Message delivery coordination among multiple messaging media

• US 7,865,559 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Day, Mark Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn; Nathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Park; Jeong S
• Application Number:
  US11/931,158
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 455/434
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects

Abstract

Presently disclosed are apparatus and methods for coordinating the delivery of messages and/or message notifications among multiple messaging media and message services so that the successful delivery of one copy of a message results in the deletion of other, redundant message copies still in transit to the recipient and the cancellation of any other message waiting notifications still pending. The system may be implemented with a network-connected device (such as but not limited to a server, switch, or router) containing or having connected to it a user interface, a coordination server, and a plurality of message services. Embodiments of the invention thus provide message delivery management that is more user-friendly, computationally- and resource-efficient and more adaptable to changing user preferences and user locations/addresses.

Claims

1. A method for conveying a message from a first user to a second user, the method comprising:

receiving a notification signal indicating that the first user has transferred a set of messages to a set of delivery subsystems, the set of delivery subsystems enabling the second user to access the set of messages;

after receiving the notification signal, receiving a delivery signal indicating that the second user has accessed one of the set of messages using one of the delivery subsystems of the set of delivery subsystems;

in response to the delivery signal, suppressing un-accessed messages of the set of messages of the remaining delivery subsystems of the set of delivery subsystems;

wherein an output device is initially configured to provide delivery permission to the set of delivery subsystems prior to receiving the delivery signal;

wherein suppressing the un-accessed messages of the set of messages includes in response to receiving the delivery signal, configuring the output device to deny delivery permission to the remaining set of delivery subsystems;

wherein following receiving the notification signal indicating that the first user has transferred the set of messages to the set of delivery subsystems;

after expiration of a time interval checking a database to detect reception of a delivery notification indicating that the second user has accessed one of the set of messages using one of the delivery subsystems of the set of delivery subsystems;

in response to detecting an absence of the delivery notification in the database, continuing to check the database to detect reception of the delivery signal after expiration of the time interval; and

in response to detecting a presence of the delivery notification, suppressing un-accessed messages of the set of messages of the remaining delivery subsystems of the set of delivery subsystems.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each message is associated with a flag, and wherein suppressing the un-accessed messages of the set of messages includes:

distributing a control signal to the remaining set of delivery subsystems, the control signal being configured to direct the remaining set of delivery subsystems to set, for each un-accessed message, the flag associated with that un-accessed message to suppress that un-accessed message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of delivery subsystems is configured to deliver a local copy of the set of messages to the output device, the set of delivery subsystems configured as a boundary in a communication path with the output device.

4. An apparatus for conveying a message from a first user to a second user, comprising:

means for receiving a notification signal indicating that the first user has transferred a set of messages to a set of delivery subsystems, the set of delivery subsystems enabling the second user to access the set of messages;

means for receiving a delivery signal after receiving the notification signal, indicating that the second user has accessed one of the set of messages using one of the delivery subsystems of the set of delivery subsystems;

means for suppressing un-accessed messages of the set of messages of the remaining delivery subsystems of the set of delivery subsystems in response to the delivery signal;

wherein an output device is initially configured to provide delivery permission to the set of delivery subsystems prior to receiving the delivery signal;

wherein means for suppressing the un-accessed messages of the set of messages further comprises means for configuring the output device to deny delivery permission to the remaining set of delivery subsystems in response to receiving the delivery signal;

wherein following receiving the notification signal indicating that the first user has transferred the set of messages to the set of delivery subsystems;

after expiration of a time interval means for checking a database to detect reception of a delivery notification indicating that the second user has accessed one of the set of messages using one of the delivery subsystems of the set of delivery subsystems;

in response to detecting an absence of the delivery notification in the database, means for continuing to check the database to detect reception of the delivery signal after expiration of the time interval; and

in response to detecting a presence of the delivery notification, means for suppressing un-accessed messages of the set of messages of the remaining delivery subsystems of the set of delivery subsystems.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each message is associated with a flag, and wherein suppressing the un-accessed messages of the set of messages further comprises means for distributing a control signal to the remaining set of delivery subsystems, the control signal being configured to direct the remaining set of delivery subsystems to set, for each un-accessed message, the flag associated with that un-accessed message to suppress that un-accessed message.

6. A coordination server for use in conveying a message from a first user to a second user, the coordination server configured to:

receive a notification signal indicating that the first user has transferred a set of messages to a set of delivery subsystems, the set of delivery subsystems enabling the second user to access the set of messages;

after receiving the notification signal, receive a delivery signal indicating that the second user has accessed one of the set of messages using one of the delivery subsystems of the set of delivery subsystems;

in response to the delivery signal, suppress un-accessed messages of the set of messages of the remaining delivery subsystems of the set of delivery subsystems;

wherein an output device is initially configured to provide delivery permission to the set of delivery subsystems prior to receiving the delivery signal;

wherein when suppressing the un-accessed messages of the set of messages the coordination server is configured to in response to receiving the delivery signal, configure the output device to deny delivery permission to the remaining set of delivery subsystems;

wherein following receiving the notification signal indicating that the first user has transferred the set of messages to the set of delivery subsystems the coordination server is configured to;

after expiration of a time interval check a database to detect reception of a delivery notification indicating that the second user has accessed one of the set of messages using one of the delivery subsystems of the set of delivery subsystems;

in response to detecting an absence of the delivery notification in the database, continue to check the database to detect reception of the delivery signal after expiration of the time interval; and

in response to detecting a presence of the delivery notification, suppress un-accessed messages of the set of messages of the remaining delivery subsystems of the set of delivery subsystems.

7. The coordination server of claim 6, wherein each message is associated with a flag, and wherein when suppressing the un-accessed messages of the set of messages the coordination server is configured to:

distribute a control signal to the remaining set of delivery subsystems, the control signal being configured to direct the remaining set of delivery subsystems to set, for each un-accessed message, the flag associated with that un-accessed message to suppress that un-accessed message.

8. A computer program product having a non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer program logic encoded thereon that, when performed by a controller of a computerized device causes the computerized device to:

receive a notification signal indicating that the first user has transferred a set of messages to a set of delivery subsystems, the set of delivery subsystems enabling the second user to access the set of messages;

after receiving the notification signal, receive a delivery signal indicating that the second user has accessed one of the set of messages using one of the delivery subsystems of the set of delivery subsystems;

in response to the delivery signal, suppress un-accessed messages of the set of messages of the remaining delivery subsystems of the set of delivery subsystems;

wherein an output device is initially configured to provide delivery permission to the set of delivery subsystems prior to receiving the delivery signal;

wherein when suppressing the un-accessed messages of the set of messages in response to receiving the delivery signal, configure the output device to deny delivery permission to the remaining set of delivery subsystems;

wherein following receiving the notification signal indicating that the first user has transferred the set of messages to the set of delivery subsystems,

after expiration of a time interval check a database to detect reception of a delivery notification indicating that the second user has accessed one of the set of messages using one of the delivery subsystems of the set of delivery subsystems;

in response to detecting an absence of the delivery notification in the database, continue to check the database to detect reception of the delivery signal after expiration of the time interval; and

in response to detecting a presence of the delivery notification, suppress un-accessed messages of the set of messages of the remaining delivery subsystems of the set of delivery subsystems.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein each message is associated with a flag, and wherein when suppressing the un-accessed messages of the set of messages, the computerized device:

distributes a control signal to the remaining set of delivery subsystems, the control signal being configured to direct the remaining set of delivery subsystems to set, for each un-accessed message, the flag associated with that un-accessed message to suppress that un-accessed message.