Method, system and apparatus for storing voicemail

• US 20100322394A1
• Filed: 06/18/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stripe, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
• Inventors: Jain, Kavita, Liang, Zhou, Yin, Jerry, Albert, John, Gray, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,451,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.13
• 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 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects

Abstract

A method and apparatus, and system for storing voicemail data are provided. Voicemail data is generated at a telephony device engaged in a communication session with a calling telephony device, the voicemail data comprising a voice message. E-mail data is then automatically generating after the voicemail data is generated, the e-mail data comprising data identifying the voicemail data, the e-mail data further comprising the voicemail data. The e-mail data is then transmitted to a network address associated with a remote e-mail server, such that the e-mail data, including the voicemail data, is stored at the remote e-mail server.

Claims

1. A method for storing voicemail data comprising,

generating said voicemail data at a telephony device engaged in a communication session with a calling telephony device, said voicemail data comprising a voice message;

automatically generating e-mail data after said voicemail data is generated, said e-mail data comprising data identifying said voicemail data, said e-mail data further comprising said voicemail data; and

transmitting said e-mail data to a network address associated with a remote e-mail server, such that said e-mail data, including said voicemail data, is stored at said remote e-mail server.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting said data identifying said voicemail data from said remote e-mail server; and

controlling a display device at said telephony device to provide a representation of said data identifying said voicemail data.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

requesting said e-mail data from said remote e-mail server, including said voicemail data; and

providing said voicemail data at said telephony device via at least one of a speaker at said telephony device and said display device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

retransmitting said e-mail data, including said data identifying said voicemail data and said voicemail data, to said remote e-mail server, such that said e-mail data is re-stored at said remote e-mail server, for later retrieval by at least one of said telephony device and a second telephony device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting, at a second telephony device, said data identifying said voicemail data from said remote e-mail server;

controlling a display device at said second telephony device to provide a representation of said data identifying said voicemail data;

requesting said e-mail data from said remote e-mail server, at said second telephony device, including said voicemail data; and

controlling a speaker at said second telephony device to play said voicemail data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said data identifying said voicemail data is located in a header of said e-mail data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein folders for said voicemail data are generated at said remote e-mail server via said data identifying said voicemail data.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

forwarding said voicemail data;

replying to said voicemail data; and

encrypting at least one of said voicemail data and said data identifying said voicemail data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said remote e-mail server comprises a POP3 e-mail server, and said data identifying said voicemail data is retrievable by said telephony device using a POP3 TOP command transmitted to said remote e-mail server;

said e-mail data, including said voicemail data, is retrievable by said telephony device using a POP3 RETR command transmitted to said remote e-mail server; and

said e-mail data is deletable at said remote-mail server by at least one of;

transmitting a POP3 DELE command from said telephony device to said remote e-mail server; and

transmitting said POP3 RETR command from said telephony device to said remote e-mail server such that said e-mail data is automatically deleted upon receipt of said POP3 RETR command at said remote e-mail server.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said generating said e-mail data comprises attaching said voicemail data to said e-mail data.

11. A telephony device for causing storage of voicemail data, the telephony device comprising:

a processing unit interconnected with a memory, a display device and a communication interface, said processing unit enabled to;

generate voicemail data when said telephony device is engaged in a communication session with a calling telephony device via said communication interface, said voicemail data comprising a voice message;

automatically generate e-mail data after said voicemail data is generated, said e-mail data comprising data identifying said voicemail data, said e-mail data further comprising said voicemail data; and

transmit said e-mail data to a network address associated with a remote e-mail server, via said communication interface, such that said e-mail data, including said voicemail data, is stored at said remote e-mail server.

12. The telephony device of claim 11, wherein said processing unit is further enabled to:

request said data identifying said voicemail data from said remote e-mail server; and

control said display device to provide a representation of said data identifying said voicemail data.

13. The telephony device of claim 12, wherein said processing unit is further enabled to:

request said e-mail data from said remote e-mail server, including said voicemail data; and

provide said voicemail data at said telephony device via at least one of a speaker at said telephony device and said display device.

14. The telephony device of claim 13, wherein said processing unit is further enabled to:

retransmit said e-mail data, including said data identifying said voicemail data and said voicemail data, to said remote e-mail server, such that said e-mail data is re-stored at said remote e-mail server, for later retrieval by at least one of said telephony device and a second telephony device.

15. The telephony device of claim 11, wherein said data identifying said voicemail data is located in a header of said e-mail data.

16. The telephony device of claim 11, wherein folders for said voicemail data are generated at said remote e-mail server via said data identifying said voicemail data.

17. The telephony device of claim 11, wherein said processing unit is further enabled to at least one of:

forward said voicemail data, via said communication interface;

reply to said voicemail data, via said communication interface; and

encrypt at least one of said voicemail data and said data identifying said voicemail data.

18. The telephony device of claim 11, wherein said telephony device comprises a VoIP telephony device.

19. The telephony device of claim 11, wherein said generating said e-mail data comprises attaching said voicemail data to said e-mail data.

20. A system for storing voicemail data, comprising:

at least one telephony device comprising a processing unit interconnected with a memory, a display device and a communication interface, said processing unit enabled to;

generate voicemail data when said telephony device is engaged in a communication session with a calling telephony device via said communication interface, said voicemail data comprising a voice message;

automatically generate e-mail data after said voicemail data is generated, said e-mail data comprising data identifying said voicemail data, said e-mail data further comprising said voicemail data; and

transmit said e-mail data to a network address associated with a remote e-mail server, via said communication interface, such that said e-mail data, including said voicemail data, is stored at said remote e-mail server; and

at least one e-mail server in communication with said at least one telephony device via a communication network, said at least one e-mail server enabled to receive said e-mail data and store said e-mail data, including said voicemail data.