Messaging systems and methods
First Claim
1. A messaging system comprising:
- a core node configured to provide central repository services for storing system configuration and subscriber information for subscribers served by the messaging system, and to provide centralized administrative and subscriber access to the system configuration and subscriber information; and
a plurality of non-core nodes, the plurality of non-core nodes comprising a first non-core node and a second non-core node, each non-core node of the plurality of non-core nodes being in communication with telephone switching equipment associated with said each non-core node, said each non-core node of the plurality of non-core nodes being configured as a platform running telephony user interface applications for processing telephone calls, at least the first non-core node of the plurality of non-core nodes being configured to provide a platform running voice user interface applications for processing the telephone calls;
wherein;
the core node and at least two non-core nodes of the plurality of non-core nodes are configured to replicate at least a portion of the system configuration information stored on the core node and at least a portion of the subscriber information stored on the core node to each non-core node of the at least two non-core nodes;
the messaging system is configured to receive calls and voice messages from outside callers to the subscribers served by the messaging system, so that the outside callers can call extensions of specific subscribers selected by the outside callers, and so that the outside callers can leave voicemail for the specific subscribers selected by the outside callers;
the messaging system is configured to enable the subscribers served by the messaging system to place through the messaging system external calls directed outside the messaging system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus, methods, and machine-readable articles of manufacture improve reliability and scalability of a messaging system. In some embodiments, the system'"'"'s configuration data and subscriber information are stored in a central repository of a core node, and replicated to one or more non-core nodes. Data replication may be performed in real-time or near real-time, periodically, sporadically, or otherwise. Nodes may rely on the replicated data to provide the system'"'"'s subscribers and outside callers with services that do not involve updating of configuration or subscriber data. In this way, the non-core nodes may continue to process calls when the core node is unavailable. For example, the non-core nodes can route calls to the appropriate subscribers without relying on the core. As another example, the non-core nodes can take messages from callers when the core node is unavailable. The messages may be queued for posting and delivery when the core node becomes available.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A messaging system comprising:
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a core node configured to provide central repository services for storing system configuration and subscriber information for subscribers served by the messaging system, and to provide centralized administrative and subscriber access to the system configuration and subscriber information; and a plurality of non-core nodes, the plurality of non-core nodes comprising a first non-core node and a second non-core node, each non-core node of the plurality of non-core nodes being in communication with telephone switching equipment associated with said each non-core node, said each non-core node of the plurality of non-core nodes being configured as a platform running telephony user interface applications for processing telephone calls, at least the first non-core node of the plurality of non-core nodes being configured to provide a platform running voice user interface applications for processing the telephone calls; wherein; the core node and at least two non-core nodes of the plurality of non-core nodes are configured to replicate at least a portion of the system configuration information stored on the core node and at least a portion of the subscriber information stored on the core node to each non-core node of the at least two non-core nodes; the messaging system is configured to receive calls and voice messages from outside callers to the subscribers served by the messaging system, so that the outside callers can call extensions of specific subscribers selected by the outside callers, and so that the outside callers can leave voicemail for the specific subscribers selected by the outside callers; the messaging system is configured to enable the subscribers served by the messaging system to place through the messaging system external calls directed outside the messaging system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of operating a multi-node messaging system comprising a core node and a plurality of non-core nodes, each non-core node of the plurality of non-core nodes being in communication with telephone switching equipment associated with said each non-core node, the method comprising:
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storing system configuration information of the multi-node messaging system on the core node; storing subscriber information for subscribers served by the multi-node messaging system on the core node; replicating at least a portion of the subscriber information stored on the core node to said each non-core node; replicating at least a portion of the system configuration information stored on the core node to said each non-core node; providing through the core node centralized administrative and subscriber access to the system configuration information and the subscriber information; and running, at said each non-core node, one or more telephony user interface applications for processing telephone calls, wherein the telephony user interface applications enable the multi-node messaging system to receive calls and voice messages from outside callers to the subscribers served by the multi-node messaging system, so that the outside callers can call extensions of specific subscribers selected by the outside callers, and so that the outside callers can leave voicemail for the specific subscribers called by the outside callers, and wherein the one or more telephony user interface applications configure the multi-node messaging system to enable the subscribers served by the multi-node messaging system to place through the multi-node messaging system external calls directed outside the multi-node messaging system, and wherein the one or more telephony user interface applications running on a first non-core node of the plurality of non-core nodes comprise a voice user interface application. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A messaging system comprising:
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a core node comprising a core store configured to perform central repository services for system configuration information and subscriber information, to provide centralized administrative and subscriber access to the system configuration information and the subscriber information, and to store received and sent messages of subscribers of the messaging system, the core store being an authoritative store of the messaging system, the messages comprising telephone messages and email messages; and a plurality of non-core nodes, each non-core node of the plurality of non-core nodes being configured as a platform running telephony and email user interface applications for processing the received and sent telephone messages and email messages, the telephony and email user interface applications comprising at least one voice user interface application running on at least one non-core node of the plurality of non-core nodes, said each non-core node comprising a store configured to store at least some of the received and sent telephone messages and email messages; wherein the messaging system is configured to (1) receive calls and voice messages from outside callers to the subscribers served by the messaging system, so that the outside callers can call extensions of specific subscribers selected by the outside callers, and so that the outside callers can leave voicemail for the specific subscribers called by the outside callers, and to (2) enable the plurality of subscribers served by the messaging system to place through the messaging system external calls directed outside the messaging system; and the core node and said each non-core node are configured to replicate at least a portion of the system configuration information and at least a portion of the subscriber information stored on the core node to said each non-core node.
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Specification