Voicemail systems and methods

• US 8,553,856 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2007
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Novick, Gregory, Anzures, Freddy Allen, Lamiraux, Henri
• Primary Examiner(s): Elahee, Md S
• Application Number:
  US11/650,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,466 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.17, 379/88.22, 379/88.23, 379/88.25, 379/67.1, 379/76, 379/88.04, 379/88.11, 379/88.18, 379/88.26, 455/557
• US Class Current: 379/88.25
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects

Abstract

Systems, methods and machine readable media for processing voicemails are described. In one embodiment, a method includes presenting, on a first data processing system, a first user interface which is capable of presenting data representing a plurality of voicemails and receiving from the first user interface a selection for playback of one of the plurality of voicemails. The data representing the plurality of voicemails are received from a second data processing system which includes a voicemail system which records voicemails left for customers of a public telephone carrier, and the first user interface is configured to receive the selection of any one of the plurality of voicemails in any order. Systems, media and other methods are also described.

Claims

1. A machine implemented method comprising:

displaying, on a mobile device, a user interface capable of presenting a plurality of voicemails;

playing a first voicemail of the plurality of voicemails in response to receiving a first selection of the first voicemail within the user interface on the mobile device;

receiving a second selection of a second voicemail within the user interface on the mobile device while playing the first voicemail on the mobile device;

receiving, by the mobile device while playing the first voicemail, a command within the user interface to operate on the second voicemail, wherein the command is one of;

deleting the second voicemail, forwarding the second voicemail, saving the second voicemail, or moving the second voicemail to a folder; and

performing, while playing the first voicemail, the command on the second voicemail.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first voicemail and the second voicemail are locally stored on the mobile device and wherein the plurality of voicemails are recorded by a data processing system which records voicemails left for customers of a public telephone carrier.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the user interface presents the plurality of voicemails separately from emails and wherein the first selection and the second selection are capable of being in an order which is different than an order based on time of receipt of a voicemail.

4. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving and executing a sorting command which allows sorting of voicemails in a list provided by the user interface, the sorting being based on at least one of;

(a) time of receipt of voicemails;

(b) size of voicemails;

(c) phone numbers of callers who left voicemails;

or (d) names of callers who left voicemails.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first selection and the second selection are capable of being in an order which is different than an order based on time of receipt of a voicemail, and wherein the plurality of voicemails are recorded by a data processing system which records voicemails left for customers of a public telephone carrier.

6. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing executable instructions which when executed cause a system to perform a method comprising:

displaying, on a mobile device, a user interface capable of presenting a plurality of voicemails;

playing a first voicemail of the plurality of voicemails in response to receiving a first selection of the first voicemail within the user interface on the mobile device;

receiving a second selection of a second voicemail within the user interface on the mobile device while playing the first voicemail on the mobile device;

receiving, by the mobile device while playing the first voicemail, a command to operate on the second voicemail, wherein the command is at least one of;

deleting the second voicemail, forwarding the second voicemail, saving the second voicemail, or moving the second voicemail to a folder; and

performing, while playing the first voicemail, the command on the second voicemail.

7. The medium as in claim 6, wherein at least one of the first voicemail and the second voicemail are locally stored on the mobile device and wherein the plurality of voicemails are recorded by a data processing system which records voicemails left for customers of a public telephone carrier.

8. The medium as in claim 6, wherein the user interface presents the plurality of voicemails separately from emails and wherein the first selection and the second selection are capable of being in an order which is different than an order based on time of receipt of a voicemail.

9. The medium as in claim 6, further comprising:

receiving and executing a sorting command which allows sorting of voicemails in a list provided by the user interface, the sorting being based on at least one of;

(a) time of receipt of voicemails;

(b) size of voicemails;

(c) phone numbers of callers who left voicemails;

or (d) names of callers who left voicemails.

10. The medium of claim 6, wherein the first selection and the second selection are capable of being in an order which is different than an order based on time of receipt of a voicemail, and wherein the plurality of voicemails are recorded by a data processing system which records voicemails left for customers of a public telephone carrier.

11. A machine comprising:

means for displaying, on a mobile device, a user interface capable of presenting a plurality of voicemails;

means for playing a first voicemail of the plurality of voicemails in response to receiving a first selection of the first voicemail within the user interface on the mobile device;

means for receiving a second selection of a second voicemail within the user interface on the mobile device while playing the first voicemail on the mobile device;

means for receiving, by the mobile device while playing the first voicemail, a command to operate on the second voicemail, wherein the command is at least one of;

deleting the second voicemail, forwarding the second voicemail, saving the second voicemail, or moving the second voicemail to a folder; and

means for performing, while playing the first voicemail, the command on the second voicemail.

12. A mobile device comprising:

a display device; and

a processing device coupled to the display device, wherein the processing device executes instructions that cause the mobile device to display, on the display device, a user interface capable of presenting a plurality of voicemails;

play a first voicemail of the plurality of voicemails in response to receiving a first selection of the first voicemail within the user interface;

receive a second selection of a second voicemail within the user interface on the mobile device while playing the first voicemail;

receive a command within the user interface to operate on the second voicemail, wherein the command is one of;

deleting the second voicemail, forwarding the second voicemail, saving the second voicemail, or moving the second voicemail to a folder; and

perform, while playing the first voicemail, the command on the second voicemail.

13. The mobile device as in claim 12, wherein at least one of the first voicemail and the second voicemail are locally stored on the mobile device and wherein the plurality of voicemails are recorded by a data processing system which records voicemails left for customers of a public telephone carrier.

14. The mobile device as in claim 12, wherein the user interface presents the plurality of voicemails separately from emails and wherein the first selection and the second selection are capable of being in an order which is different than an order based on time of receipt of a voicemail.

15. The mobile device as in claim 12, wherein the processing device executes instructions that cause the mobile device to:

receive and execute a sorting command which allows sorting of voicemails in a list provided by the user interface, the sorting being based on at least one of;

(a) time of receipt of voicemails;

(b) size of voicemails;

(c) phone numbers of callers who left voicemails;

or (d) names of callers who left voicemails.

16. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the first selection and the second selection are capable of being in an order which is different than an order based on time of receipt of a voicemail, and wherein the plurality of voicemails are recorded by a data processing system which records voicemails left for customers of a public telephone carrier.