Method of providing personal messaging using a virtual messaging assistant

• US 6,650,739 B1
• Filed: 12/28/1998
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Wilson, Michael W., Doeberl, Terrence M., Uleske, Shawn P., Martin, Judith A., Gifford, Nathaniel M., Sansone, Ronald P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US09/221,550
• Time in Patent Office: 1,786 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.01, 379/88.02, 379/88.03, 379/88.04, 379/88.05, 379/88.06, 379/88.07, 379/88.08, 379/88.13, 379/88.16, 379/88.17, 379/88.18, 379/201.01, 379/201.06, 379/201.07, 379/201.08, 379/207.12, 379/88.11, 379/265.01, 379/88.12, 379/265.08, 379/265.09, 379/265.14, 379/266.03
• US Class Current: 379/88.18
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2016 Call initiation by network rather than by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53 Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems

Abstract

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing automated personal messaging assistance with the capability of checking a user'"'"'s destination for arrival and forwarding messages by a preferred modality. The present invention is directed to, in a general aspect, a method of providing personal messaging using a virtual messaging assistant. The virtual messaging assistant has a voice user interface and provides a human-like voice which interfaces with the user'"'"' and with callers. The personal messaging assistant provides forwarding of messages to a destination in accordance with user selected preferences. The personal messaging assistant receives incoming messages. The personal messaging checks the user'"'"'s calendar to find out where the user is expected to be. Then the personal messaging assistant calls the expected destination and inquires whether the user has arrived. If the user has arrived, the personal messaging assistant forwards messages by a preferred mode, such as, for example, via facsimile, to the destination. The personal messaging assistant handles important confidential messages by making sure that the user is at the destination prior to forwarding those messages. Thus, the user is provided with a service was previously unavailable in a continuous manner.

Claims

1. A method of providing personal messaging using a virtual messaging assistant with a voice user interface system comprising the steps of:

a) providing a personal messaging assistant that can be set with messaging preferences of a user and interact with a user calendar and user contact information;

b) selecting messaging preferences for processing messages;

c) receiving an incoming message for the user;

d) checking the user calendar to obtain the user'"'"'s expected destination;

e) calling the user'"'"'s expected destination

f) verifying that the user has arrived at the expected destination;

g) verifying that the preferred modality is available at the destination;

h) transmitting the message to the destination;

(i) recognizing the user'"'"'s behavior patterns associated with the user'"'"'s arrival at the expected destination; and

(i) adjusting the verification process of step (f) in accordance with the user'"'"'s behavior patterns,

wherein in step (i), the virtual messaging assistant recognizes that the user arrives late to expected destinations and adjusts the verification process to call the expected destination at a time later than the expected arrival time and based upon the amount of time that the user habitually arrives late.

2. The method of providing personal messaging using the virtual messaging assistant claimed in claim 1, wherein in step (b) the preferences comprise at least one mode of receiving messages from the virtual messaging assistant.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the modes of receiving messages comprise telephone, facsimile, wireless paging and email.

4. The method of providing personal messaging using the virtual messaging assistant claimed in claim 1, wherein in stop (b) the preferences comprise message delivery priorities based upon a location of the user.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, whereby the location of the user is determined by checking the user'"'"'s calendar.

6. The method of providing personal messaging using the virtual messaging assistant claimed in claim 1, wherein in step (b) the preferences comprise message delivery priorities based upon an activity of the user.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, whereby the activity of the user is determined by checking the user'"'"'s calendar.

8. The method of providing personal messaging claimed in claim 1, wherein in step (g), if the preferred modality is not available at the destination, the method further comprises the step of verifying a next preferred modality.

9. The method of providing personal messaging claimed in claim 1, wherein In step (h) If the user has not arrived at the expected destination, a preferred time amount will elapse, and the virtual messaging assistant will perform step (g) again.

10. The method of providing personal messaging claimed in claim 1, wherein in step (h), if the user has not arrived at the expected destination, the virtual messaging assistant contacts the user and requests instructions for processing messages.