Voicemail archival and forwarding functionality for communications networks and devices

• US 8,843,117 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2013
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• 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:
  US13/964,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20130331068A1
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 455/413, 455/412.1, 455/412.2
• US Class Current: 455/413
• 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 voicemail system includes a memory and a processor. The memory can store data relating to one or more users. An incoming communication can be handled by the voicemail system and provided with functionality based upon, for example, preferences of a user. The voicemail system can include functionality to allow a user to archive a voicemail message, to convert a voicemail message to a desired format, and/or to forward a voicemail message or converted voicemail message file to one or more designated destinations. The voicemail system can operate on a communications network, at a communications device, or both. Methods for archiving, converting, and/or forwarding voicemail messages are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising

receiving a message directed to a mobile device associated with a user,

receiving a first command to archive the message,

in response to receiving the first command, storing a copy of the message at the memory as an archived copy of the message,

initiating a timer indicating an amount of time the archived copy of the message is to be stored,

receiving a save message command from the mobile device, and

in response to receiving the save message, preventing expiration of the timer to restart the amount of time the archived copy of the message is to be stored.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising receiving a second command to forward the archived copy of the message to a further device.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

retrieving information relating to the further device; and

determining a conversion format for the archived copy of the message based on the information retrieved.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

converting the archived copy of the message from a format to the conversion format; and

forwarding the archived copy of the message converted to the conversion format to the further device.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

receiving a third command to attach a forwarding message to the archived copy of the message to be forwarded to the further device.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising performing billing functions.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

receiving a second command to delete the archived copy of the message; and

in response to receiving the second command to delete the archived copy of the message, providing a request to the mobile device for additional instructions.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device comprises a smartphone.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, at a voicemail system comprising a processor, a message directed to a mobile device associated with a user;

receiving, by the voicemail system, a first command to archive the message;

in response to receiving the first command, storing, by the voicemail system, a copy of the message at the memory as an archived copy of the message;

initiating, by the voicemail system, a timer indicating an amount of time the archived copy of the message is to be stored;

receiving, by the voicemail system, a save message command from the mobile device; and

in response to receiving the save message, preventing, by the voicemail system, expiration of the timer to restart the amount of time the archived copy of the message is to be stored.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a second command to forward the archived copy of the message to a further device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

retrieving, by the voicemail system, information relating to the further device;

determining, by the voicemail system, a conversion format for the archived copy of the message based on the information related to the further device;

converting, by the voicemail system, the archived copy of the message from a format to the conversion format; and

forwarding the archived copy of the message converted to the conversion format to the further device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the mobile device comprises a smartphone.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a third command to attach a forwarding message to the archived copy of the message instructed to be forwarded to the further device.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a second command to delete the archived copy of the message; and

in response to receiving the second command to delete the archived copy of the message, providing a request to the mobile device for additional instructions.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a message directed to a mobile device associated with a user;

receiving a first command to archive the message;

in response to receiving the first command, storing a copy of the message at a memory as an archived copy of the message;

initiating a timer indicating an amount of time the archived copy of the message is to be stored;

receiving a save message command from the mobile device; and

in response to receiving the save message, preventing expiration of the timer to restart the amount of time the archived copy of the message is to be stored.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising receiving a second command to forward the archived copy of the message to a further device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

retrieving information related to the further device;

determining a conversion format for the archived copy of the message based on the information;

converting the archived copy of the message from a format to the conversion format; and

forwarding the archived copy of the message converted to the conversion format to the further device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, further storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising receiving a third command to attach a forwarding message to the archived copy of the message instructed to be forwarded to the further device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, further storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:

receiving a second command to delete the archived copy of the message; and

in response to receiving the second command to delete the archived copy of the message, providing a request to the mobile device for additional instructions.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein providing the request to the mobile device comprises providing the request to a smartphone.