Multi-media communication management system with subscriber messaging integration services

• US 6,671,356 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2002
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Teleware Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Teleware Incorporated
• Inventors: Lewis, Calvin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US10/165,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20030059003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/68, 379/72, 379/76, 379/88.04, 379/88.12, 379/88.13, 379/88.17, 379/88.18, 379/88.22, 379/8.25, 455/412, 455/413, 455/417, 455/445, 455/461
• US Class Current: 379/88.13
• 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: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/02 Constructional features of telephone sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2478 Telephone terminals specially adapted for non-voice services, e.g. email, internet access centralized arrangements where telephones services are combined H04M7/0024; for recording text messages H04M3/5322; for accessing Internet H04M3/4938
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/10 with dictation recording and playback systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

The multi-media communication management system comprises a controller that interfaces with a subscriber station that includes an interface for coupling to a subscriber device. The subscriber device receives subscriber emails over a wide area network communication link to an email server. The system comprises a email interface system for establishing communications with a remote email server coupled to a service provider network and receiving subscriber emails directed to the remote email server and a subscriber device email interface system for establishing communications with the subscriber station at which a subscriber device is coupled and receiving subscriber emails that were provided to the subscriber device over the wide area network. The system generates inbox content and provides the inbox content to the subscriber station for display on a display associated with the subscriber station. The inbox content comprises both subscriber emails provided to the subscriber device and subscriber emails directed to the remote email server.

Claims

1. A multi-media communication management system for operation with a subscriber station that includes an interface for coupling to a subscriber device, the subscriber device capable of coupling to a wireless communication service provider and downloading from a first remote email server, over a wide area network communication link, first subscriber emails that are addressed to a first email account associated with the first remote email server, the multi-media communication management system comprising:

a network communication circuit for communication with the subscriber station;

a service provider network interface for communication with a service provider multi-media communications network;

subscriber device email interface means for establishing communications with the subscriber station at which a subscriber device is coupled and receiving the first subscriber emails downloaded by the subscriber device from the first remote email server over the wide area network communication link;

a subscriber email client, coupled to the network communication circuit and the service provider multi-media communications network, comprising;

means for establishing communications with a second remote email server coupled to the service provider multi-media communications network and downloading second subscriber emails from the second remote email server, the second subscriber emails being emails that are addressed to a second email account associated the second remote email server;

means for generating inbox content comprising both the first subscriber emails and the second subscriber emails; and

means for providing the inbox content to the subscriber station for display on a display associated with the subscriber station.

2. The system of claim 1, further including:

an email storage file; and

wherein the subscriber email client further comprises;

means for storing the inbox content in the email storage file.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the means for providing the inbox content to the subscriber station further comprises:

means for providing instructions to the subscriber station to effect the transfer of the inbox content to the subscriber device.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the means for providing the inbox content to the subscriber station further comprises:

means for generating an HTML document that includes the subscriber content in a layout format selected from one of a plurality of layout formats, the layout format suitable for display on the display associated with the subscriber station.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the display associated with the subscriber station comprises a subscriber device display operating under control of the subscriber device.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the inbox content comprises a plurality of tagged content messages, each tagged content message including a content value and a tag identifying the significance of the content value.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the means for providing the inbox content to the subscriber station further comprises:

means for selecting display layout control instructions from a plurality of display layout control instructions, the display layout control instructions being suitable for display of each content value on the display associated with the subscriber station.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the tagged content messages are XML messages; and

the display layout control instructions are an XML style sheet.

9. A multi-media communication management system for operation with a subscriber device, the subscriber device capable of coupling to a wireless communication service provider and downloading from a first remote email server, over a wide area network communication link, first subscriber emails that are addressed to a first email account associated with the first remote email server, the multi-media communication management system comprising:

a service provider network interface for communication with a service provider multi-media communications network;

a docking interface for supporting and coupling to the subscriber device;

subscriber device interface means for establishing communications with the subscriber device when the subscriber device is supported in the docking interface;

the subscriber device interface means comprising;

means for receiving the first subscriber emails downloaded by the subscriber device from the first remote email server over the wide area network communication link;

means for providing display content to the subscriber device for display on a subscriber device display screen;

means for establishing communications with a second remote email server coupled to the service provider multi-media communication network and downloading second subscriber emails from the second remote email server, the second subscriber emails being emails that are addressed to a second email account associated with the second remote email server;

means for generating inbox content comprising both the first subscriber emails and the second subscriber emails; and

means for generating the display content, the display content including the inbox content.

