Network-based multimedia communications and directory system and method of operation

• US 6,411,684 B1
• Filed: 04/07/1998
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Dimitroff, Michael P., Cohn, Robert S., Huch, Alan T., Reece, David M., OʼNeal, Carlton C., Kalbfleisch, Carl W., Swoopes, James R., Schoeneberger, Carl F., Vaudreuil, Gregory M., Whipple, Mark B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Escalante, Ovidio
• Application Number:
  US09/056,592
• Time in Patent Office: 1,540 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.13, 379/220, 379/112, 379/93.11, 379/93.01, 379/67.1, 379/88.14, 379/886.19, 379/88.18, 379/88-2-, 379/68, 379/76
• US Class Current: 379/88.14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53325 Interconnection arrangements between voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13174 Data transmission, file transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13248 : Multimedia
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13336 : Store & forward, messaging systems email H04Q2213/13375
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 : Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 : Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A communications system (10) is provided which comprises a plurality of network hubs (12), (14), and (16). Network hubs (12), (14), and (16) are interconnected through a communications network (18). The system (10) interconnects messaging systems (24), (26), (28), (30), (32), (34), (36), (40), (42) and (44) having disparate capabilities and using disparate communications protocols. The network hubs use numbers of connection processors (52) and (54) to interact with the messaging systems. A hub database (68) and message store (58) are used to store control information and messaging information within the network hubs. A network processor (60) is used to interact with other hubs within the communications system (10). A message router (72), connection manager (74), data replicator (76), and an administrative event manager (78) are used to control the operations of-the hub in processing a message. A management server (64) and a event processor (70) are used by communications system (10) to manage the internal operations of each of the network, hubs. The network center (37) contains a customer computer interface system (167) and an interactive voice response system (169) to allow user interaction with information provider databases (39), a customer service system (161), a message tracking system (163), a billing system (159), and a HelpLine system (157). The network center (37) contains a master database (151) that is used to synchronize the databases stored in each of the network hubs (12), (14), and (16).

Claims

1. A method of processing a message using a communications network comprising:

receiving the message from an external messaging system in a source message format associated with a source protocol used by that messaging system;

retrieving an identification confirmation associated with an intended recipient of the message from a database containing sender and recipient user profile information;

transmitting the retrieved identification confirmation to a source messaging system such that the identification confirmation is available to the sender of the message to confirm the intended recipient of the message;

translating the message into a network format in a first network hub;

transmitting the message in the network format over internal data communications lines connecting the first network hub to a second network hub;

translating the message from the network format to a destination message format associated with a destination communications protocol in the second network hub, the destination protocol associated with a destination messaging system coupled to the second network hub; and

transmitting the message in the destination message format to the destination messaging system such that the message can be delivered to an intended recipient associated with the destination messaging system.

2. A method of processing a message using a communications network comprising:

receiving initial address information as to a destination user identity from a source user of said communications network;

accessing a user profile database using the initial address information to retrieve a unique internal identifier and identification confirmation for the destination user, wherein the identification confirmation comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of;

a still portrait;

a full motion video;

the ASCII spelling of a user'"'"'s name; and

an image of a user'"'"'s signature;

transmitting the retrieved identification confirmations to the source user to confirm the intended recipient of the message;

receiving a message from the source user; and

routing the message to the destination user using the unique internal identifier.

3. The method of claim 2 and further comprising the steps of:

accessing delivery preference information for the destination user; and

routing the message to a particular messaging system associated with the destination user responsive to the delivery preference information.

4. The method of claim 2 where the media of the message corresponds to a messaging system that is not supported by the destination user, the method further comprising the steps of:

translating the message to an internal format;

routing the message to a network hub connected to the destination user in the internal format;

translating the message from the internal format into a media supported by a messaging system associated with the destination user; and

delivering the translated message to the messaging system associated with the destination user.