Method and apparatus for providing access of messages to multiple recipients in cellular networks

• US 6,246,871 B1
• Filed: 09/24/1999
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Networks (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Ala-Laurila, Juha
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thang Cong
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, LANA N
• Application Number:
  US09/404,964
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412, 455/413, 455/418, 455/414, 379/88.16, 379/67.1, 379/88.22, 379/88.12
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53375 Message broadcasting
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A message accessing apparatus and method for providing access of select messages (voice or text) to multiple recipients in cellular networks. A network subscriber accesses a subscriber'"'"'s mailbox which contains a message, by entering a voice messaging service address code and entering a personal access code. A temporary access code is then assigned to the selected message and the messaging service address code and temporary access code are transmitted to the intended recipients of the voice message to allow the intended recipients to access the selected message by contacting the voice messaging service and entering the temporary access code.

Claims

1. A method for providing access in a wireless communications network to intended recipients of a pre-stored message contained in a memory location of a messaging system, the memory location assigned to a network subscriber and being accessible by the network and having an address code and a subscriber access code for use by the subscriber for storing and retrieving messages stored in the subscriber memory location, comprising the steps of:

accessing the memory location with the address code and the subscriber access code;

assigning a temporary access code to the pre-stored message to provide broadcast of the pre-stored message when said temporary access code is received by a control;

block of the messaging system in communication with the memory location; and

wirelessly transmitting a notification message to terminal devices used by the intended recipients of the pre-stored message, the notification message including the address code and said temporary access code, to allow the intended recipients to receive the pre-stored message by contacting the control block of the messaging system with the address code and then communicating said access code to the control block.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification message is transmitted over the network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-stored message comprises a voice message and wherein said notification message comprises a text message containing alphanumeric characters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-stored message comprises a text message and wherein said notification message comprises a text message containing alphanumeric characters.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-stored message comprises a voice message and wherein said notification message comprises a voice message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification message is transmitted using SMS transfer procedures.

7. The method of claim 2, where in said notification message is transmitted through the network using SMS transfer procedures.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said temporary access code remains valid until the pre-stored message is deleted by the subscriber.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the network subscriber comprises a first network subscriber and wherein the pre-stored message originates from a second network subscriber.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said memory location contains personal messages retrievable through the use of the subscriber access code, and wherein the pre-stored message is retrievable through the use of said temporary access code.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said accessing step comprising dialing the address code on a terminal device and entering the subscriber access code on the terminal device.

12. An apparatus for providing access in a wireless communications network to intended recipients of a pre-stored message contained in a memory location of a messaging system, the memory location assigned to a network subscriber and being accessible by the network and having an address code and a subscriber access code for use by the subscriber for storing and retrieving messages stored in the subscriber memory location, comprising:

means for accessing the memory location with the address code and the subscriber access code;

means for assigning a temporary access code to the pre-stored message to provide broadcast of the pre-stored message when said temporary access code is received by a control block of the messaging system in communication with the memory location; and

means for wirelessly transmitting a notification message to terminal devices used by the intended recipients of the pre-stored message, the notification message including the address code and said temporary access code, to allow the intended recipients to receive the pre-stored message by contacting the control block with the address code and then communicating said access code to the control block.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said transmitting means comprises means for transmitting said notification message over the network.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the pre-stored message comprises a voice message and wherein said notification message comprises a text message containing alphanumeric characters.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said notification message is transmitted using SMS transfer procedures.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said notification message is transmitted through the network using SMS transfer procedures.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said temporary access code remains valid until the pre-stored message is deleted by the subscriber.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the network subscriber comprises a first network subscriber and wherein the pre-stored message originates from a second network subscriber.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said memory location contains personal messages retrievable through the use of the subscriber access code, and wherein the pre-stored message is retrievable through the use of said temporary access code.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said means for accessing comprises a cellular telephone.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said cellular telephone is capable of displaying text messages.

22. A method for providing access in a communications network to intended recipients of a pre-stored message contained in a memory location of a messaging system, the memory location assigned to a network subscriber and being accessible by the network and having an address code and a subscriber access code for use by the subscriber for storing and retrieving messages stored in the subscriber memory location, comprising the steps of:

accessing the memory location with the address code and the subscriber access code;

assigning a temporary access code to the pre-stored message to provide broadcast of the pre-stored message when said temporary access code is received by a control block of the messaging system in communication with the memory location; and

transmitting a notification message to terminal devices used by the intended recipients of the pre-stored message, the notification message including the address code and said temporary access code, to allow the intended recipients to receive the pre-stored message by contacting the control block of the messaging system with the address code and then communicating said access code to the control block.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said step of transmitting comprises electronic mail transmission over a computer network.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the pre-stored message comprises a voice message and wherein said notification message comprises a text message containing alphanumeric characters.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the pre-stored message comprises a text message and wherein said notification message comprises a text message containing alphanumeric characters.