Methods, apparatus and computer program products for message notification in a voice over internet protocol communication system

• US 20060029195A1
• Filed: 08/18/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mullis, Karen, Simpson, Anita
• Application Number:
  US10/920,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20060029195A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.170
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• 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

A method for providing message notification in a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication system includes: receiving an off-hook notification from a subscriber to the VoIP communication system; and generating an audible announcement to the subscriber responsive to the off-hook notification, wherein the audible announcement includes a verbal voice announcement adapted to indicate to the subscriber that a new message associated with the subscriber is waiting in the VoIP communication system. The method may further include: receiving a second off-hook notification from the subscriber when there are no messages associated with the subscriber in the VoIP communication system; and generating a second audible announcement to the subscriber responsive to the second off-hook notification, wherein the second audible announcement is different from the first audible announcement.

Claims

1. A method for providing message notification in a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication system, the method comprising:

a) receiving an off-hook notification from a subscriber to the VoIP communication system; and

b) generating an audible announcement to the subscriber responsive to the off-hook notification, wherein the audible announcement includes a verbal voice announcement adapted to indicate to the subscriber that a new message associated with the subscriber is waiting in the VoIP communication system.

2. The method of claim 1 including generating a digital signal from a VoIP service provider, the digital signal corresponding to the audible announcement.

3. The method of claim 2 including, prior to receiving the off-hook notification, sending the digital signal to a VoIP interface device associated with the subscriber.

4. The method of claim 1 including:

a) receiving a second off-hook notification from the subscriber when there are no new messages associated with the subscriber in the VoIP communication system; and

b) generating a second audible announcement to the subscriber responsive to the second off-hook notification, wherein the second audible announcement is different from the first audible announcement.

5. The method of claim 4 including generating the second audible announcement after the first audible announcement responsive to the first off-hook notification.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the second audible announcement includes a second verbal voice announcement.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the verbal voice announcement includes marketing information.

8. The method of claim 1 including enabling an automatic access feature of an interface device associate with the VoIP communication system when there is a new message associated with the subscriber waiting in the VoIP communication system, wherein, when the automatic access feature is enabled, the interface device is responsive to a prescribed input from the subscriber to automatically access a message mailbox in the VoIP communication system.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the verbal voice announcement includes an indication of the number of new messages associated with the subscriber in the VoIP communication system.

10. A Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication system configured to:

a) receive an off-hook notification from a subscriber to the VoIP communication system; and

b) generate an audible announcement to the subscriber responsive to the off-hook notification, wherein the audible announcement includes a verbal voice announcement adapted to indicate to the subscriber that a new message associated with the subscriber is waiting in the VoIP communication system.

11. The VoIP communication system of claim 10 including:

a) a VoIP service provider adapted to determine whether there is a new message associated with the subscriber in the VoIP communication system and to generate a corresponding digital signal; and

b) a VoIP interface device associated with the subscriber and adapted to generate the audible announcement to the subscriber based on the digital signal.

12. The VoIP communication system of claim 11 wherein the VoIP interface device is adapted to receive and store the digital signal prior to receiving the off-hook notification.

13. The VoIP communication system of claim 11 wherein the VoIP interface device includes an automatic access feature and is adapted to enable the automatic access feature when there is a new message associated with the subscriber waiting in the VoIP communication system, wherein, when the automatic access feature is enabled, the interface device is responsive to a prescribed input from the subscriber to automatically access a message mailbox in the VoIP communication system.

14. The VoIP communication system of claim 11 including an analog phone operatively connected to the interface device, and wherein the interface device is adapted to generate the audible announcement to the subscriber through the analog phone.

15. The VoIP communication system of claim 10 wherein the VoIP communication device is further adapted to:

a) receive a second off-hook notification from the subscriber when there are no new messages associated with the subscriber in the VoIP communication system; and

b) generate a second announcement to the subscriber responsive to the second off-hook notification, wherein the second audible announcement is different from the first audible announcement.

16. The VoIP communication system of claim 15 wherein the VoIP communication device is further adapted to generate the second audible announcement after the first audible announcement responsive to the first off-hook notification.

17. The VoIP communication system of claim 15 wherein the second audible announcement includes a second verbal voice announcement.

18. The VoIP communication system of claim 10 wherein the verbal voice announcement includes marketing information.

19. The VoIP communication system of claim 10 wherein the verbal voice announcement includes an indication of the number of new messages associated with the subscriber in the VoIP communication system.

20. A computer program product for providing message notification in a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication system, the computer program product comprising program code embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, the computer program code comprising:

program code that is configured to;

a) receive an off-hook notification from a subscriber to the VoIP communication system; and

b) generate an audible announcement to the subscriber responsive to the off-hook notification, wherein the audible announcement includes a verbal voice announcement adapted to indicate to the subscriber that a new message associated with the subscriber is waiting in the VoIP communication system.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 further including program code that is configured to:

a) receive a second off-hook notification from the subscriber when there are no new messages associated with the subscriber in the VoIP communication system; and

b) generate a second audible announcement to the subscriber responsive to the second off-hook notification, wherein the second audible announcement is different from the first audible announcement.

22. A method for providing message notification in a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication system, the method comprising:

a) receiving an off-hook notification from a subscriber to the VoIP communication system;

b) generating a first audible announcement to the subscriber responsive to the off-hook notification, wherein-the first audible announcement is adapted to indicate to the subscriber that a new message associated with the subscriber is waiting in the VoIP communication system; and

thereafter

c) generating a second audible announcement to the subscriber, wherein the second audible announcement includes a verbal voice announcement.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the verbal voice announcement includes marketing information.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the first audible announcement includes a stuttered dial tone.

25. The method of claim 22 including enabling an automatic access feature of an interface device associate with the VoIP communication system when there is a new message associated with the subscriber waiting in the VoIP communication system, wherein, when the automatic access feature is enabled, the interface device is responsive to a prescribed input from the subscriber to automatically access a message mailbox in the VoIP communication system.

26. A Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication system configured to:

a) receive an off-hook notification from a subscriber to the VoIP communication system;

b) generate a first audible announcement to the subscriber responsive to the off-hook notification, wherein the first audible announcement is adapted to indicate to the subscriber that a new message associated with the subscriber is waiting in the VoIP communication system; and

thereafter

c) generate a second audible announcement to the subscriber, wherein the second audible announcement includes a verbal voice announcement.

27. The VoIP communication system of claim 26 wherein the verbal voice announcement includes marketing information.

28. The VoIP communication system of claim 26 wherein the first audible announcement includes a stuttered dial tone.

29. The VoIP communication system of claim 26 including a VoIP interface device, wherein the VoIP interface device includes an automatic access feature and is adapted to enable the automatic access feature when there is a new message associated with the subscriber waiting in the VoIP communication system, and wherein, when the automatic access feature is enabled, the interface device is responsive to a prescribed input from the subscriber to automatically access a message mailbox in the VoIP communication system.

30. A computer program product for providing message notification in a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication system, the computer program product comprising program code embodied in a computer-readable storage medium, the computer program code comprising:

program code that is configured to;

a) receive an off-hook notification from a subscriber to the VoIP communication system;

b) generate a first audible announcement to the subscriber responsive to the off-hook notification, wherein the first audible announcement is adapted to indicate to the subscriber that a new message associated with the subscriber is waiting in the VoIP communication system; and

thereafter

c) generate a second audible announcement to the subscriber, wherein the second audible announcement includes a verbal voice announcement.