Method and apparatus for retrieving all voicemail messages at the same time

• US 8,300,781 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koltenuk, Joyce
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta
• Assistant Examiner(s): ISLAM, MOHAMMAD K
• Application Number:
  US11/413,297
• Time in Patent Office: 2,377 Days
• Field of Search: 379 8811- 8826
• US Class Current: 379/88.23
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/253 where a visual mode is used instead of a voice mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4545 Message forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53358 Message preview

Abstract

A method and apparatus for retrieving all voicemail messages at the same time on packet networks such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) networks are disclosed. For example, the customer subscribes to a voicemail service where a plurality of voicemails can be retrieved and listened to at the same time. Specifically, when the customer accesses the voicemail service, the application server engages the media server to play the audio files from each of the voicemail messages at the same time, i.e., in a continuous or consecutive manner via a single input. Namely, the audio files are played consecutively without requiring another input from the customer, unless the customer wishes to execute a voicemail function.

Claims

1. A method for retrieving a plurality of voicemail messages in a communication network, comprising:

formatting the plurality of voicemail messages into a format compatible with an endpoint device of a user in response to receiving a request to playback the plurality of voicemail messages, wherein the request comprises a single user input; and

playing back the plurality of voicemail messages in a continuous manner without interruption from a media server in the communication network, wherein the continuous playing back of the plurality of voicemail messages is responsive to the single user input, wherein the continuous playing back of the plurality of voicemail messages being responsive to the single user input is configured in accordance with a user preference and in accordance with a predefined playback order;

presenting a pop-up window during the continuous playing back of the plurality of voicemail messages;

receiving an input from a user via the pop-up window during the continuous playing back of the plurality of voicemail messages;

executing a voicemail function in accordance with the input that is received from the user during the continuous playing back of the plurality of voicemail messages.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication network is an internet protocol network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the voicemail function comprises forwarding one of the plurality of voicemail messages.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for retrieving a plurality of voicemail messages in a communication network, comprising:

formatting the plurality of voicemail messages into a format compatible with an endpoint device of a user in response to receiving a request to playback the plurality of voicemail messages, wherein the request comprises a single user input; and

playing back the plurality of voicemail messages in a continuous manner without interruption from a media server in the communication network, wherein the continuous playing back of the plurality of voicemail messages is responsive to the single user input, wherein the continuous playing back of the plurality of voicemail messages being responsive to the single user input is configured in accordance with a user preference and in accordance with a predefined playback order;

presenting a pop-up window during the continuous playing back of the plurality of voicemail messages;

receiving an input from a user via the pop-up window during the continuous playing back of the plurality of voicemail messages;

executing a voicemail function in accordance with the input that is received from the user during the continuous playing back of the plurality of voicemail messages.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein the communication network is an internet protocol network.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein the voicemail function comprises forwarding one of the plurality of voicemail messages.

7. An apparatus for retrieving a plurality of voicemail messages in a communication network, comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium in communication with the processor, the computer-readable medium has stored thereon a plurality of instructions, plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method, comprising;

formatting the plurality of voicemail messages into a format compatible with an endpoint device of a user in response to receiving a request to playback the plurality of voicemail messages, wherein the request comprises a single user input; and

playing back the plurality of voicemail messages in a continuous manner without interruption from a media server in the communication network, wherein the continuous playing back of the plurality of voicemail messages is responsive to the single user input, wherein the continuous playing back of the plurality of voicemail messages being responsive to the single user input is configured in accordance with a user preference and in accordance with a predefined playback order;

presenting a pop-up window during the continuous playing back of the plurality of voicemail messages;

receiving an input from a user via the pop-up window during the continuous playing back of the plurality of voicemail messages;

executing a voicemail function in accordance with the input that is received from the user during the continuous playing back of the plurality of voicemail messages.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the communication network is an Internet protocol network.