VOICEMAIL SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20080167014A1
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lamiraux, Henri, Wyld, Jeremy, Ganatra, Nitin, Novick, Gregory
• Application Number:
  US11/770,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167014A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/14 Delay circuits; Timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/36 Memories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/301 Management of recordings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/303 Marking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects

Abstract

Systems, methods and machine (e.g. computer) readable media for providing or managing or using voicemails are described. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at least notifications of voicemails at a mobile data processing system and storing a data structure at the mobile data processing system for deleted voicemails. In another embodiment, a method includes determining an extent of usage of a voicemail mailbox at a data processing system and determining a period of time representing how long a voicemail has been marked as deleted and determining, based on the extent of usage and based on the period of time, whether to delete the voicemail.

Claims

1. A machine implemented method comprising:

receiving data representative of a voicemail at a mobile data processing system;

receiving an instruction to delete the voicemail at the mobile data processing system;

storing data indicating that the voicemail has been marked for deletion at the mobile data processing system in response to the receiving of the instruction;

receiving a further instruction to delete the voicemail at the mobile data processing system and deleting the data representative of the voicemail in response to the further instruction.

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

transmitting an instruction to a server data processing system to delete the voicemail in response to the further instruction, and wherein the voicemail is not deleted at the server data processing system until after receiving the further instruction.

3. The method as in claim 2, the method further comprising:

removing the voicemail from a list in response to the instruction to delete and adding the voicemail to a delete list in response to the instruction to delete; and

removing the voicemail from the delete list in response to the further instruction.

4. The method as in claim 3 wherein the mobile data processing system comprises a cellular telephone and wherein the server data processing system is operated by a wireless cellular telephone carrier.

5. The method as in claim 4 wherein the data representative of the voicemail is at least one of (a) a notification of the voicemail and (b) a download of content of the voicemail, and wherein a date of the receiving of the instruction is stored in response to the receiving of the instruction, and wherein the delete list represents a delete folder for voicemails.

6. A machine readable medium containing executable instructions which cause a system to perform a method comprising:

receiving data representative of a voicemail at a mobile data processing system;

receiving an instruction to delete the voicemail at the mobile data processing system;

storing data indicating that the voicemail has been marked for deletion at the mobile data processing system in response to the receiving of the instruction;

receiving a further instruction to delete the voicemail at the mobile data processing system and deleting the data representative of the voicemail in response to the further instruction.

7. The medium as in claim 6, the method further comprising:

transmitting an instruction to a server data processing system to delete the voicemail in response to the further instruction, and wherein the voicemail is not deleted at the server data processing system until after receiving the further instruction.

8. The medium as in claim 7, the method further comprising:

removing the voicemail from a list in response to the instruction to delete and adding the voicemail to a delete list in response to the instruction to delete; and

removing the voicemail from the delete list in response to the further instruction.

9. The medium as in claim 8 wherein the mobile data processing system comprises a cellular telephone and wherein the server data processing system is operated by a wireless cellular telephone carrier.

10. The medium as in claim 9 wherein the data representative of the voicemail is at least one of (a) a notification of the voicemail and (b) a download of content of the voicemail, and wherein a date of the receiving of the instruction is stored in response to the receiving of the instruction, and wherein the delete list represents a delete folder for voicemails.

11. A data processing system comprising:

means for receiving data representative of a voicemail at a mobile data processing system;

means for receiving an instruction to delete the voicemail at the mobile data processing system;

means for storing data indicating that the voicemail has been marked for deletion at the mobile data processing system in response to the receiving of the instruction;

means for receiving a further instruction to delete the voicemail at the mobile data processing system and deleting the data representative of the voicemail in response to the further instruction.

12. A mobile data processing system comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver;

a memory coupled to the processor, the processor and memory being configured to receive at least notifications of voicemails at the mobile data processing system and being configured to store a data structure, at the mobile data processing system, for deleted voicemails.

13. The mobile data processing system as in claim 12 wherein the wireless transceiver comprises a wireless cellular telephone transceiver and wherein data for a voicemail is stored in the data structure in response to an instruction to delete the voicemail and wherein the data for the voicemail is deleted from the data structure in response to a further instruction to delete the voicemail.

