System and method for voicemail message certification and reply using a temporary voicemail service

• US 6,934,367 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2001
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Meadows, Vernon, LaPierre, Stephen R., Scott, David A., Knoerle, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Escalante, Ovidio
• Application Number:
  US09/894,317
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.16, 379 8822- 8825, 379/207.02, 379/220.01, 379/219, 379/68, 379/88.17, 379/201.01, 379/201.02, 379/201.03, 379/201.12, 348/14.014, 705/14
• US Class Current: 379/88.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2083 Confirmation by serviced party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/303 Marking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4554 Sender-side editing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53341 Message reply

Abstract

This invention is directed to a system and method for providing a status certification for a voicemail message in a telecommunications network. An embodiment of this invention comprises a voicemail system, which provides a caller in a telecommunications network with the option of certifying a voicemail message when the recording of the message is complete. By certifying the voicemail message, the caller is directing the voicemail system to create a temporary voicemail box and to track any actions related to the message that message that occur within the voicemail system. As changes occur, the voicemail system creates one or more status messages in the temporary voicemail box. If the recipient replies to the messages, the voicemail system also stores the reply in the temporary voicemail box. When a caller subsequently accesses the temporary voicemail box, the caller can access the messages and can also reply to any of the messages. The voicemail system stores the caller'"'"'s reply in the original recipient'"'"'s voicemail box.

Claims

1. A method of providing a status certification for a first voicemail message in a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network including a voicemail system, the voicemail system performing a method, comprising:

receiving the first voicemail message and a status certification request at the voicemail system, the first voicemail message generated by a calling party and distributed to a voicemail box assigned to a recipient of the first voicemail message, wherein the recipient is a subscriber to a voicemail service provided by the voicemail system;

assigning a message identifier to said first voicemail message and creating a temporary voicemail box accessible to the calling party, the calling party being a nonsubscriber of the voicemail service associated with a subscriber of a voicemail message system;

in response to detecting an occurrence of a disposition event, creating a disposition identifier in responses to a disposition event;

and associating said disposition identifier with said first voicemail message;

in response to detecting a triggering event, compiling said disposition identifier and said first voicemail message identifier to create a status notification in response to a triggering event, and storing said status notification in the temporary voicemail box accessible to a non-subscriber of said voicemail message system; and

providing an access identifier for accessing said temporary voicemail box,

wherein an asynchronous dialog is performed between the calling party among users having said access identifier and the recipient via said temporary voicemail box,

wherein said asynchronous dialog comprises;

accessing said temporary voicemail box with said access identifier;

receiving a second voicemail message;

associating said second voicemail message with said first voicemail message; and

storing said second voicemail message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a first reply from the recipient;

associating said first reply with said first voicemail message; and

storing said first reply in said temporary voicemail box.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said asynchronous dialog comprises:

accessing said temporary voicemail box with said access identifier;

receiving a second reply to at least one of said first reply and said first voicemail message;

associating said second reply with said first voicemail message; and

storing said second reply.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

billing a party to said first voicemail message for said providing of said status certification.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said disposition event is initiated by at least one of the recipient, a voicemail system administrator, and an automated event executed by the voicemail system, the disposition event comprising at least one of:

a managing event; and

a dispatching event.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said managing event comprises at least one of:

accessing said first voicemail message;

deleting said first voicemail message;

presenting an indication of said first voicemail message;

expiring said first voicemail message; and

terminating a recipient of said first voicemail message from said communications network.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said managing event comprises at least one of:

denying said status certification of said first voicemail message; and

malfunctioning of said status certification of said first voicemail message.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said dispatching event comprises at least one of:

forwarding said first voicemail message; and

replying to said fist voicemail message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said first voicemail message identifier comprises at least one of:

a type identifier;

an alphanumeric identifier;

a capabilities identifier; and

an annotation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said first voicemail message identifier comprises at least one of:

a communication network identifier;

a device identifier;

a role identifier;

a party identifier;

a date identifier; and

a time identifier.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said role identifier comprises at least one of:

an originator;

a sender;

a caller;

a recipient; and

a system administrator.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said party identifier comprises at least one of:

an email address;

an access address;

an access address;

a voice sample; and

an image.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising administrative functionality, wherein said administrative functionality comprises at least one of:

deleting said attribute;

monitoring said attribute;

moving said attribute;

forwarding said attribute;

securing said attribute;

archiving said attribute;

backing up said attribute;

informing a recipient on said attribute; and

blocking said attribute.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing in a random access memory an attribute for said status certification for said first voicemail message, wherein said attribute comprises at least one of:

said first voicemail message identifier;

said disposition identifier;

said reply; and

said status notification.

