System and methods for enhanced multimedia in VoIP networks

• US 9,781,272 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2016
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jackson, James, Yasrebi, Mehrad
• Primary Examiner(s): DEANE JR, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US15/336,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20170048391A1
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 379 8812, 379 8813, 37921401, 37922001, 37921102-21201
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/158 Call-type dependent routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4518 Attachments to voicemail
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• 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 3/53366 Message disposing or creating aspects
• 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

Abstract

Calls placed to a call recipient bypass the terminating messaging system, creating an enhanced message in the call originator'"'"'s messaging system and delivering the enhanced message using alternate routing information. A caller creates enhanced messages for a call recipient even when the call recipient'"'"'s messaging system does not support such functionality. The caller also embeds stored content and/or use links in the enhanced messages to allow the message to be modified and/or deleted before it is accessed by the call recipient.

Claims

1. A method for call forwarding, comprising:

receiving from a caller a call that has not been answered by an intended recipient, wherein the call is associated with routing information;

creating an enhanced message comprising a message recorded by the caller and a link to previously stored additional content;

determining alternate contact information associated with the intended recipient based on the routing information; and

transmitting the enhanced message to the intended recipient based on the alternate contact information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the alternate contact information associated with the intended recipient based on the routing information comprises:

mapping a telephone number of the intended recipient to the alternate contact information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the alternate contact information associated with the intended recipient based on the routing information comprises:

determining an email address associated with the intended recipient based on the routing information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the previously stored additional content is modified prior to the intended recipient accessing the previously stored additional content.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the previously stored additional content is deleted prior to the intended recipient accessing the previously stored additional content.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the enhanced message comprises:

receiving preferences from the caller identifying the previously stored additional content.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the call comprises an indication that the call is not to be forwarded to a voicemail system associated with the intended recipient.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the indication that the call is not to be forwarded to the voicemail system associated with the intended recipient comprises:

an indication that a msg-taker service is not an acceptable contact.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling enhanced messaging for the caller.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer program instructions which, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving from a caller a call that has not been answered by an intended recipient, wherein the call is associated with routing information;

creating an enhanced message comprising a message recorded by the caller and a link to previously stored additional content;

determining alternate contact information associated with the intended recipient based on the routing information; and

transmitting the enhanced message to the intended recipient based on the alternate contact information.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein determining the alternate contact information associated with the intended recipient based on the routing information comprises:

mapping a telephone number of the intended recipient to the alternate contact information.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein determining the alternate contact information associated with the intended recipient based on the routing information comprises:

determining an email address associated with the intended recipient based on the routing information.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the previously stored additional content is modified prior to the intended recipient accessing the previously stored additional content.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the previously stored additional content is deleted prior to the intended recipient accessing the previously stored additional content.

15. A unified messaging system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory to store computer program instructions, the computer program instructions when executed on the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving from a caller a call that has not been answered by an intended recipient, wherein the call is associated with routing information;

creating an enhanced message comprising a message recorded by the caller and a link to previously stored additional content;

determining alternate contact information associated with the intended recipient based on the routing information; and

transmitting the enhanced message to the intended recipient based on the alternate contact information.

16. The unified messaging system of claim 15, wherein determining the alternate contact information associated with the intended recipient based on the routing information comprises:

mapping a telephone number of the intended recipient to the alternate contact information.

17. The unified messaging system of claim 15, wherein creating the enhanced message comprises:

receiving preferences from the caller identifying the previously stored additional content.

18. The unified messaging system of claim 15, wherein the call comprises an indication that the call is not to be forwarded to a voicemail system associated with the intended recipient.

19. The unified messaging system of claim 18, wherein the indication that the call is not to be forwarded to the voicemail system associated with the intended recipient comprises:

an indication that a msg-taker service is not an acceptable contact.

20. The unified messaging system of claim 15, the operations further comprising:

enabling enhanced messaging for the caller.