Comprehensive message communication system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A communication system, comprising:
- means for recognizing an incoming telephone call and routing it to a selected user in the subscribing organization;
means for receiving a telephone message and routing it to a selected user in a subscribing organization;
means for recognizing an incoming e-mail message and routing it to a selected user in the subscribing organization;
means for recognizing an incoming FAX message and routing it to a selected user in the subscribing organization;
means enabling users in the subscribing organization to respond to telephone calls, and telephone, E-mail and FAX messages directed to them;
means permitting a user in the subscribing organization to communicate with other users in the subscribing organization regarding possible appointments and tasks within the subscribing organization;
means for connecting the system to a global computer network so that users in the subscribing organization have access to the communication system via said network;
processing means for maintaining operating control over the communication system; and
a single database means for storing data relating to the communication system.
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Abstract
The communication system includes an integrated voice (telephone) portion and a network portion connected to each other through a single, common database, where all message and event information is stored. The system recognizes and permits responses by users to incoming telephone calls, voice, E-mail messages and FAX messages. The system permits users in a subscribing organization to communicate with other users with respect to possible tasks and appointments and other events within the organization. The system maintains a calendar and task list for each user as well as group calendars for the subscribing organization.
79 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A communication system, comprising:
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means for recognizing an incoming telephone call and routing it to a selected user in the subscribing organization;
means for receiving a telephone message and routing it to a selected user in a subscribing organization;
means for recognizing an incoming e-mail message and routing it to a selected user in the subscribing organization;
means for recognizing an incoming FAX message and routing it to a selected user in the subscribing organization;
means enabling users in the subscribing organization to respond to telephone calls, and telephone, E-mail and FAX messages directed to them;
means permitting a user in the subscribing organization to communicate with other users in the subscribing organization regarding possible appointments and tasks within the subscribing organization;
means for connecting the system to a global computer network so that users in the subscribing organization have access to the communication system via said network;
processing means for maintaining operating control over the communication system; and
a single database means for storing data relating to the communication system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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26. A communication system, comprising:
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means for recognizing incoming telephone calls and telephone, E-mail and FAX messages to a selected user in a user organization and routing said calls and messages to said selected user;
means for storing said messages in and retrieving said messages from a single system database;
means enabling said selected user to respond to said messages; and
means in the database for co-relating messages from a sending party with information in the database concerning said sender and providing said information to said selected user.
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31. The system of claim 26, wherein individual users have access to the communication system via a network connection.
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31-1. A communication system, comprising:
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means for recognizing incoming telephone calls and telephone, E-mail and FAX messages to a selected user in a user organization and routing said calls and messages to said selected user;
means for storing said messages in and retrieving said messages from a single system database;
means enabling said selected user to respond to said messages; and
means for storing information concerning users in the user organization, and other selected contact individuals, in the system database, wherein said stored information is related to other selected information in the database by an identification of the user or other contact individual associated with said stored information.
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- 33. The system of claim 32, wherein incoming messages are indicated to be coming from an identified user or a contact individual, and wherein the related information in the database is available to the selected user for reply to the incoming messages.
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38. A communication system, comprising:
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means for recognizing incoming telephone calls, and telephone, E-mail and FAX messages to a selected user in a user organization and routing said messages to said selected user;
means for storing said messages in and retrieving messages from a single system database;
means enabling said selected user to respond to said messages;
means for receiving and connecting an incoming telephone call to a called user, upon acceptance of the call by the called user; and
means for establishing and maintaining a calendar of accepted appointments and tasks for each user in the organization, wherein the calendar information is integrated with the message information in the system database relative to each user.
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43. A system for updating time zone information for use in a communication system involving various modes of communication relative to individual users in an organization, comprising:
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means in a system database for maintaining the time zone of the location of the individual users in the communication system;
means for controlling the routing of messages to individual users based on the time zone location of the users, in accordance with predetermined criteria; and
means for establishing a new time zone for a user, wherein the controlling means thereafter controls the routing of messages based on the new time zone. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification