Voicemail systems and methods

• US 20080167012A1
• Filed: 01/07/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lamiraux, Henri, Anzures, Freddy Allen, Novick, Gregory
• Application Number:
  US11/650,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167012A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects

Abstract

Systems, methods and machine readable media for processing voicemails are described. In one embodiment, a method includes presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface which is capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails and receiving from the first user interface a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails. The data representing the plurality of voicemails are received from a second data processing system which includes a voicemail system which records voicemails left for customers of a public telephone carrier, and the first user interface is configured to receive the selection of any one of the plurality of voicemails in any order. Systems, media and other methods are also described.

Claims

1. A machine implemented method comprising:

presenting a user interface capable of presenting a plurality of voicemails;

presenting a playback time line for at least one of the voicemails, the playback time line having at least one of;

(a) a beginning indicator;

(b) an end indicator;

(c) a current time indicator.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

presenting a playback user interface which comprises at least one of (a) a play control;

(b) a stop control;

(c) a pause control;

(d) a fast forward control; and

(e) a reverse control; and

wherein the presenting of the playback time line and the presenting of the playback user interface is in response to a selection of a voicemail in the plurality of voicemails and wherein a length of the playback time line represents a length of the voicemail selected by the selection and wherein the current time indicator indicates a current time during playback and is user adjustable to select a starting point for playback.

3. The method as in claim 2 wherein the selection is capable of being in an order which is different than an order based upon time of receipt of a voicemail.

4. The method as in claim 3 wherein the plurality of voicemails are received from a voicemail system which records voicemails left for customers of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier.

5. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which when executed cause a system to perform a method comprising:

presenting a user interface capable of presenting a plurality of voicemails;

presenting a playback time line for at least one of the voicemails, the playback time line having at least one of;

(a) a beginning indicator;

(b) an end indicator;

(c) a current time indicator.

6. The medium as in claim 5, wherein the method further comprises:

presenting a playback user interface which comprises at least one of (a) a play control;

(b) a stop control;

(c) a pause control;

(d) a fast forward control; and

(e) a reverse control; and

wherein the presenting of the playback time line and the presenting of the playback user interface is in response to a selection of a voicemail in the plurality of voicemails and wherein a length of the playback time line represents a length of the voicemail selected by the selection and wherein the current time indicator indicates a current time during playback and is user adjustable to select a starting point for playback.

7. The medium as in claim 6 wherein the selection is capable of being in an order which is different than an order based upon time of receipt of a voicemail.

8. The medium as in claim 7 wherein the plurality of voicemails are received from a voicemail system which records voicemails left for customers of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier.

9. A machine comprising:

means for presenting a user interface capable of presenting a plurality of voicemails;

means for presenting a playback time line for at least one of the voicemails, the playback time line having at least one of;

(a) a beginning indicator;

(b) an end indicator;

(c) a current time indicator.

10. A user interface comprising:

a first presentation, on a first data processing system, of a first user interface capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails, the data representing the plurality of voicemails being received from a second data processing system which comprises a voicemail system which records voicemails left for customers of a public wireless cellular telephone carrier;

wherein the first user interface is capable of receiving a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails, the first user interface being configured to receive the selection of any one of the plurality of voicemails in any order.

11. A machine implemented method comprising:

presenting a user interface capable of presenting a plurality of voicemails;

presenting a representation of time for at least one of the voicemails, the representation having at least one of;

(a) a beginning indicator;

(b) an end indicator;

(c) a current time indicator.

12. A machine implemented method comprising:

presenting a user interface capable of voicemail;

presenting a playback time line for the voicemail, the playback time line having at least one of;

(a) a beginning indicator;

(b) an end indicator;

(c) a current time indicator.

13. A machine implemented method comprising:

presenting a user interface capable of presenting a voicemail;

presenting a playback time line for the voicemail, the playback time line having a current time indicator which allows a substantially arbitrary selection of playback time.

14. A machine implemented method comprising:

requesting initialization of voicemail service, the requesting being directed to a telephone service provider;

receiving, in response from the telephone service provider, a URL for a voicemail server.