Creation and management of voicemail greetings for mobile communication devices

• US 8,265,603 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2012
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• 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:
  US13/425,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20120178424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 175 Days
• Field of Search: 4554121-413, 455/415, 455/566, 455/567
• 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 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, and said processor being operable to execute the computer program code to (i) select a predetermined contact;

(ii) create a personal voicemail greeting for the selected predetermined contact; and

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

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

3. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the personal voicemail greeting that has been created is thereafter displayed in a list of available voicemail greetings.

4. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the personal voicemail greeting that has been created is thereafter displayed in the list of the plurality of available voicemail greetings only if the list of the plurality of available voicemail greetings is being displayed for use with regard to the selected predetermined contact.

5. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the creation of the personal voicemail greeting comprises setting an expiration date or time for expiration of the voicemail greeting.

6. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the personal voicemail greeting is created using the wireless communication device.

7. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor is further operable to execute computer program code to transmit the created voicemail greeting to a wireless network provider for use as a voicemail greeting associated with the wireless communication device.

8. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor is further operable to execute computer program code to configure the voicemail greeting to automatically expire.

9. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor is further operable to execute computer program code to limit the duration of the voicemail greeting being created.

10. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor is further operable to execute computer program code to play the voicemail greeting for review on the wireless communication device.

11. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor is further operable to execute computer program code to play any of the voicemail greetings for review on the wireless communication device.

12. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor is further operable to execute computer program code to (iv) receive an incoming call by a caller and directed to selected predetermined contact;

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

(vi) play 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.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein the caller is identified by a caller identifier.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium including at least computer program code operable on a wireless communication device to create and associate a voicemail greeting to a contact, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for selecting a predetermined contact;

computer program code for creating a personal voicemail greeting for the selected predetermined contact; and

computer program code for associating the personal voicemail greeting to the selected predetermined contact so that the selected one of the personal voicemail greetings can be utilized with respect to one or more incoming calls from the selected predetermined contact.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code to transmit the created voicemail greeting to a wireless network provider for use as a voicemail greeting associated with the wireless communication device.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code to transmit the created voicemail greeting to a wireless network provider for use as a voicemail greeting associated with the wireless communication device.