Networked voicemail

• US 20060177012A1
• Filed: 02/07/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Frifeldt, Heine, Forney, David, Shaffer, Anthony, Skakkebaek, Jens
• Granted Patent: US 7,724,880 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/67.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• 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 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53325 Interconnection arrangements between voice mail systems

Abstract

An integrated messaging system for performing various types of messaging across different types of networks, including integrated user interfaces and administrator interfaces. Embodiments include a communication server that couples among networks of different types, and an interface module that couples to the communication server. The interface module may be hosted on a messaging server of a network. The interface module pulls various user information from the messaging server, including information relevant to at least the network that includes the messaging server. A cache couples to the communication server and to the interface module to hold information from the communication server and/or the user information pulled from messaging server. The interface module directs a message from the messaging server and/or the cache to at least one device on the networks using the user information.

Claims

1. A method of handling voicemail messages in a distributed environment including a local voicemail system and a remote voicemail system, the method comprising:

in the local voicemail system, storing an email containing formatting and data adapted for particular features of the local voicemail system;

encapsulating the formatting and data such that the formatting and data may be included in an email to be sent over a public network;

packaging encapsulated formatting and data into an email;

sending the email with the encapsulated formatting and data to the remote voicemail system, the local and remote voicemail systems separated by the public network and in communication by way of an email communication system, and the local voicemail system having particular features not generally part of the email communication system and the remote voicemail system having corresponding features;

extracting the formatting and data adapted for features of the voicemail system from a received email on the remote voicemail system;

providing an email containing the extracted formatting and data;

displaying the email containing the extracted formatting and data;

taking actions on the email based on the particular features of the voicemail system and the formatting and data in the email.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the formatting and data are stored in Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) format.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the formatting and data are encapsulated in Transport Neutral Encoded Format (TNEF).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the email with encapsulated formatting and data is sent to the remote voicemail system using Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the actions include actions selected from among a set including playing a voice message, replaying to a voice message, forwarding a voice message, and calling the sender of a voice mail message.

6. The method of claim 1, presenting a form-based interface on the device of a recipient of the email, wherein the interface provides options to take the actions on the email based on the particular features of the voicemail system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the interface includes inputs that allow the recipient to take actions via a server separate from the recipient'"'"'s device on which the recipient views the email.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the interface includes buttons for actions particular to voice mail messages.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the form includes a web browser, wherein the web browser communicates with a corresponding browser control of the server.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the server comprises a messaging and communication server (MCS) of the remote voicemail system and wherein the email is provided to the recipient via a messaging and communication server (MSERV).

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the form complies with format for communication between Outlook and Exchange.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the features provide access to integrated messaging functions of the voicemail system.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the features provide access to integrated messaging functions of the voicemail system a requirement to install or run a dedicated client application on a client device of the recipient of the email.

14. A method of handling voicemail messages in a distributed environment including a local voicemail system and a remote voicemail system, the method comprising:

in the local voicemail system, storing an email containing formatting and data adapted for particular features of the local voicemail system;

encapsulating the formatting and data such that the formatting and data may be included in an email to be sent over a public network, wherein the formatting and data are capable of being extracted on the remote voicemail system to provide an email on the remote voicemail system upon which actions can be taken based on the particular features of the voicemail system and the formatting and data in the email;

packaging encapsulated formatting and data into an email; and

sending the email with the encapsulated formatting and data to the remote voicemail system, the local and remote voicemail systems separated by the public network and in communication by way of an email communication system, and the local voicemail system having particular features not generally part of the email communication system and the remote voicemail system having corresponding features.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the formatting and data are stored in Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) format, the formatting and data are encapsulated in Transport Neutral Encoded Format (TNEF), and the email with encapsulated formatting and data is sent to the remote voicemail system using Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).

16. A method of handling voicemail messages in a distributed environment including a local voicemail system and a remote voicemail system, the local and remote voicemail systems separated by a public network and in communication by way of an email system, the local voicemail system having particular features not generally part of the email communication system, the method comprising:

in the local voicemail system, storing an email containing formatting and data adapted for the particular features of the voicemail system;

determining whether the remote voicemail system possesses the particular features not generally part of the email communication system corresponding to the local voicemail system features;

if the remote voicemail system possesses the particular features, routing an outgoing email containing formatting and data adapted for the particular features of the voicemail system; and

sending an outgoing email.

17. The method of claim 16, including, if the remote system possesses the particular features:

encapsulating the formatting and data into an email such that the formatting and data may be included in an email to be sent over the public network;

sending the email with the encapsulated formatting and data to the remote voicemail system;

extracting the formatting and data adapted for features of the voicemail system from a received email on the remote voicemail system;

providing an email containing the formatting and data adapted for features of the voicemail system; and

taking actions on the email based on the particular features of the voicemail system and the formatting and data in the email.

