Method and apparatus for managing voicemail messages

• US 20070129059A1
• Filed: 12/05/2005
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Nadarajah, Dinesh, Wolter, David, Muhamed, Rias, Klein, Adam
• Granted Patent: US 8,498,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/256 comprising a service specific user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/301 Management of recordings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus (100, 200) and method are disclosed for managing voicemail messages. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a voicemail system (100) having a communications interface (110) and a controller (102) for managing operations of the communications interface. The controller is programmed to store (310) voicemail messages corresponding to a communication device (102), transmit (316) a log of the voicemail messages to the communication device, and receive (318) from the communication device a request to delete a voicemail message selectively chosen from a user interface corresponding to the voicemail log. The present disclosure further describes embodiments for the communication device.

Claims

1. A voicemail system, comprising:

a communications interface; and

a controller for managing operations of the communications interface, programmed to;

store voicemail messages corresponding to a communication device;

transmit a log of the voicemail messages to the communication device; and

receive from the communication device a request to delete a voicemail message selectively chosen from a user interface corresponding to the voicemail log.

2. The voicemail system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to transmit to the communication device a preview of each voicemail message in the log.

3. The voicemail system of claim 2, wherein the controller is programmed to:

translate a portion of each voicemail message in the log to synthesized text; and

transmit to the communication device the synthesized text for previewing each voicemail message in the log.

4. The voicemail system of claim 2, wherein the controller is programmed to transmit to the communication device a voice preview of each voicemail message in the log.

5. The voicemail system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to:

store voicemail messages according to predetermined preferences; and

transmit to the communication device the log of voicemail messages according to the predetermined preferences.

6. The voicemail system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to:

receive one or more calling numbers from the communication device; and

prevent voicemails message entries associated with the one or more calling numbers.

7. The voicemail system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to:

receive one or more calling numbers from the communication device; and

delete voicemails message entries associated with the one or more calling numbers.

8. A communication device, comprising:

a user interface (UI) element;

a transceiver for exchanging messages with a communication system; and

a controller for managing operations of the UI element and the transceiver, wherein the controller is programmed to;

receive a log of voicemail messages stored in a voicemail system;

present the log to an end user;

receive from the end user a selection of a voicemail message from the log for deletion; and

transmit to the voicemail system a request to delete the selected voicemail message without listening to said voicemail message.

9. The communication device of claim 8, wherein the controller is programmed to receive from the voicemail system a preview of each voicemail message in the log.

10. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the controller is programmed to:

receive from the voicemail system a portion of each voicemail message in the log as synthesized text; and

present to the end user the synthesized text of each voicemail message in the log for previewing.

11. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the controller is programmed to receive from the voicemail system a voice preview of each voicemail message in the log.

12. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the controller is programmed to synthesize the voice preview of each voicemail message to text;

and

convey to the end user the synthesized text of each voicemail message in the log for previewing.

13. The communication device of claim 8, wherein the controller is programmed to:

receive from the voicemail system the log of voicemail messages according to the predetermined preferences; and

convey to the end user the log according to the predetermined preferences.

14. The communication device of claim 8, wherein the controller is programmed to:

receive a selection of one or more calling numbers corresponding to one or more voicemail messages in the log; and

transmit to the voicemail system the selection of one or more calling numbers for preventing voicemails message entries corresponding to said selection.

15. The communication device of claim 8, wherein UI element comprises at least one among a display for conveying images or text, an audio system for exchanging audible messages with the end user, and a keypad.

16. The communication device of claim 8, wherein transceiver comprises at least one among a wireless transceiver and a wireline transceiver.

17. A method, comprising selectively deleting a voicemail message in a voicemail system from a voicemail log in a communication device.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising transmitting, from the voicemail system to the communication device, a preview of each voicemail message in the log.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising the steps of:

translating, at the voicemail system, a portion of each voicemail message in the log to synthesized text; and

transmitting, from the voicemail system to the communication device, the synthesized text for previewing each voicemail message in the log.

20. The method of claim 17, comprising the steps of:

receiving, at the voicemail system from the communication device, one or more calling numbers corresponding to one or more voicemail entries in the log; and

preventing, at the voicemail system, storage of voicemails message entries associated with the one or more calling numbers.

21. A computer-readable storage medium in a voicemail system, comprising computer instructions for deleting a voicemail message in response to a request received from a communication device to delete said voicemail message selectively chosen from a user interface corresponding to a voicemail log.

22. A computer-readable storage medium in a communication device, comprising computer instructions for transmitting to a voicemail system a request to delete a voicemail message selectively chosen from a user interface corresponding to a voicemail log without listening to said voicemail message.