Analog terminal internet access

Details Analog terminal internet access Analog terminal internet access

1996-02-09

2001-04-10

Zele, Krista (Department: 2748)

Telephonic communications

Audio message storage, retrieval, or synthesis

Interaction with an external nontelephone network

C379S088170

Reexamination Certificate

active

06215858

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to switched communications networks and providing voice mail services and more particularly relates to a system and method for providing communication between voice mailboxes in multiple mailbox systems using connectionless packet delivery via established networking arrangements.
BACKGROUND ART
Voice mail has become commonplace not only in business usage but also on an individual telephone service subscriber basis through Centrex service from a central office. A voice mail system is a specialized computer that stores messages in digital form on a fixed disk. The voice is generally digitized, usually at a much slower rate than the 64 Kb/s signal the central office uses in its switching network. The digitized voice is compressed and stored on a hard disk that maintains the voice mail operating system, system prompts, and greetings, and the messages themselves. A processor controls the compressing, storing, retrieving, forwarding and purging of files. A form of early systems is described in Matthews et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,752 (hereinafter the Matthews '752 patent), issued in February, 1983, and several related patents.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,906 (hereinafter the Matthews '906 patent), issued Apr. 29, 1986 to Gordon H. Matthews et al. The Matthews '906 patent is a continuation-in-part of the Matthews '752 patent.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,129 (hereinafter the Matthews '129 patent), issued Jul. 22, 1986 to Gordon H. Matthews et al. The Matthews '129 patent is a continuation-in-part of the '752 Matthews patent.
The three Matthews patents each describe a voice mailbox type system using digital storage and programmed control to offer a wide variety of message storage, forwarding and delivery type services. The system architecture is essentially the same in each patent disclosure. With reference to FIG. 3 of the '752 patent, the voice message system (VMS)
10
includes an administrative subsystem
60
, a number of call processor subsystems shown as
62
A-
62
C, and a digital data storage subsystem
64
.
The call processor subsystems each include a microprocessor based single board computer
70
, a memory
72
having for example 64K of RAM, a communication port interface
74
, two disk adapters
76
,
78
communicating with the storage subsystem via two storage buses and a block transfer interface
80
which communicates with the administrative subsystem (FIG.
4
). The communication port interface
74
provides communication to and from the telephone lines via communication port driver modules
90
A-B, each of which includes port drivers
92
, CODECS
96
and voice connection arrangements
98
(FIG.
5
). As shown in FIG. 6 of the '752 patent, the administrative subsystem
60
includes a microprocessor based single board computer
100
, a memory
110
, a non-volatile memory
112
, two disk adapters
114
,
116
communicating with the storage subsystem via two storage buses and a block transfer interface
118
which communicates with the call processor subsystems.
In the '752 system, a message router program is informed of each occurrence of a new incoming message stored in the system. This program creates a message control block on disc for each message, and the message is thereby queued to each of the addresses selected by the person sending the message (see the '752 patent, Column 29, lines 5-16). As disclosed in the '752 patent, to deposit a message (FIG.
11
), a user calls the VMS. The VMS answers the call and transmits an initial prompt message to the caller. The caller then inputs a unique authorization code identifying that person as a subscriber to the VMS service. Upon receipt of a valid authorization code, the VMS transmits a short progress tone and accepts an series of dialed digits representing an address input from the subscriber. Typically, an address is a single telephone number. The '752 system also offers the subscriber the option to select a previously established distribution list including a number of such addresses. After entry of all necessary address information identifying one or more destinations, the user inputs a “1” to initiate voice recording and then transmits a voice message. The VMS stores the voice message in one of the digital disc storage units
120
within the data storage subsystem
64
(FIG.
7
). The user is then given the option to deposit another message, inquire about messages stored for the subscriber or terminate the session by hanging up.
To retrieve and replay stored messages, a subscriber initiates a routine referred to in the '752 patent as the INQUIRY feature (see FIG.
21
). A user can enter this routine after completion of message deposit as discussed above, or the user can initiate an inquiry by calling the VMS. Again, the VMS initially answers the call and transmits the opening prompt message to the caller. The caller inputs his or her unique authorization code which is verified by the VMS. The caller then enters a special function code (SFC) for an INQUIRY. The VMS determines whether or not any messages have been recorded for this subscriber. If there are no messages, the VMS plays a canned prompt so informing the subscriber. However, if there are messages recorded for the current caller, the VMS provides another canned message, and the person initiates playback by dialing a “2” (Column 26, lines 42-61). The caller can control the replay of the messages using additional dialed digit inputs, for example to repeat all or a segment of a message or to skip all or a segment of a message (table bridging Columns 23 and 24).
The VMS system disclosed in the '752 patent will also automatically deliver messages to the identified addressees. In the DELIVERY routine (FIG.
15
), the VMS calls the addressed recipient by dialing that person's telephone number. If the call is answered, the VMS plays a canned announcement which includes a request for the person answering the call to enter her unique authorization code. If there is no answer, the line is busy or the answering person does not enter the correct authorization code, the VMS will attempt to deliver the message again after a specified time period. When the answering party has responded by entering a valid authorization code, the VMS emits an idle tone, and the person can initiate playback by dialing a “2”. The person listening to message playback can control the replay using additional dialed digit inputs, as discussed above (see Column 23, lines 30-65). The user is then given the option to redirect the message to another destination, deposit a reply message, save the message, or file the message for long term storage.
In the reply routine, the user records a message for the sender of the message just replayed. In the redirect routine, the user enters a new address, and if desired, records a new message. The new message is appended to the original message already held in digital storage, and both messages are delivered to the new addressee using the DELIVERY routine discussed above ('752 patent, Column 25, lines 41-59, and FIG.
18
).
The file function disclosed in the '752 patent transfers a message to a “verbal file folder” for long term storage and later retrieval (Column 26, lines 11-18).
The '906 and '129 patents include the subject matter of the parent '752 patent discussed in detail above. The '906 and '129 patents, however, add a number of message processing features. For example, these patents add a delivery option referred to as “TIME-I.D. VALIDITY”, which allows the user to specify a recipient and a date and time for delivery of a stored message.
The '906 and '129 patents also expressly describe storing messages for an identified subscriber in terms of depositing messages “in the user's address”. For example, one feature added in these patents is a “Priority Hold” feature. As described, if the deposited message meets certain priority conditions, the “VMS would automatically dial the user's tele

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