15. A method for providing a status certification for a first video mail message in a video-enabled communications network, the video-enabled communications network including a video mail system performing a method, comprising:

receiving the first video mail message and a status certification request at the video mail system, the first video mail message generated by a calling party and distributed to a video mail box assigned to a recipient of the first video mail message, wherein the recipient is a subscriber to a video mail service provided by the video mail system;

assigning a message identifier to said first video mail message and creating a temporary video mail box accessible to the calling party, the calling party being a non-subscriber of the video mail service delivered to a subscriber of a video mail message system;

in response to detecting an occurrence of a disposition event, creating a disposition identifier and in response to a disposition event;

associating said disposition identifier with said first video mail message;

in response to detecting a triggering event, compiling said disposition identifier and said first video mail message identifier to create a status notification and in response to a triggering event;

storing said status notification in then temporary video mail box accessible to a non-subscriber of said voicemail message system;

providing an access identifier for accessing said temporary video mail box,

wherein an asynchronous dialog is performed between the calling party among users having said access identifier and the recipient via said temporary video mail box;

wherein the method further comprising;

receiving a reply to the first video mail message;

associating said reply with said first video mail message; and

storing said reply in said temporary video mail box.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

billing a party to said first voicevideo mail message for said providing of said status certification.

17. A system for providing a status certification for a first voicemail message dialog in a telecommunications network, the system comprising:

a voicemail system including a processor, the processor performing operative to;

receiving the first voicemail message and status certification request, the first voicemail message generated by a calling party and distributed to a voicemail box assigned to a recipient of the first voicemail message, wherein the recipient is a subscriber to a voicemail service provided by the voicemail system;

assigning a message identifier to said first voicemail message and creating a temporary voicemail box accessible to the calling party, the calling party being a non-subscriber of the voicemail service delivered to a subscriber of a video mail message system;

in response to detecting an occurrence of a disposition event, creating a disposition identifier in response to a disposition event; and

associating said disposition identifier with said first voicemail message;

in response to detecting a triggering event, comprising said disposition identifier and said first voicemail message identifier to create said status notification in response to a triggering event, and storing said status notification in the temporary voicemail box accessible to a non-subscriber of said voicemail message system; and

providing an access identifier for accessing said temporary voicemail box,

wherein an asynchronous dialog is performed between the calling party among users having said access identifier and the recipient via said temporary voicemail box;

wherein said processor, to perform it said asynchronous dialog comprises;

accessing said temporary voicemail box with said access identifier;

receiving a second voicemail message;

associating said second voicemail message with the first message; and

storing said second voicemail message.

18. The system of claim 17, said processor further performs operative to:

receiving a first reply from the recipient;

associating said first reply with said first voicemail message; and

storing said first reply in said temporary voicemail box.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor, to perform said asynchronous dialog;

accesses said temporary voicemail box with said access identifier;

receives a second reply to at least one of said first voicemail message;

associates said second reply with said first voicemail message; and

stores said second reply.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said processor further performs operative to:

billing a party to said first voicemail message for said providing of said status certification.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein said disposition event is initiated by at least one of the recipient, a voicemail system administrator, and an automated event executed by the voicemail system, the disposition event comprising at least one of:

a managing event; and

a dispatching event.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said managing event comprises at least one of:

accessing said first voicemail message;

deleting said first voicemail message;

presenting an indicationof said first voicemail message;

expiring said first voice message; and

terminating a recipient of said first voicemail message from said communications network.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said managing event comprises at least one of:

denying said status certification of said first voicemail message; and

malfunctioning of said status certification of said first voicemail message.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein said dispatching event comprises at least one of:

forwarding said first voicemail message; and

replying to said first voicemail message.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein said first voicemail message identifier comprises at least one of:

a type identifier;

an alphanumeric identifier;

a capabilities identifier; and

an annotation.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein said first voicemail message identifier comprises at least one of:

a communication network identifier;

a device identifier;

a role identifier;

a party identifier;

a date identifier; and

a time identifier.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said role identifier comprises at least one of:

an originator;

a sender;

a caller;

a recipient; and

a system administrator.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein said party identifier comprises at least one of:

an email address;

an access address;

a voice sample; and

an image.

29. The system of claim 17, further comprising storing in a random access memory an attribute for said status certification for said first voicemail message, wherein said attribute comprises at least one of:

said first voicemail message identifier

said disposition identifier;

said reply; and

said status notification.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising administrative functionality, wherein said administrative functionality comprises at least one of:

deleting said attribute;

monitoring said attribute;

moving said attribute;

forwarding said attribute;

securing said attribute;

archiving said attribute;

backing up said attribute;

informing a recipient of said attribute; and

blocking said attribute.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising a data repository operative to store said attributes.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein said data repository comprises a database.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein said data repository comprises:

a first database for storing said first voicemail message; and

a second database for storing said attribute.