18. The method of claim 16, including if the remote voicemail system does not possess the particular features not generally part of the email communication system corresponding to the local voicemail system features:

sending a simplified form of the email with the included voicemail audio data to the remote voicemail system.

19. The method of claim 16, including receiving information from a DNS lookup to determine whether the remote voicemail system possesses the particular features not generally part of the email communication system corresponding to the local voicemail system features.

20. The method of claim 16, including checking information in a cache in the local voicemail system to determine whether the remote voicemail system possesses the particular features not generally part of the email communication system corresponding to the local voicemail system features.

21. The method of claim 16, including receiving information from web services to determine whether the remote voicemail system possesses the particular features not generally part of the email communication system corresponding to the local voicemail system features.

22. A distributed voicemail system including:

a local voicemail system;

a remote voicemail system, the local and remote voicemail systems separated by a public network and in communication by way of an email system, the local voicemail system having particular features not generally part of the email communication system, and the remote voicemail system having corresponding features;

wherein the local voicemail system includes;

resources that store an email containing formatting and data adapted for the particular features of the local voicemail system;

resources that encapsulate the formatting and data such that the formatting and data may be included in an email to be sent over the public network;

resources that package the encapsulated formatting and data into an email; and

resources that send the email with the encapsulated formatting and data to the remote system; and

wherein the remote voicemail system includes;

resources that extract the formatting and data adapted for features of the voicemail system from a received email;

resources that provide an email containing the formatting and data adapted for features of the voicemail system;

resources that display the email containing the formatting and data adapted for features of the voicemail system; and

resources that take actions on the email based on the particular features of the voicemail system and the formatting and data in the email.

23. A first voicemail system, the first voice mail system being capable of communicating, by way of an email system, with a second voicemail system separated from the first voicemail system by way of a public network, the first voicemail system comprising:

particular features not generally part of the email communication system, the features corresponding to features of the second voicemail;

resources that store an email containing formatting and data adapted for the particular features of the first voicemail system;

resources that encapsulate the formatting and data such that the formatting and data may be included in an email to be sent over the public network;

resources that package the encapsulated formatting and data into an email from which the formatting and data can be extracted at the second voicemail system so that the second email system can take actions on the email based on the particular features and the formatting and data in the email; and

resources that send the email with the encapsulated formatting and data to the second system.

24. The first voicemail system of claim 23, wherein the formatting and data are stored in Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) format.

25. The first voicemail system of claim 23, wherein the formatting and data are encapsulated in Transport Neutral Encoded Format (TNEF).

26. The first voicemail system of claim 23, wherein the email with encapsulated formatting and data is sent to the remote voicemail system using Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).

27. The first voicemail system of claim 23, wherein the actions include actions selected from among a set including playing a voice message, replaying to a voice message, forwarding a voice message, and calling the sender of a voice mail message.

28. The first voicemail system of claim 23, including resources that present a form-based interface on the device of a recipient of emails containing voice messages, wherein the interface provides options to take the actions on the email based on the particular features of the first voicemail system.

29. The first voicemail system of claim 28, wherein the form includes a web browser, wherein the web browser communicates with a corresponding browser control of the server.

30. A method of handling voicemail messages in a distributed environment, comprising:

receiving a rich format voicemail email;

encapsulating rich format data from the rich format voicemail email;

packaging the encapsulated rich format data into an email;

sending the email with the encapsulated rich format data to a remote system;

extracting the rich format data from a received email on the remote system;

providing a rich format voicemail email from the received email and the extracted rich format data; and

displaying the rich format voicemail email to a user of the remote system.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the rich format contains Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) formatting, the rich format data is encapsulated in Transport Neutral Encoded Format (TNEF), and the email with the encapsulated rich format data is sent to the remote system using Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the email with encapsulated rich format data is sent to the remote system across the Internet.

33. An electronic message comprising:

an audio stream including a voice message;

a header designating a recipient of the message; and

formatting and data adapted for particular features of a local voicemail system, the formatting and data encapsulated so that the formatting and data may be included in an email to be sent over a public network and extracted at a remote voicemail system at which actions can be taken based on the particular features of the voicemail system and the formatting and data in the email.

34. The message of claim 33, wherein the formatting and data are stored in Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) format, and the formatting and data are encapsulated in Transport Neutral Encoded Format (TNEF).

35. The message of claim 33, wherein the actions include actions selected from among a set including playing a voice message, replaying to a voice message, forwarding a voice message, and calling the sender of a voice mail message.

36. The message of claim 33, including information corresponding to a form for a form-based interface, wherein the interface provides options to take the actions on the email based on the particular features of the voicemail system.

37. The message of claim 36, wherein the form includes a web browser, wherein the web browser communicates with a corresponding browser control of the server.

38. The message of claim 36, wherein the form complies with a format for communication between Outlook and Exchange

39. The message of claim 36, wherein the message complies with a format for communication between Outlook and Exchange.