Updating voicemail with selective establishment of PDP contexts and data sessions

• US 8,351,903 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2008
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sigmund, William Joseph, Zubas, Michael Robert, Rainer, Brian Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): AU, SCOTT D
• Application Number:
  US12/161,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20100159886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,666 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/413
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/58 Use of machine translation, e.g. for multi-lingual retrieval, for server-side translation for client devices or for real-time translation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/50 Telephonic communication in combination with video communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4518 Attachments to voicemail messages including annexed information, e.g. Attachments, in packet switching networks H04L51/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4545 Message forwarding selective message forwarding in packet switching networks H04L51/214
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42051 where the notification is included in the ringing tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53325 Interconnection arrangements between voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53383 Message registering commands or announcements; Greetings
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A method for updating voicemail data at least partially stored at a device (30) can include obtaining a command to update the voicemail data at a device (30). The device (30) can activate a data session through which voicemail data can be downloaded to the device (30). In some embodiments, the device (30) can automatically activate a data session upon the occurrence of a trigger event, for example, upon the receipt of a message waiting indicator, or upon powering on the device (30). In other embodiments, the device (30) can wait for a user action or command to download voicemail data. The action or command can be received at the device after a trigger event, or at any other time. Exemplary devices (30) and communications networks (10) for implementing these and other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

powering on a device, wherein;

the device is configured to update, in response to the device being powered on, voicemail data, received using a packet data protocol, that is at least partially stored at the device;

receiving, at the device, a notification that new voicemail data has been deposited at a voicemail system associated with the device;

determining whether the device should update the voicemail data with the new voicemail data;

overriding, in response to determining that device should update the voicemail data with the new voicemail data, and without user input, a setting that disallows data communications;

activating, in response to determining that the device is configured to automatically download the new voicemail data, a packet data protocol context to establish a data session for transferring the new voicemail data without an action from a user;

downloading, automatically from the voicemail system and in response to overriding the setting that disallows data communications, the new voicemail data using the packet data protocol; and

updating, in response to downloading the new voicemail data the voicemail data with the new voicemail data received using the packet data protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying, at the device, a message waiting indication and an option to enter a command that prompts the device to update the voicemail data, wherein receiving the command at the device comprises receiving selection of the option that prompts the device to update the voicemail data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein downloading the new voicemail data comprises:

exchanging data with the voicemail system; and

updating the voicemail data stored at least partially at the device by transferring the new voicemail data via the data session.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the device should update the voicemail data with the new voicemail data comprises examining device settings to determine whether the device allows the data communications.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the device should update the voicemail data with the new voicemail data comprises examining device settings to determine whether the device automatically downloads voicemail data after receiving, at the device, notification of the new voicemail data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the device should update the voicemail data with the new voicemail data comprises examining device settings to determine whether the device has the setting that disallows data communications.

7. A method comprising:

receiving, at a device, a message waiting indication, wherein the device is configured to update data relating to voicemail data that is at least partially stored at the device;

determining, at the device, whether the device should update the voicemail data with new voicemail data received using a packet data protocol, wherein the device updates the voicemail data in response to the message waiting indication being received at the device;

overriding, without user input, a setting that disallows data communications;

activating, in response to determining the device is configured to automatically download the new voicemail data, a packet data protocol context to establish a data session for transferring the new voicemail data without an action from a user;

downloading the new voicemail data using the packet data protocol in response to obtaining a command; and

updating, in response to downloading the new voicemail data, the voicemail data, received using the packet data protocol, with the new voicemail data.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising obtaining the command at the device, including selecting an option that prompts the device to update the voicemail data.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein updating the voicemail data comprises:

exchanging data with a voicemail system; and

updating the voicemail data stored at least partially at the device by transferring the new voicemail data via the data session.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether the device should update the voicemail data with new voicemail data comprises examining device settings to determine whether the device allows the data communications.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether the device should update the voicemail data with new voicemail data comprises examining device settings to determine whether the device downloads voicemail content after receiving, at the device, notification of the new voicemail data.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether the device should update the voicemail data with new voicemail data comprises examining device settings to determine whether the device has the setting that disallows data communications.

13. A device comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions corresponding to voicemail settings;

a communications component in communication with the memory and an element of a communications network; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions stored in the memory, when executed, cause the processor to at least;

allow automatic updating of the voicemail data received using a packet data protocol in response to the device being powered on;

activate, in response to determining the device is configured to automatically download the voicemail data, a packet data protocol context to establish a data session for transferring the voicemail data without an action from a user;

disallow data communications;

override a setting corresponding to disallowance of data communications; and

download voicemail data received using the packet data protocol after receiving, at the device, a notification of new voicemail data.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the instructions stored in the memory comprise instructions for setting whether or not the device is configured to override, for downloading the voicemail data, the setting corresponding to disallowance of the data communications.

15. A device comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions corresponding to voicemail settings;

a communications component, in communication with the memory, in communication with one element of a communications network for at least receiving a message waiting indicator; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions stored in the memory, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to at least;

allow automatic updating of the voicemail data received using a packet data protocol context to establish a data session without an action from a user in response to the device receiving the message waiting indicator and to determining the device is configured to automatically download the voicemail data,

disallow data communications;

override a setting corresponding to disallowance of the data communications; and

automatically download voicemail data received using the packet data protocol in response to receiving, at the device, a notification of new voicemail data.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the instructions stored in the memory cause the processor to determine whether the device is configured to override the setting corresponding to disallowance of data communications.