Adaptable method and system for message delivery

• US 6,072,862 A
• Filed: 07/02/1996
• Issued: 06/06/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Srinivasan, Thiru
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US08/674,437
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88, 379/89, 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.14, 379/93.15, 379/93.17, 379/93.24, 379/100.01, 379/100.08, 379/100.09, 379/88.12, 379/88.13 , 379/88.14, 379/88.22, 379/88.23, 379/88.18, 358/402, 358/407
• US Class Current: 379/100.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/324 intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32411 Handling instructions for routing or relaying
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0065 Converting image data to a format usable by the connected apparatus or vice versa

Abstract

An adaptable message delivery method and system. The method includes providing a mailbox capable of receiving multiple messages having different types, and preselecting one of multiple destinations for a message received by the mailbox, the destinations also having different types. The method also includes transmitting the message received by the mailbox to the destinations selected. The system includes a mailbox and controller for performing the method.

Claims

1. An adaptable method for delivering a message to a user, the method comprising:

providing a mailbox capable of receiving a plurality of messages for the user, the plurality of messages having a plurality of types;

preselecting prior to receipt of a message by the mailbox, based on a first user designated parameter, one of a plurality of destinations associated with the user for a message received by the mailbox, the plurality of destinations having a plurality of types, wherein the first user designated parameter is the type of the message received by the mailbox;

converting the type of the message received by the mailbox to the type of the one of the plurality of destinations preselected; and

transmitting the converted message received by the mailbox to the user at the one of the plurality of destinations preselected.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of types of messages includes facsimile transmissions, pages, voice mail, video mail and electronic mail.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of types of destinations includes facsimile machines, pagers, telephones, video mail terminals, and electronic mail terminals.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein preselecting one of the plurality of destinations for a message received by the mailbox further depends on a second user designated parameter, wherein the second user designated parameter is the time of receipt of the message by the mailbox.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

preselecting a time for transmitting the message received by the mailbox to the one of the plurality of destinations preselected; and

storing the message for transmission at the preselected time.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the time preselected for transmitting the message received by the mailbox to the one of the plurality of destinations preselected depends on the type of the message received.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the time preselected for transmitting the message received by the mailbox to the one of the plurality of destinations preselected depends on the time of receipt of the message.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

preselecting one of the plurality of destinations for an indicator of the message; and

transmitting the indicator to the one of the plurality of destinations preselected upon receipt of the message.

9. An adaptable system for delivering a message to a user, the system comprising:

a mailbox capable of receiving a plurality of messages for the user, the plurality of messages having a plurality of types;

a controller for preselecting prior to receipt of a message by the mailbox, based on a first user designated parameter, one of a plurality of destinations associated with the user for a message received by the mailbox, the plurality of destinations having a plurality of types, wherein the first user designated parameter is the type of the message received by the mailbox and;

means for converting the type of the message received by the mailbox to the type of the one of the plurality of destinations preselected; and

means for transmitting the converted message received by the mailbox to the user at the one of the plurality of destinations preselected.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the plurality of types of messages includes facsimile transmissions, pages, voice mail and electronic mail.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the plurality of types of destinations includes facsimile machines, pagers, telephones and electronic mail terminals.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein preselecting one of the plurality of destinations for a message received by the mailbox further depends on a second user designated parameter, wherein the second user designated parameter is the time of receipt of the message by the mailbox.

13. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

means for preselecting a time for transmitting the message received by the mailbox to the one of the plurality of destinations preselected; and

means for storing the message for transmission at the preselected time.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the time preselected for transmitting the message received by the mailbox to the one of the plurality of destinations preselected depends on the type of the message received.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the time preselected for transmitting the message received by the mailbox to the one of the plurality of destinations preselected depends on the time of receipt of the message.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

means for preselecting one of the plurality of destinations for an indicator of the message; and

means for transmitting the indicator to the one of the plurality of destinations preselected upon receipt of the message.