Method and apparatus for implementing voice messaging using E-mail

• US 7,136,461 B1
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Telesector Resources Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Reformato, John, Reding, Craig L., Baruch, Robert C., Swingle, Loren, Naik, Jayant M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anwah, Olisa
• Application Number:
  US09/785,223
• Time in Patent Office: 2,097 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.12, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.17, 379/88.22, 379/88.24, 379/88.25
• 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 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems unified messaging in packet switching networks H04L51/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53325 Interconnection arrangements between voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53383 Message registering commands or announcements; Greetings

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for controlling and retrieving messages from multiple voice mail systems used by a single individual are described. A voice messaging retrieval and forwarding (VMRAF) system checks a subscriber'"'"'s voice message systems for messages, retrieves the messages and forwards them to the subscriber as attachments to E-mail files. E-mail replay messages are used to control deleting of the messages from the original systems. Prompt messages played to callers by different voice messaging systems before they leave a message can be updated automatically. This is done by indicating to the VMRAF system when one or more prompt messages are to be updated and which messages, from a set of prerecorded messages, are to be loaded into the voice message systems to replace the existing prompt messages. Accordingly, the VMRAF system facilities message retrieval and the updating of prompt messages, e.g., on a preselected schedule or at preselected times.

Claims

1. A method of operating a communications device, the method comprising:

accessing a voice message system;

retrieving, over a public telephone network, a voice message from the voice message system;

generating a digital audio file representing said message;

storing the retrieved voice message in a memory device from which the service subscriber can retrieve messages by telephone;

sending, using at least one Internet Protocol (IP) packet, the digital audio file representing said message to a service subscriber;

receiving a reply to said sending the digital audio file;

deleting the retrieved message from said voice message system in response to receiving said reply; and

in response to receiving said reply, deleting the retrieved message from the memory device.

2. A method of operating a communications device, the method comprising:

accessing a first voice message system;

retrieving, over a public telephone network, a voice message from the first voice message system;

generating a digital audio file representing said message;

sending, using at least one Internet Protocol (IP) packet, the digital audio file representing said message to a service subscriber;

storing a first prompt message;

determining from subscriber input when the first prompt message should be loaded onto said first voice message system; and

determining from said subscriber input when the first prompt message should be loaded onto a second voice message system.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

placing a call to said first voice message system; and

loading said answering first voice message system with the first prompt message.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

determining from subscriber input when a second prompt message should be loaded onto said first voice message system.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

placing an additional call to said first voice message system; and

loading the second prompt message into said first voice message system.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining from subscriber input when the first prompt message should be loaded includes the step of:

accessing a prompt message schedule generated from subscriber input.

7. A method of controlling a voice message system, comprising:

receiving an E-mail message indicating that a voice message retrieved from said voice message system and forwarded to a service subscriber was reviewed;

in response to receiving said E-mail message, accessing said voice message system by;

placing a telephone call to said voice message system over a telephone network; and

sending a control signal to said voice message system over said telephone network causing said retrieved voice message to be deleted from said voice message system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a voice message retrieval and forwarding device is used to place said call and to send said control signal, the method further comprising the step of:

in response to receiving said E-mail message, operating the voice message retrieval and forwarding device to delete a copy of the retrieved voice message from a storage device included in the voice message retrieval and forwarding device.

9. A method of controlling a voice message system, comprising:

receiving an E-mail message indicating that a voice message retrieved from said voice message system and forwarded to a service subscriber was reviewed;

operating a subscriber computer system to automatically generate said E-mail message when a user of the subscriber computer system accesses an E-mail message which includes said retrieved message as an attached audio file;

in response to receiving said automatically generated E-mail message, accessing said voice message system by placing a telephone call to said voice message system over a telephone network; and

sending a control signal to said voice message system over said telephone network causing said retrieved voice message to be deleted from said voice message system.