14. The mobile data processing system as in claim 13 wherein the wireless transceiver receives the notifications of the voicemails and transmits an instruction, in response to the further instruction, to delete the voicemail at a server data processing system which is operated by a wireless cellular telephone carrier.

15. The mobile data processing system as in claim 14 wherein the content of the voicemail is downloaded, from the server data processing system, to the mobile data processing system before the voicemail is deleted in response to the further instruction and wherein the data structure represents a delete folder for voicemails.

16. A machine implemented method comprising:

receiving at least notifications of voicemails at a mobile data processing system;

storing a data structure at the mobile data processing system for deleted voicemails.

17. The method as in claim 16 wherein the mobile data processing system comprises a wireless cellular telephone transceiver which receives the notifications and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving an instruction to delete a voicemail, wherein data for the voicemail is stored in the data structure in response to the instruction;

receiving a further instruction to delete the voicemail, wherein data for the voicemail is deleted from the data structure in response to the further instruction.

18. The method as in claim 17 wherein the wireless cellular telephone transceiver transmits an instruction, in response to the further instruction, to delete the voicemail at a server data processing system which is operated by a wireless cellular telephone carrier.

19. The method as in claim 18 wherein the data structure represents a delete folder for voicemails and wherein the content of the voicemail is downloaded, from the server data processing system, to the mobile data processing system before the voicemail is deleted in response to the further instruction.

20. A machine readable medium containing executable instructions which cause a system to perform a method comprising:

receiving at least notifications of voicemails at a mobile data processing system;

storing a data structure at the mobile data processing system for deleted voicemails.

21. The medium as in claim 20 wherein the mobile data processing system comprises a wireless cellular telephone transceiver which receives the notifications and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving an instruction to delete a voicemail, wherein data for the voicemail is stored in the data structure in response to the instruction;

receiving a further instruction to delete the voicemail, wherein data for the voicemail is deleted from the data structure in response to the further instruction.

22. The medium as in claim 21 wherein the wireless cellular telephone transceiver transmits an instruction, in response to the further instruction, to delete the voicemail at a server data processing system which is operated by a wireless cellular telephone carrier.

23. The medium as in claim 22 wherein the data structure represents a delete folder for voicemails and wherein the content of the voicemail is downloaded, from the server data processing system, to the mobile data processing system before the voicemail is deleted in response to the further instruction.

24. A data processing system comprising:

means for receiving at least notifications of voicemails at a mobile data processing system;

means for storing a data structure at the mobile data processing system for deleted voicemails.

25. A machine implemented method comprising:

determining an extent of usage of a voicemail mailbox at a data processing system;

determining a period of time representing how long a voicemail has been marked as deleted;

determining, based on the extent of usage and based on the period of time, whether to delete the voicemail.

26. The method as in claim 25, wherein the method further comprises:

deleting the voicemail in response to the determining whether to delete the voicemail; and

wherein the data processing system is a server data processing system which is operated by a wireless cellular telephone carrier.

27. The method as in claim 26, wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether the extent of usage exceeds a threshold;

and wherein the voicemail is deleted at the server data processing system and at a mobile data processing system.

28. The method as in claim 26 wherein the server data processing system performs the determining of the extent and a mobile data processing system performs automatically the determining whether to delete.

29. The method as in claim 26 wherein the method is performed at the server data processing system.

30. The method as in claim 26 wherein the method is performed at a mobile data processing system which comprises a wireless cellular telephone transceiver.

31. A machine readable medium containing executable instructions which cause a system to perform a method comprising:

determining an extent of usage of a voicemail mailbox at a data processing system;

determining a period of time representing how long a voicemail has been marked as deleted;

determining, based on the extent of usage and based on the period of time, whether to delete the voicemail.

32. The medium as in claim 31, wherein the method further comprises:

deleting the voicemail in response to the determining whether to delete the voicemail; and

wherein the data processing system is a server data processing system which is operated by a wireless cellular telephone carrier.

33. The medium as in claim 32, wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether the extent of usage exceeds a threshold;

and wherein the voicemail is deleted at the server data processing system and at a mobile data processing system.

34. The medium as in claim 32 wherein the server data processing system performs the determining of the extent and a mobile data processing system performs automatically the determining whether to delete.

