Voicemail system with subscriber specific storage folders

• US 6,996,212 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2002
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Scott, David, Baker, La Veria
• Primary Examiner(s): Escalante, Ovidio
• Application Number:
  US10/180,261
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.11, 379/88.12, 379/88.17, 379/88.22, 379/88.16, 379/88.18, 379/88.19
• US Class Current: 379/88.22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4554 Sender-side editing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A method and system are provided for creating and utilizing subscriber specific memory locations or storage folders for storing incoming voicemail messages in a telecommunications system voicemail system. A subscriber to voicemail services creates subscriber or user-specific memory locations or storage folders to which callers may direct a voice message. When a caller calls the subscriber'"'"'s directory number and is forwarded to the subscriber'"'"'s voicemail service, the caller is given the option to save the message in one of a number of previous created voice message folders. For example, the caller may receive a prompt like “Press 1 to leave a message for Jane.” If messages are inadvertently left in the wrong voice message folder, the user having authorized access to that folder may move the message to the appropriate folder. If desired, personal identification numbers (PIN) may be assigned to each voice message folder to control access to messages saved therein.

Claims

1. A method of saving voicemail messages to calling party selectable voice message folders, comprising:

creating, at a voicemail system, a plurality of voice message folders and a general voice message folder for storing voice messages from calling parties, wherein the plurality of voice message folders and the general voice message folder are associated with a voicemail box;

associating each of the plurality of voice message folders with a particular called party;

receiving a call from a calling party at the voicemail system directed to a called party;

at the voicemail system, providing the calling party a list of the plurality of voice message folders from which to choose a specific voice message folder in which to save a voice message to the called party;

selecting, by the calling party, the specific voice message folder from the list of the plurality of voice message folders in which to save a voice message to the called party;

saving the voice message to the called party in the selected specific voice message folder;

receiving a personal identification number (PIN) from the called party to obtain access to the voice message folder for retrieving the voice message saved therein; and

moving, by the called party, a voice message retrieved from the general voice message folder to one of the plurality of voice message folders.

2. The method of claim 1, prior to creating, at a voicemail system, a plurality of voice message folders, further comprising contacting telephonically the voicemail system.

3. The method of claim 1, prior to creating at a voicemail system, a plurality of voice message folders, further comprising contacting the voicemail system via an Internet-based web page for accessing the voicemail system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising entering an identification for each of the plurality of voice message folders.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein entering an identification for each of the plurality of voice message folders includes entering a name associated with a called party associated with each of the plurality of voice message folders.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein entering an identification for each of the plurality of voice message folders includes entering an alpha-numeric identification associated with a called party associated with each of the plurality of voice message folders.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising saving each of the plurality of voice message folders and associated identifications at the voicemail system.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating a PIN with each of the plurality of voice message folders for accessing each of the plurality of voice message folders.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising if the calling party does not select a specific voice message folder from the list of the plurality of voice message folders, saving the voice message to the called party in the general voice message folder.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing, by a called party, the general voice message folder to retrieve a voice message saved therein.

11. The method of claim 1, prior to moving the voice message retrieved from the general voice message folder to one of the plurality of voice message folders, further comprising:

obtaining, by the called party, a list of the plurality of voice message folders;

selecting, by the called party, one of the plurality of voice message folders; and

moving the voice message retrieved from the general voice message folder to the voice message folder selected by the called party.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing, by a called party, one of the voice message folders to retrieve a voice message saved therein.

13. The method of claim 12, after accessing, by a called party, one of the voice message folders to retrieve a voice message saved therein, further comprising providing the called party an indication that one or more voice messages are saved in the voice message folder.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein providing the called party an indication that one or more voice messages are saved in the voice message folder, further comprises providing the called party an audio message informing the called party of the presence of one or more messages saved in the voice message folder.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising if the retrieved voice message should be moved to a different voice message folder, moving the retrieved voice message to one of the plurality of voice message folders.

16. The method of claim 15, prior to moving the retrieved voice message to one of the plurality of voice message folders, further comprising:

obtaining, by the called party, a list of the plurality of voice message folders;

selecting, by the called party, one of the plurality of voice message folders; and

moving the retrieved voice message to the selected voice message folder.

17. A system for saving voicemail messages to calling party selectable voice message folders, comprising:

means for creating a plurality of voice message folders and a general voice message folder for storing voice messages from calling parties, wherein the plurality of voice message folders and the general voice message folder are associated with a voicemail box;

means for associating each of the plurality of voice message folders with a particular called party;

means for receiving a call from a calling party at the voicemail system directed to a called party;

means for providing the calling party a list of the plurality of voice message folders from which to choose a specific voice message folder in which to save a voice message to the called party;

means for receiving a selection by the calling party of the specific voice message folder from the list of the plurality of voice message folders in which to save a voice message to the called party;

means for saving the voice message to the called party in the selected specific voice message folder;

means for receiving a personal identification number (PIN) from the called party to obtain access to the voice message folder for retrieving the voice message saved therein; and

means for moving, by the called party, a voice message retrieved from the general voice message folder to one of the plurality of voice message folders.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

means for providing the called party a list of the plurality of voice message folders;

means for receiving a selection by the called party of one of the plurality of voice message folders; and

means for moving a voice message retrieved from a general voice message folder to the voice message folder selected by the called party.