Method and system for filter based message processing in a unified messaging system

• US 20050031093A1
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation), SBC Properties, L.P.
• Original Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Inventors: Ng, Alexander Siu-Kay, Skladman, Julia, Chatterley, Bruce A., Peterson, Bruce L., Thornberry, Robert J. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/923,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20050031093A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.130
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• 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 3/53 Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems

Abstract

A system and method for interfacing unified message processing systems with legacy voice mail, e-mail and facsimile systems, located behind corporate firewalls. The system includes a unified message server, a proxy interface and a message protocol convertor. The proxy interface is configured to access the legacy system in response to a request from a unified message server. Messages stored on the legacy system are converted by a protocol convertor to a predetermined format compatible with the unified message server. The converted messages are then transferred to a unified message server which is capable of providing messages from different messaging system, such as voice mail, e-mail and facsimile to users in a predetermined format. The invention permits enterprise wide communication systems to provide unified messaging without abandoning pre-existing legacy messaging system.

Claims

1. A method of providing unified messaging services, the method comprising:

obtaining profile information associated with a message recipient;

receiving a message intended for the message recipient at a unified message server, wherein the message is received over a first communication channel;

providing information associated with the message to a notification server;

determining if the message recipient is to be notified based on a comparison between profile information associated with the recipient and the information associated with the message; and

providing a notification to the recipient over a second communication channel different from the first communication channel based on the determination.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a notification to the recipient over multiple communication channels.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the message is selected from the group consisting of a message source identifier, a subject header, a date stamp, a time stamp, and message type.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining a user profile comprising the profile information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the profile information comprises information associated with one or more communication channels preferred by the recipient for receipt of notifications.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the profile information comprises information specifying actions to be taken by the notification server in response to messages received from specified sources and relating to specified subjects.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the information associated with the message to the notification server in response to a query from the notification server.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising periodically querying the message server.

9. A messaging system comprising:

a unified message server coupled to receive a message over a first communication channel;

a notification server configured to

receive, from the unified message server, information associated with the message;

determine if a message recipient is to be notified about receipt of the message based on a comparison between profile information associated with the recipient and the information associated with the message; and

provide a notification to the recipient over a second communication channel, different from the first communication channel, based on the determination.

10. The messaging system of claim 9, further comprising a user interface to obtain user profile information associated with a message recipient.

11. The messaging system of claim 9, wherein the notification server is further configured to provide a notification to the recipient over multiple communication channels.

12. The messaging system of claim 9, wherein the information associated with the message is selected from the group consisting of a message source identifier, a subject header, a date stamp, a time stamp, and message type.

13. The messaging system of claim 9, wherein the profile information comprises information associated with one or more communication channels preferred by the recipient for receipt of notifications.

14. The messaging system of claim 9, wherein the profile information comprises information specifying actions to be taken by the notification server in response to messages received from specified sources and relating to specified subjects.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the message server is further configured to provide the information associated with the message to the notification server in response to a query from the notification server.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the notification server is further configured to periodically query the message server.

17. A computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of executable instructions, said program of executable instructions comprising:

at least one instruction to obtain, at a notification server, information associated with a message received over a first communication channel;

at least one instruction to compare profile information associated with an intended recipient of the message and information associated with the message;

at least one instruction to determine, based on a result of the at least one instruction to compare, if the intended recipient is to be notified; and

at least one instruction to provide a notification to the recipient over a second communication channel, different from the first communication channel, based on a result of the instruction to determine.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising at least one instruction to provide a notification to the intended recipient over multiple communication channels.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the profile information comprises information associated with one or more communication channels preferred for receipt of notifications.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising at least one instruction to perform an action indicated by the profile information in response to messages from specified sources and relating to specified subjects.