Method and system for call, facsimile and electronic message forwarding

• US 9,848,087 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2016
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Moore, Darryl Cynthia, King, Kathryn D., Carter, Sharon E.
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Simon
• Application Number:
  US15/274,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20170013133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2016 Call initiation by network rather than by subscriber
• 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 2203/60 related to security aspects in telephonic communication systems network architectures or network communication protocols for network security H04L63/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/543 Call deflection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00228 Image push arrangements, e.g. from an image reading device to a specific network destination push-based network services H04L67/55
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00302 with a telephonic apparatus, e.g. telephone answering machine or videotex terminal H04N1/00307 takes precedence; telephonic communication H04M
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32037 Automation of particular transmitter jobs, e.g. multi-address calling, auto-dialing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32704 Establishing a communication with one of a facsimile and another telecommunication apparatus sharing a single line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32713 Data transmission device, e.g. switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32723 speech signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32745 Generating messages, indications or warnings locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and system are provided for forwarding telephone calls, facsimile transmissions and electronic messages to a single forwarding telephone number. The telephone calls, fax transmissions and electronic messages are first forwarded to a central forwarding repository by the forwarding party where the fax transmissions, and messages are converted to audio formats. Forwarded telephone calls and audio formatted versions of the fax transmissions and electronic messages are then forwarded directly to a designated forwarding number. If the forwarding party answers at the forwarding number, she will receive forwarded calls, and the audio formatted versions of fax transmissions and electronic messages will be played to her over her telephone. If the forwarding party does not answer the forwarded call, she subsequently may retrieve saved telephone calls, saved telephone messages and saved audio versions of fax transmissions and electronic messages from the central forwarding repository.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an electronic message directed to a subscriber address;

designating a forwarding address for the electronic message;

routing the electronic message to a central forwarding repository;

converting a portion of the electronic message to an audio formatted transmission;

transmitting the audio formatted transmission to a service node for storage;

receiving a request for the electronic message;

retrieving the audio formatted transmission;

authenticating the request for the electronic message; and

routing the audio formatted transmission to the forwarding address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the routing the audio formatted transmission to the forwarding address is in response to authentication of the request for the electronic message.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a forwarding telephone directory number designated by the service node.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the electronic message comprises a message header of the electronic message.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the portion of the electronic message further comprises a body of the electronic message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic message is a facsimile transmission.

7. An apparatus 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 an electronic message directed to a subscriber address;

designating a forwarding address for the electronic message;

routing the electronic message to a central forwarding repository;

converting a portion of the electronic message to an audio formatted transmission;

transmitting the audio formatted transmission to a service node for storage;

receiving a request for the electronic message;

retrieving the audio formatted transmission;

authenticating the request for the electronic message; and

routing the audio formatted transmission to the forwarding address.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the routing the audio formatted transmission to the forwarding address is in response to authentication of the request for the electronic message.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, the operations further comprising:

receiving a forwarding telephone directory number designated by the service node.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the portion of the electronic message comprises a message header of the electronic message.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the portion of the electronic message further comprises a body of the electronic message.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the electronic message is a facsimile transmission.

13. A computer readable storage device storing computer program instructions, which, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving an electronic message directed to a subscriber address;

designating a forwarding address for the electronic message;

routing the electronic message to a central forwarding repository;

converting a portion of the electronic message to an audio formatted transmission;

transmitting the audio formatted transmission to a service node for storage;

receiving a request for the electronic message;

retrieving the audio formatted transmission;

authenticating the request for the electronic message; and

routing the audio formatted transmission to the forwarding address.

14. The computer readable storage device of claim 13, wherein the routing the audio formatted transmission to the forwarding address is in response to authentication of the request for the electronic message.

15. The computer readable storage device of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a forwarding telephone directory number designated by the service node.

16. The computer readable storage device of claim 13, wherein the portion of the electronic message comprises a message header of the electronic message.

17. The computer readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the portion of the electronic message further comprises a body of the electronic message.