34. A system to provide a status certification for a first voicemail message in an advanced intelligence network (AIN), the system comprising:

a voicemail system and an intelligent peripheral, the intelligent peripheral performing operative to;

receiving the first voicemail message and status certification request at the voicemail system, the first voicemail message generated by a calling party and distributed to a voicemail box assigned to a recipient of the first voicemail message, wherein the recipient is a subscriber to a voicemail service provided by the voicemail system;

assigning a message identifier to said first voicemail message and creating a temporary voicemail box accessible to the calling party, the calling party being a non-subscriber of the voicemail service delivered to a subscriber of a voicemail message system;

in response to detecting an occurrence of a disposition event, creating a disposition identifier in response to a disposition event; and

associating said disposition identifier with said first voicemail message;

in response to a detecting an occurrence of a triggering event, compiling said disposition identifier and said first voicemail message identifier to create said status notification in response to a triggering event; and

storing said status notification in the temporary voicemail box accessible to a non-subscriber of said voicemail message system; and

providing an access identifier for accessing said temporary voicemail box,

wherein an asynchronous dialog is performed between the calling party among users of said AIN having said access identifier and the recipient of said AIN via said temporary voicemail box, the asynchronous dialog performed by;

wherein said intelligent peripheral, to perform said asynchronous dialog;

accessing said temporary voicemail box with said access identifier;

receiving a second voicemail message;

associating said second voicemail message with said first voicemail message; and

storing said second voicemail message.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein said intelligent peripheral is further performs operative to:

receiving a first reply from the recipient;

associating said first reply with said first voicemail message; and

storing said first reply in said temporary voicemail box.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein said intelligent peripheral, to perform said asynchronous dialog:

accesses said temporary voicemail box with said access identifier;

receives a second reply to at least one of said first reply and said first voicemail message;

associates said second reply with said first voicemail message; and

stores said second reply.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein said intelligent peripheral is further perform separate to:

billing a party to said first voicemail message for said providing of said status certification.

38. The system of claim 34, wherein said triggering event comprises at least one of:

a disposition event; and

a passage of time.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein said disposition event is initiated by at least one of the recipient, a voicemail system administrator, and an automated event executed by the voicemail system, the disposition event comprising at least one of:

a managing event; and

a dispatching event.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein said managing event comprises at least one of:

accessing said first voicemail message;

deleting said first voicemail message;

presenting an indication of said first voicemail message;

expiring said first voicemail message; and

terminating a recipient of said first voicemail message from said AIN.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein said managing event comprises at least one of:

denying said status certification of said first voicemail message; and

malfunctioning of said status certification of said first voicemail message.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein said dispatching event comprises at least one of:

forwarding said first voicemail message; and

replying to said first voicemail message.

43. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

a service switching point functionally connected to said intelligent peripheral; and

an interface functionally connected to a service switching point and operative to accept communications from a second communications network.

44. The system of claim 43, further comprising a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) functionally connected to said interface and operative to facilitate access to said status notification by a cellular device.

45. The system of claim 43, further comprising a computer network functionally connected to said interface and operative to facilitate access to said status notification by a computer network client device.

46. The system of claim 43, further comprising a personal digital assistant communications network functionally connected to said interface and operative to facilitate access to said status notification by a personal digital assistant.

47. The system of claim 34, wherein said first voicemail message identifier comprises at least one of:

a type identifier;

an alphanumeric identifier;

a capabilities identifier; and

an annotation.

48. The system of claim 34, wherein said first voicemail message identifier comprises at least one of:

a communication network identifier;

a device identifier;

a role identifier;

a party identifier;

a date identifier; and

a time identifier.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein said role identifier comprises at least one of:

an originator;

a sender;

a caller;

a recipient; and

a system administrator.

50. The system of claim 48, wherein said party identifier comprises at least one of:

an email address;

an access address;

a voice sample; and

an image.

51. The system of claim 34, wherein said intelligent peripheral further performs operative for storing in a random access memory an attribute for said status certification for said first voicemail message, wherein said attribute comprises at least one of:

said first voicemail message identifier;

said reply;

said disposition identifier; and

said status notification.

52. The system of claim 51, further comprising a service management system functionally connected to said intelligent peripheral, operative to perform administrative functionality comprising at least one of:

deleting said attribute

monitoring said attribute;

moving said attribute;

forwarding said attribute;

securing said attribute;

archiving said attribute;

backing up said attribute;

informing a recipient of said attribute; and

blocking said attribute.