IP handset-based voice mail notification

• US 8,737,577 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2008
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gao, Xiaofeng, Scott, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mohammed, Assad
• Application Number:
  US12/169,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20080292069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,148 Days
• Field of Search: 379 68- 8828
• US Class Current: 379/88.17
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53325 Interconnection arrangements between voice mail systems
• 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: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

A system and method that notifies the receipt of a voicemail message at an IP telephone using one or more of instant messaging and short message service. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides an IP telephone that prepares a notification regarding the receipt of a voicemail message. In one embodiment, the IP telephone queries the availability of an instant messaging client via an instant messaging presence server, and forwards the notification to the instant messaging presence server if the instant messaging client is available. In another embodiment, the IP telephone sends the notification to a short message service client via a short message service gateway. In still another embodiment, the IP telephone sends the notification to both instant messaging client and short message service clients.

Claims

1. A method for providing voicemail notification comprising:

storing a set of voicemail notification preferences on an internet protocol telephone;

recording a voicemail message at the internet protocol telephone;

generating a prompt at the internet protocol telephone for a caller to select a characteristic of the message from a list of characteristics comprising urgent, private, immediate delivery, and delayed delivery;

receiving input from the caller comprising a selection of the characteristic of the message from the list of characteristics comprising urgent, private, immediate delivery, and delayed delivery; and

preparing a notification on the internet protocol telephone that the message has been received, the notification comprising a size of the message, a time the message was received, an identification of a source of the message, and the characteristic of the message; and

transmitting the notification based on the voicemail notification preferences.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the voicemail notification preferences indicate where to transmit the notification.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the voicemail notification preferences indicate how to transmit the notification.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the voicemail notification preferences indicate when to transmit the notification.