35. The medium as in claim 32 wherein the method is performed at the server data processing system.

36. The medium as in claim 32 wherein the method is performed at a mobile data processing system which comprises a wireless cellular telephone transceiver.

37. A machine comprising:

means for determining an extent of usage of a voicemail mailbox at a data processing system;

means for determining a period of time representing how long a voicemail has been marked as deleted;

means for determining, based on the extent of usage and based on the period of time, whether to delete the voicemail.

38. A machine implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a first data processing system, data representing an extent of usage of a voicemail mailbox at a second data processing system;

determining a period of time which represents how long a voicemail has been marked as deleted at the first data processing system;

determining, based on the extent of usage and based on the period of time, whether to delete the voicemail.

39. The method as in claim 38 wherein the method further comprises:

deleting the voicemail at the second data processing system in response to the determining whether to delete the voicemail; and

wherein the second data processing system is a server data processing system which is operated by a wireless cellular telephone carrier.

40. The method as in claim 39, wherein the data representing the extent of usage indicates whether the extent of usage exceeds a threshold and wherein at least data representing the voicemail is deleted at the first data processing system in response to the determining whether to delete the voicemail and wherein the first data processing system comprises a wireless cellular telephone.

41. The method as in claim 40, wherein the at least data representing the voicemail is deleted automatically without user input.

42. The method as in claim 40, wherein the at least data representing the voicemail is deleted after presenting information about the deletion to a user.

43. The method as in claim 40, the method further comprising:

receiving at the first data processing system, content of the voicemail and storing the content on the first data processing system.

44. A machine readable medium containing executable instructions which cause a system to perform a method comprising:

receiving, at a first data processing system, data representing an extent of usage of a voicemail mailbox at a second data processing system;

determining a period of time which represents how long a voicemail has been marked as deleted at the first data processing system;

determining, based on the extent of usage and based on the period of time, whether to delete the voicemail.

45. The medium as in claim 44 wherein the method further comprises:

deleting the voicemail at the second data processing system in response to the determining whether to delete the voicemail; and

wherein the second data processing system is a server data processing system which is operated by a wireless cellular telephone carrier.

46. The medium as in claim 45, wherein the data representing the extent of usage indicates whether the extent of usage exceeds a threshold and wherein at least data representing the voicemail is deleted at the first data processing system in response to the determining whether to delete the voicemail and wherein the first data processing system comprises a wireless cellular telephone.

47. The medium as in claim 46, wherein the at least data representing the voicemail is deleted automatically without user input.

48. The medium as in claim 46, wherein the at least data representing the voicemail is deleted after presenting information about the deletion to a user.

49. The medium as in claim 46, the method further comprising:

receiving at the first data processing system, content of the voicemail and storing the content on the first data processing system.

50. A machine comprising:

means for receiving, at a first data processing system, data representing an extent of usage of a voicemail mailbox at a second data processing system;

means for determining a period of time which represents how long a voicemail has been marked as deleted at the first data processing system;

means for determining, based on the extent of usage and based on the period of time, whether to delete the voicemail.

51. A machine implemented method comprising:

transmitting, from a first data processing system, time data which represents when a voicemail has been marked as deleted at the first data processing system;

storing, at the first data processing system, voicemail data for the voicemail after the transmitting;

deleting, at the first data processing system, the voicemail data in response to an instruction from a second data processing system, wherein the deleting occurs after the storing.

52. The method as in claim 51 wherein the first data processing system comprises a wireless cellular telephone and the second data processing system is a voicemail server operated by a wireless cellular telephone carrier.

53. The method as in claim 51 wherein the time data comprises a date of deletion at the first data processing system and wherein the voicemail data comprises at least one of metadata of the voicemail and content of the voicemail.

54. The method as in claim 53 wherein the content is downloaded to and stored at the first data processing system.

55. The method as in claim 53 wherein the voicemail data is deleted automatically without user input.

56. The method as in claim 53 wherein the voicemail data is deleted after presenting information about the deletion to a user.

57. A machine readable medium containing executable instructions which cause a system to perform a method comprising:

transmitting, from a first data processing system, time data which represents when a voicemail has been marked as deleted at the first data processing system;

storing, at the first data processing system, voicemail data for the voicemail after the transmitting;

deleting, at the first data processing system, the voicemail data in response to an instruction from a second data processing system, wherein the deleting occurs after the storing.

