receiving of an audio recording for the new greeting.

30. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 25, wherein said greeting creation screen further comprises:

a play user control configured to assist with playing any of the available greetings at the mobile electronic device.

31. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 25, wherein said greeting creation screen further comprises:

a playback control configured to allow a user of the mobile electronic device to control playback position on playback of a specified one of the available greetings.

32. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 25, wherein said greeting creation screen further comprises:

an indication of a duration of a specified one of the available greetings.

33. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 25, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises:

a decline call control configured to enable the user to decline an incoming call to the mobile communication device from a caller and thereby direct the incoming call to voicemail where the selected one of the available greetings is presented to the caller.

34. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 33, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises:

an accept call control configured to enable the user to accept an incoming call to the mobile communication device from a caller and thereby not direct the incoming call to voicemail.

35. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 25, wherein said greeting screen is automatically displayed on the display when an incoming call is received at the mobile electronic device.

36. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 25, wherein said greeting screen is displayed on the display of the mobile communication device when an incoming call is received.

37. A graphical user interface for presentation on a display of a mobile communication device, said graphical user interface comprising:

a greeting screen that presents a plurality of available greetings, said greeting screen including at least a create greeting control configured to assist a user of the mobile electronic device in creating a new greeting;

a visual designator configured to designate a selected one of the available greetings to be utilized;

a greeting creation screen configured to create a new greeting, said greeting creation screen including at least one of (i) an expiration control configured to set an expiration for the new greeting, (ii) a group control configured to select a group of contacts to receive the new greeting, and (iii) a priority control configured to set a priority for the new greeting; and

an outgoing message creation screen configured to record a custom message and schedule delivery of the custom message.

38. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 37, wherein said outgoing message creation screen comprises:

a date and/or time selection control configured to enable selection of a date and/or time for the scheduled delivery of the custom message.

39. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 37, wherein said outgoing message creation screen comprises:

a date and/or time selection control configured to enable selection of a future date and/or time for the scheduled delivery of the custom message,

whereby the custom message is thereafter delivered to at least one recipient at the date and/or time for the scheduled delivery.

40. A mobile electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a memory configured to store computer program code and data on a plurality of contacts; and

a processor operatively connected to said memory and said display, said processor being configured to assign a voicemail greeting to at least one of the contacts, said processor operable to execute the computer program code to (i) select a predetermined contact;

(ii) display a list of a plurality of predetermined voicemail greetings;

(iii) receive a selection of one of the predetermined voicemail greetings to be utilized with respect to an incoming call from the selected predetermined contact; and

(iv) associate the selected one of the predetermined voicemail greetings to the selected predetermined contact so that the selected one of the predetermined voicemail greetings can be utilized with respect to one or more incoming calls from the selected predetermined contact.