Systems and methods for providing enhanced voicemail services

• US 8,548,438 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2009
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rainer, Brian Keith, Sigmund, William Joseph, Zubas, Michael Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, CHUONG A
• Application Number:
  US12/485,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20090253413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 4554121-4144
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/58 Use of machine translation, e.g. for multi-lingual retrieval, for server-side translation for client devices or for real-time translation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/50 Telephonic communication in combination with video communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4518 Attachments to voicemail messages including annexed information, e.g. Attachments, in packet switching networks H04L51/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4545 Message forwarding selective message forwarding in packet switching networks H04L51/214
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42051 where the notification is included in the ringing tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• 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 3/53383 Message registering commands or announcements; Greetings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A method for managing incoming voicemail messages at a visual voicemail (VVM) system can include receiving a new voicemail message for a voicemail account associated with a mobile device, generating a deposit notification message at the VVM system in response to receiving the new voicemail message, sending the notification message to the mobile device, and receiving a request for voicemail message header information from the mobile device. The method can further include sending the voicemail message header information to the mobile device. The mobile device uses the voicemail message header information to determine a status for each voicemail message presently stored on the mobile device to identify the new voicemail message. The method can further include the VVM system receiving a request for the new voicemail message, and sending the new voicemail message to the mobile device for storage and playback on the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for managing incoming voicemail messages at a visual voicemail system, the method comprising:

receiving, at the visual voicemail system, a new voicemail message for a voicemail account associated with a mobile device;

in response to receiving the new voicemail message, generating, by the visual voicemail system, a deposit notification message that is directed to the mobile device to inform the mobile device that the new voicemail message is available for download;

sending, by the visual voicemail system, the notification message to the mobile device;

receiving, at the visual voicemail system, a request from the mobile device, the request being for voicemail message header information;

sending, by the visual voicemail system, the voicemail message header information to the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is configured to utilize the voicemail message header information to determine a status for each voicemail message stored on the mobile device and to identify, based upon the status for each voicemail message stored on the mobile device, the new voicemail message;

receiving, at the visual voicemail system, a request for the new voicemail message; and

sending, by the visual voicemail system, the new voicemail message to the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request for the voicemail message header information comprises receiving a hypertext transfer protocol get_headers message comprising instructions for the visual voicemail system to send the voicemail message header information that is associated with at least one voicemail message stored in association with the voicemail account on the visual voicemail system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the hypertext transfer protocol get_headers message comprises receiving the hypertext transfer protocol get_headers message comprising a date, a time, and a calling line identity.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the hypertext transfer protocol get_headers message comprises receiving the P hypertext transfer protocol get_headers message further comprising authentication information to authenticate the mobile device to the visual voicemail system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request for the new voicemail message comprises receiving a hypertext transfer protocol get_message request.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising formatting the new voicemail message into an audio format that is compatible with the mobile device prior to sending the new voicemail message to the mobile device.

7. A non-transitory storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a new voicemail message for a voicemail account associated with a mobile device;

in response to receiving the new voicemail message, generating a deposit notification message that is directed to the mobile device to inform the mobile device that the new voicemail message is available for download;

sending the notification message to the mobile device;

receiving a request from the mobile device, the request being for voicemail message header information;

sending the voicemail message header information to the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is configured to utilize the voicemail message header information to determine a status for each voicemail message stored on the mobile device and to identify, based upon the status for each voicemail message stored on the mobile device, the new voicemail message;

receiving a request for the new voicemail message; and

sending the new voicemail message to the mobile device.

8. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 7, wherein receiving the request for the voicemail message header information comprises receiving a hypertext transfer protocol get_headers message comprising instructions for the visual voicemail system to send the voicemail message header information that is associated with at least one voicemail message stored in association with the voicemail account on the visual voicemail system.

9. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 8, wherein receiving the hypertext transfer protocol get_headers message comprises receiving the hypertext transfer protocol get_headers message comprising a date, a time, and a calling line identity.

10. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 8, wherein receiving the hypertext transfer protocol get_headers message comprises receiving the hypertext transfer protocol get_headers message further comprising authentication information to authenticate the mobile device to the visual voicemail system.

11. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 7, wherein receiving the request for the new voicemail message comprises receiving a hypertext transfer protocol get_message request.

12. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 7, further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform further operations comprising formatting the new voicemail message into an audio format that is compatible with the mobile device prior to sending the new voicemail message to the mobile device.

13. A visual voicemail system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising

receiving a new voicemail message for a voicemail account associated with a mobile device,

in response to receiving the new voicemail message, generating a deposit notification message that is directed to the mobile device to inform the mobile device that the new voicemail message is available for download,

sending the notification message to the mobile device,

receiving a request from the mobile device, the request being for voicemail message header information,

sending the voicemail message header information to the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is configured to utilize the voicemail message header information to determine a status for each voicemail message stored on the mobile device and to identify, based upon the status for each voicemail message stored on the mobile device, the new voicemail message,

receiving a request for the new voicemail message, and

sending the new voicemail message to the mobile device.

14. The visual voicemail system of claim 13, wherein the request for the voicemail message header information comprises a hypertext transfer protocol get_headers message comprising instructions for the visual voicemail system to send the voicemail message header information that is associated with at least one voicemail message that is stored in association with the voicemail account on the visual voicemail system.

15. The visual voicemail system of claim 14, wherein the hypertext transfer protocol get_headers message comprises a date, a time, and a calling line identity.

16. The visual voicemail system of claim 14, wherein the hypertext transfer protocol get_headers message further comprises authentication information to authenticate the mobile device to the visual voicemail system.

17. The visual voicemail system of claim 13, wherein the request for the new voicemail message comprises a hypertext transfer protocol get_message request.

18. The visual voicemail system of claim 13, wherein the memory further comprises instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform further operations comprising formatting the new voicemail message into an audio format that is compatible with the mobile device prior to sending the new voicemail message to the mobile device.