58. The medium as in claim 57 wherein the first data processing system comprises a wireless cellular telephone and the second data processing system is a voicemail server operated by a wireless cellular telephone carrier.

59. The medium as in claim 57 wherein the time data comprises a date of deletion at the first data processing system and wherein the voicemail data comprises at least one of metadata of the voicemail and content of the voicemail.

60. The medium as in claim 59 wherein the content is downloaded to and stored at the first data processing system.

61. The medium as in claim 59 wherein the voicemail data is deleted automatically without user input.

62. The medium as in claim 59 wherein the voicemail data is deleted after presenting information about the deletion to a user.

63. A machine comprising:

means for transmitting, from a first data processing system, time data which represents when a voicemail has been marked as deleted at the first data processing system;

means for storing, at the first data processing system, voicemail data for the voicemail after the transmitting;

means for deleting, at the first data processing system, the voicemail data in response to an instruction from a second data processing system, wherein the deleting occurs after the storing.

64. A mobile data processing system comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver;

a memory coupled to the processor, the processor being configured to transmit, through the wireless transceiver, time data which represents when a voicemail has been marked as deleted at the mobile data processing system, and the memory is configured to store voicemail data for the voicemail after the time data is transmitted, and the processor being configured to delete the voicemail data at the mobile data processing system in response to an instruction from a second data processing system.

65. The mobile data processing system as in claim 64 wherein the time data comprises a date of deletion at the mobile data processing system and wherein the voicemail data comprises at least one of metadata of the voicemail and content of the voicemail.

66. The mobile data processing system as in claim 65 wherein the processor is configured to download the content and to store the content in the memory.

67. A machine implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a first data processing system, time data which represents when a voicemail has been marked as deleted at a second data processing system;

determining whether a voicemail mailbox of the first data processing system has a usage which exceeds a threshold, wherein the voicemail is at least temporarily stored in the voicemail mailbox;

determining whether to delete the voicemail based on the time data and whether the usage exceeds the threshold.

68. The method as in claim 67 wherein the first data processing system comprises a voicemail server data processing system and the second data processing system comprises a mobile wireless cellular telephone and wherein the voicemail server data processing system is operated by a wireless cellular telephone carrier.

69. The method as in claim 67 wherein the time data comprises a date of deletion at the second data processing system and wherein the voicemail is stored as voicemail data which comprises at least one of metadata of the voicemail and content of the voicemail.

70. The method as in claim 69 wherein the content is downloaded to and stored at the second data processing system.

71. The method as in claim 67 wherein the voicemail is deleted automatically without user input.

72. The method as in claim 67 wherein the voicemail is deleted after presenting information about the deletion to a user.

73. A machine readable medium containing executable instructions which cause a system to perform a method comprising:

receiving, at a first data processing system, time data which represents when a voicemail has been marked as deleted at a second data processing system;

determining whether a voicemail mailbox of the first data processing system has a usage which exceeds a threshold, wherein the voicemail is at least temporarily stored in the voicemail mailbox;

determining whether to delete the voicemail based on the time data and whether the usage exceeds the threshold.

74. The medium as in claim 73 wherein the first data processing system comprises a voicemail server data processing system and the second data processing system comprises a mobile wireless cellular telephone and wherein the voicemail server data processing system is operated by a wireless cellular telephone carrier.

75. The medium as in claim 73 wherein the time data comprises a date of deletion at the second data processing system and wherein the voicemail is stored as voicemail data which comprises at least one of metadata of the voicemail and content of the voicemail.

76. The medium as in claim 75 wherein the content is downloaded to and stored at the second data processing system.

77. The medium as in claim 73 wherein the voicemail is deleted automatically without user input.

78. The medium as in claim 73 wherein the voicemail is deleted after presenting information about the deletion to a user.

79. A machine comprising:

means for receiving, at a first data processing system, time data which represents when a voicemail has been marked as deleted at a second data processing system;

means for determining whether a voicemail mailbox of the first data processing system has a usage which exceeds a threshold, wherein the voicemail is at least temporarily stored in the voicemail mailbox;

means for determining whether to delete the voicemail based on the time data and whether the usage exceeds the threshold.

