System and method for unified messaging in inter/intranet telephony

• US 8,675,832 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2007
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Inventors: Singh, Kundan, Schulzrinne, Henning
• Primary Examiner(s): KING, SIMON
• Assistant Examiner(s): King, Simon
• Application Number:
  US11/776,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20070274474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,442 Days
• Field of Search: 37920101-20105, 379/88.13, 379/88.17, 370/352, 709/226, 709/223, 709/227
• US Class Current: 379/88.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/253 where a visual mode is used instead of a voice mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/301 Management of recordings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems unified messaging in packet switching networks H04L51/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4563 Voicemail monitoring during recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/459 Calling party redirected to message centre on called party request
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5315 where the non-audio components are still images or video still image mailbox systems H04N1/324, intermediate storage of video signals for videophones H04N7/147
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• 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: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/126 Interworking of session control protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling

Abstract

A network telephony system is provided which enables unified messaging services. The system generally includes at least one user agent operatively coupled to a data network and a signalling server operatively coupled to the data network. The user agents are telephony endpoints, such as standalone Internet telephony appliances or personal computers with appropriate telephony software. A messaging server is provided which is operatively coupled to the data network and is responsive to the signaling server. The system also includes a media server which is operatively coupled to the network and includes computer data storage media for storing message files. The media server is responsive to the messaging server and, on occurrence of a message condition, is directly accessible to a calling party to store a message file for subsequent retrieval by a called party.

Claims

1. A network telephony system providing unified messaging services comprising:

at least one user agent operatively coupled to a data network;

a messaging server operatively coupled to the data network;

at least one media server operatively coupled to the network, the at least one media server including computer data storage media for storing message files, the at least one media server being responsive to the messaging server and, on occurrence of a message condition, being directly accessible to said at least one user agent to exchange a message file.

2. The network telephony system of claim 1, wherein the at least on user agent operates in accordance with the session initiation protocol.

3. The network telephony system of claim 1, wherein a first calling user agent directly initiates a call request with a second called user agent.

4. The network telephony system of claim 3, wherein the second called user agent redirects the call request to the messaging server in the event a message condition is detected.

5. The network telephony system of claim 4, wherein after a message condition is detected, an invite request is provided to the second called user agent to reclaim the call from the media server.

6. The network telephony system of claim 5, wherein after the call is reclaimed, the media server generates a bye request to drop the call.

7. The network telephony system of claim 1, wherein the media server provides a stored greeting message to a first calling user agent in the event a message condition is detected.

8. The network telephony system of claim 7, wherein the greeting message is presented in a real time streaming media protocol.

9. The network telephony system of claim 8, further comprising a message management system for accessing message files stored on the media server.

10. The network telephony system of claim 1, wherein in response to a first calling user agent storing a message on the media server, the media server provides a notification to a second called user agent that a message is available.

11. The network telephony system of claim 10, wherein the notification includes a network address for accessing the message.

12. The network telephony system of claim 10, wherein the notification is via electronic mail.

13. The network telephony system of claim 10, wherein the notification includes a copy of the message.

14. The network telephony system of claim 1, further comprising a signaling server operatively coupled to the data network that maintains a registration database of network addresses of user agents.

15. The network telephony system of claim 14, wherein the signaling server operates in accordance with the session initiation protocol.

16. The network telephony system of claim 14, wherein the registration database comprises one or more network addresses of a called user agent.

17. The network telephony system of claim 14, wherein the registration database comprises information for selectively routing calls based on a factor selected from the group consisting of the time of day, the status of a called user agent, or the identity of a calling user agent.