10. The system of claim 9, further including:

an email storage file; and

wherein the means for generating inbox content further comprises;

means for storing the inbox content in the email storage file.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the subscriber device interface means comprises means for transferring the inbox content to the subscriber device.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for generating the display content comprises:

means for generating an HTML document that includes the inbox content in a layout format selected from one of a plurality of layout formats, the layout format suitable for display on the subscriber device display screen.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the inbox content comprises a plurality of tagged content messages, each tagged content message including a content value and a tag identifying the significance of the content value.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for generating the display content further comprises:

means for selecting display layout control instructions from a plurality of display layout control instructions, the display layout control instructions being suitable for display of each content value on the subscriber device display screen.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the tagged content messages are XML messages; and

the display layout control instructions are an XML style sheet.

16. A method of communication management in a system for operation with a subscriber station that includes an interface for coupling to a subscriber device, the subscriber device capable of coupling to a wireless communication service provider and downloading from a first remote email server, over a wide area network communication link, first subscriber emails that are addressed to a first email account associated with the first remote email server, the method comprising:

establishing communications with the subscriber station at which a subscriber device is coupled;

receiving the first subscriber emails downloaded by the subscriber device over the wide area network communication link;

establishing communications with a second remote email server coupled to the service provider network;

downloading second subscriber emails from the second remote email server, the second subscriber emails being emails that are addressed to a second email account associated with the second remote email server;

generating inbox content comprising both the first subscriber emails and the second subscriber emails; and

providing the inbox content to the subscriber station for display on a display associated with the subscriber station.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

storing the inbox content in an email storage file.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of providing inbox content to the subscriber station comprises:

providing instructions to the subscriber station to effect the transfer of the inbox content to the subscriber device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of providing the inbox content to the subscriber station comprises:

generating an HTML document that includes the subscriber content in a layout format selected from one of a plurality of layout formats, the layout format suitable for display on the display associated with the subscriber station.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of providing the inbox content to the subscriber station for display on a display associated with the subscriber station includes providing the inbox content to the subscriber station for display on a subscriber device display operating under control of the subscriber device.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of providing the inbox content to the subscriber station comprises:

generating a plurality of tagged content messages, each tagged content message including a content value and a tag identifying the significance of the content value.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of providing the inbox content to the subscriber station further comprises:

selecting display layout control instructions from a plurality of display layout control instructions, the display layout control instructions being suitable for display of each content value on the display associated with the subscriber station.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein:

the tagged content messages are XML messages; and

the display layout control instructions are an XML style sheet.

24. A method of communication management in a system for operation with a subscriber device, the subscriber device capable of coupling to a wireless communication service provider and downloading from a first remote email server, over a wide area network communication link, first subscriber emails that are addressed to a first email account associated the first remote email server, the method comprising:

establishing communications with the subscriber device through a docking interface when the subscriber device is supported in the docking interface;

receiving the first subscriber emails through the docking interface;

establishing communications with a second remote email server through a network interface;

downloading second subscriber emails from the second remote email server, the second subscriber emails being emails that are address to a second email account associated with the second remote email server through the network interface;

generating inbox content comprising both the first subscriber emails and the second subscriber emails;

generating display content, the display content including the inbox content; and

providing the display content to the subscriber device for display on a subscriber device display screen.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

storing the inbox content in an email storage file.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising providing the inbox content to the subscriber device.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the step of generating display content comprises:

generating an HTML document that includes the inbox content in a layout format selected from one of a plurality of layout formats, the layout format suitable for display on the subscriber device display screen.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of generating display content comprises:

generating a plurality of tagged content messages, each tagged content message including a content value and a tag identifying the significance of the content value.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of generating display content further comprises:

selecting display layout control instructions from a plurality of display layout control instructions, the display layout control instructions being suitable for display of each content value on the subscriber device display screen.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein:

the tagged content messages are XML messages; and

the display layout control instructions are an XML style sheet.