Voice messaging platform as an intelligent peripheral

• US 7,012,998 B1
• Filed: 02/25/2000
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Brand, Joel, Varney, Douglas William, Blackburn, Connie
• Primary Examiner(s): Foster, Roland G
• Application Number:
  US09/513,305
• Time in Patent Office: 2,209 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.18, 379 8822- 8825, 379/88.27, 379/88.28, 379/220.01, 37922108-22112, 37922101-22103, 379/221.14, 379/229, 379/230
• US Class Current: 379/88.18
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53325 Interconnection arrangements between voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A voice messaging platform utilizes resources from remote intelligent peripherals within the network system. The voice messaging platform preferably includes a voice mail module, an internal controller, and an internal storage device. Preferably, the voice mail module allows the voice messaging platform to provide a full feature voice mail system for the users wherein the voice mail module is configured to store incoming messages, play stored messages, play outgoing messages, place outgoing calls, and the like. The internal controller preferably directs the voice messaging platform to detect different types of resources available to the voice messaging platform from the remote intelligent peripherals. Further, the internal controller also directs the voice messaging platform to find addresses corresponding to each of the remote intelligent peripherals within the network system. Preferably, the internal storage device stores the type of resource vailable from the remote intelligent peripherals and their respective addresses.

Claims

1. A voice messaging platform for utilizing resources of a remote intelligent peripheral, the voice messaging platform comprising:

a. a voice messaging module configured to store and retrieve a voice message; and

b. an internal controller coupled to the voice messaging module and configured to identify an address of a remote intelligent peripheral corresponding to a desired function, to send a request for communication to a control point wherein the request includes the identified address, and to receive a communication from the remote intelligent peripheral in response to the control point signaling the remote intelligent peripheral corresponding to the identified address, such that the communication from the remote intelligent enables the voice messaging system to utilize the desired function provided by the intelligent peripheral.

2. The voice messaging platform according to claim 1 further comprising an internal storage device coupled to the internal controller for storing the address and the function of the remote intelligent peripheral.

3. A voice messaging system for sharing resources within a network, comprising:

a. a control point;

b. a remote intelligent peripheral; and

c. a voice messaging platform coupled to the remote intelligent peripheral and the control point via the network such that in operation the voice messaging platform matches a desired function to the remote intelligent peripheral, retrieves an address of the remote intelligent peripheral, and send a request for communication to the control point wherein the request includes the identified address, the control point signals the remote intelligent peripheral at the identified address, and the remote intelligent peripheral contacts the voice messaging platform such that the desired function provided by the intelligent peripheral is utilized by the voice messaging platform.

4. The voice messaging system according to claim 3 wherein the voice messaging platform comprises an internal storage device coupled to an internal controller for storing the address and the function of the remote intelligent peripheral.

5. A method of utilizing resources contained within a remote intelligent peripheral by a voice messaging system, the method comprising the following steps:

a. requesting a desired function via the voice messaging system;

b. matching the desired function with the remote intelligent peripheral;

c. retrieving an address of the intelligent peripheral;

d. signaling the intelligent peripheral at the address; and

e. the intelligent peripheral contacting the voice messaging system such that the desired function provided by the intelligent peripheral is utilized by the voice messaging system.

6. The method according to claim 5 further comprising receiving the resources into the voice messaging system.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein the voice messaging system comprises an internal controller located within the voice messaging system and coupled to the intelligent peripheral.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the voice messaging system and the intelligent peripheral are coupled between a network having an SS7 protocol.

9. The method according to claim 5 further comprising retrieving a plurality of addresses wherein each of the plurality of addresses corresponds to one of a plurality of intelligent peripherals, and each one of the plurality of intelligent peripherals includes a function available for use by the voice messaging system.

10. The method according to claim 9 further comprising retrieving a functional description of the intelligent peripheral corresponding to the available function.

11. The method according to claim 10 further comprising storing the address and the functional description associated with the intelligent peripheral within a database.

24. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

f. upgrading the remote intelligent peripheral with additional functionality;

g. detecting the additional functionality by the voice messaging system; and

h. utilizing the additional functionality by the voice messaging system.

25. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

f. adding an additional remote intelligent peripheral to a network coupled to the voice messaging system, the additional remote intelligent peripheral includes at least one function usable by the voice messaging system;

g. detecting the additional functionality by the voice messaging system; and

h. utilizing the additional functionality by the voice messaging system.

27. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

f. adding one or more additional remote intelligent peripheral to the plurality of remote intelligent peripherals, each of the one or more additional remote intelligent peripheral includes at least one function usable by the voice messaging system;

g. detecting the additional functionality by the voice messaging system; and

h. utilizing the additional functionality by the voice messaging system.

12. A method of utilizing resources contained within a plurality of remote intelligent peripherals by a voice messaging system, the method comprising the following steps:

a. via the voice messaging system selecting a desired function from a plurality of functions available to the voice messaging system, wherein each intelligent peripheral within the plurality of intelligent peripherals corresponds to at least one of the available functions;

b. matching the desired function with an appropriate one of the plurality of intelligent peripherals; and

c. querying the appropriate one of the plurality of intelligent peripherals in response to the desired function.

13. The method according to claim 12 further comprising receiving the resources associated with the appropriate one of the plurality of intelligent peripherals by the voice messaging system.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein the voice messaging system comprises an internal controller located within the voice messaging system and coupled to the plurality of intelligent peripherals.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the voice messaging system and the plurality of intelligent peripherals are coupled between a network having an SS7 protocol.

16. The method according to claim 12 further comprising retrieving a plurality of addresses wherein each of the plurality of addresses corresponds to one of the plurality of intelligent peripherals.

17. The method according to claim 16 further comprising retrieving a plurality of functional descriptions wherein each of the plurality of functional descriptions corresponds to one of the available functions and each of the plurality of functional descriptions is associated with one of the plurality of intelligent peripherals.

18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising storing the plurality of addresses and the plurality of functional descriptions associated with the plurality of intelligent peripherals within a database.

19. The method according to claim 12 wherein the plurality of functions includes a plurality of different functions.

26. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

f. upgrading one or more of the remote intelligent peripheral with additional functionality;

g. detecting the additional functionality by the voice messaging system; and

h. utilizing the additional functionality by the voice messaging system.

20. A voice messaging platform for utilizing resources included within a plurality of remote intelligent peripherals, the voice messaging platform comprising:

a. a voice messaging module configured to store and retrieve a voice message; and

b. an internal controller coupled to the voice messaging module and configured to select a desired function from a plurality of functions available to the voice messaging platform, wherein each intelligent peripheral within the plurality of intelligent peripherals corresponds to at least one of the available functions, further wherein the desired function is matched with an appropriate one of the plurality of intelligent peripherals, and the appropriate one of the plurality of intelligent peripherals is queried in response to the desired function.

21. The voice messaging system according to claim 20 wherein the voice messaging platform receives the resources associated with the appropriate one of the plurality of intelligent peripherals.

22. The voice messaging platform according to claim 20 further comprising an internal storage device coupled to the internal controller for storing the address and the function of the remote intelligent peripheral.

23. The method according to claim 20 wherein the plurality of functions includes a plurality of different functions.