80. A data processing system comprising:

a network interface;

a processor coupled to the network interface;

a memory coupled to the processor, the processor being configured to receive time data which represents when a voicemail has been marked as deleted at a mobile wireless system, and the processor is configured to determine whether a voicemail mailbox has a usage which exceeds a threshold and is configured to determine whether to delete the voicemail based on the time data and whether the usage exceeds the threshold.

81. The data processing system as in claim 80, wherein the time data comprises a date of deletion at the mobile wireless system and wherein the voicemail is stored as voicemail data which comprises at least one of metadata of the voicemail and content of the voicemail.

82. The data processing system as in claim 81 wherein the content is downloaded to and stored at the mobile wireless system.

83. The data processing system as in claim 81 wherein the voicemail is deleted automatically without user input.

84. The data processing system as in claim 81 wherein the voicemail is deleted after presenting information about the deletion to a user.

85. A machine implemented method comprising:

receiving first data which indicates whether use of a voicemail mailbox exceeds a threshold;

determining whether a voicemail marked for deletion has been marked for deletion for more than a period of time;

deleting the voicemail if (a) the first data indicates that the threshold has been exceeded and (b) the voicemail has been marked for deletion for more than the period of time.

86. The method as in claim 85 wherein the first data is received at a mobile wireless data processing system which comprises a wireless cellular telephone and wherein the mobile wireless data processing system performs the determining and the deleting.

87. The method as in claim 86 wherein the deleting is performed automatically without user input.

88. The method as in claim 86 wherein the deleting is performed after presenting information about the deleting to a user.

89. The method as in claim 86 wherein the deleting deletes the voicemail in the voicemail mailbox at a voicemail server and deletes at least one of metadata of the voicemail and content of the voicemail at the mobile wireless data processing system.

90. The method as in claim 89 wherein the content is downloaded to the mobile wireless data processing system.

91. A machine readable medium containing executable instructions which cause a system to perform a method comprising:

receiving first data which indicates whether use of a voicemail mailbox exceeds a threshold;

determining whether a voicemail marked for deletion has been marked for deletion for more than a period of time;

deleting the voicemail if (a) the first data indicates that the threshold has been exceeded and (b) the voicemail has been marked for deletion for more than the period of time.

92. The medium as in claim 91 wherein the first data is received at a mobile wireless data processing system which comprises a wireless cellular telephone and wherein the mobile wireless data processing system performs the determining and the deleting.

93. The medium as in claim 92 wherein the deleting is performed automatically without user input.

94. The medium as in claim 92 wherein the deleting is performed after presenting information about the deleting to a user.

95. The medium as in claim 92 wherein the deleting deletes the voicemail in the voicemail mailbox at a voicemail server and deletes at least one of metadata of the voicemail and content of the voicemail at the mobile wireless data processing system.

96. The medium as in claim 95 wherein the content is downloaded to the mobile wireless data processing system.

97. A machine comprising:

means for receiving first data which indicates whether use of a voicemail mailbox exceeds a threshold;

means for determining whether a voicemail marked for deletion has been marked for deletion for more than a period of time;

means for deleting the voicemail if (a) the first data indicates that the threshold has been exceeded and (b) the voicemail has been marked for deletion for more than the period of time.

98. A data processing system comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver;

a memory coupled to the processor, the processor being configured to receive first data which indicates whether use of a voicemail mailbox exceeds a threshold and being configured to determine whether a voicemail marked for deletion has been marked for deletion for more than a period of time and being configured to delete the voicemail if (a) the first data indicates that the threshold has been exceeded and (b) the voicemail has been marked for deletion for more than a period of time.

99. The data processing system as in claim 98 wherein the processor is configured to download content of the voicemail to the memory.

100. The machine implemented method comprising:

presenting a preview user interface (UI) object on a telephone device, the preview UI object being configured to receive an input to cause a presentation of a preview of a voicemail;

receiving the input;

presenting the preview in response to receiving the input.

101. A machine implemented method at a voicemail server, the method comprising:

storing a voicemail on a storage device coupled to the voicemail server;

receiving an instruction to delete the voicemail and, in response to the instruction, storing the voicemail in a data structure for deleted voicemails.