EP1129565A4 - Methode de stockage et d'expedition de messages vocaux et de telecopieur au moyen d'une plate-forme de courrier electronique - Google Patents

Methode de stockage et d'expedition de messages vocaux et de telecopieur au moyen d'une plate-forme de courrier electronique

Info

Publication number
EP1129565A4
EP1129565A4 EP99954314A EP99954314A EP1129565A4 EP 1129565 A4 EP1129565 A4 EP 1129565A4 EP 99954314 A EP99954314 A EP 99954314A EP 99954314 A EP99954314 A EP 99954314A EP 1129565 A4 EP1129565 A4 EP 1129565A4
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
message
caller
forwarding
telephone number
telephone
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP99954314A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1129565A1 (fr
Inventor
Oded Kafri
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Varicom Communications Ltd
Original Assignee
Varicom Communications Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Varicom Communications Ltd filed Critical Varicom Communications Ltd
Publication of EP1129565A1 publication Critical patent/EP1129565A1/fr
Publication of EP1129565A4 publication Critical patent/EP1129565A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L51/00—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
    • H04L51/06—Message adaptation to terminal or network requirements
    • H04L51/066—Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L51/00—User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
    • H04L51/56—Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/50—Centralised arrangements for answering calls; Centralised arrangements for recording messages for absent or busy subscribers ; Centralised arrangements for recording messages
    • H04M3/53—Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages, i.e. mailbox systems
    • H04M3/533—Voice mail systems
    • H04M3/53333—Message receiving aspects
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/50—Centralised arrangements for answering calls; Centralised arrangements for recording messages for absent or busy subscribers ; Centralised arrangements for recording messages
    • H04M3/53—Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages, i.e. mailbox systems
    • H04M3/533—Voice mail systems
    • H04M3/53366—Message disposing or creating aspects
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
    • H04N1/00204—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server
    • H04N1/00209—Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2201/00—Electronic components, circuits, software, systems or apparatus used in telephone systems
    • H04M2201/60—Medium conversion
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2203/00—Aspects of automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M2203/25—Aspects of automatic or semi-automatic exchanges related to user interface aspects of the telephonic communication service
    • H04M2203/251—Aspects of automatic or semi-automatic exchanges related to user interface aspects of the telephonic communication service where a voice mode or a visual mode can be used interchangeably
    • H04M2203/253—Aspects of automatic or semi-automatic exchanges related to user interface aspects of the telephonic communication service where a voice mode or a visual mode can be used interchangeably where a visual mode is used instead of a voice mode
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2203/00—Aspects of automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M2203/45—Aspects of automatic or semi-automatic exchanges related to voicemail messaging
    • H04M2203/4509—Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2203/00—Aspects of automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M2203/45—Aspects of automatic or semi-automatic exchanges related to voicemail messaging
    • H04M2203/4536—Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/38—Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections
    • H04M3/382—Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections using authorisation codes or passwords
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
    • H04M3/42025—Calling or Called party identification service
    • H04M3/42085—Called party identification service
    • H04M3/42102—Making use of the called party identifier
    • H04M3/4211—Making use of the called party identifier where the identifier is used to access a profile
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
    • H04N2201/0008—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus
    • H04N2201/0015—Control of image communication with the connected apparatus, e.g. signalling capability
    • H04N2201/0024—Converting image communication control signals, e.g. group 3 facsimile protocol signals, to non-image communication control signals or vice versa
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
    • H04N2201/0008—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus
    • H04N2201/0065—Converting image data to a format usable by the connected apparatus or vice versa
    • H04N2201/0068—Converting from still picture data

Definitions

  • Fig. 1 shows a message storing system, generally designated 10.
  • the PBX 14 linking the user with the PSTN, routes the call to the receiver's voice box 16, digitizes the message and stores it on a hard disk. Messages can be retrieved later by the receiver 18 contacting the dedicated voice box 16, generally stored at the PTT site.
  • fax facsimiles
  • Efax of Palo Alto, California, which provides registered subscribers or members with a personal fax number, as described on their web site (http//:www.efax.com).
  • Each personal fax number is associated with an email address of the member.
  • Fax messages which are sent to the personal fax number of the member are converted by "efax.com” into a format readable by email and then sent to the member in email format.
  • the fax to email service also requires the supplier to provide .a large storage capacity for the messages being received as well as telephone lines for each personal fax number. Furthermore, the personal fax number is generally located in the code area of the supplier and thus persons sending messages who are outside the dialing area, will need to make a long distance or international call to send the fax.
  • telephony messaging via PSTN or the Internet is one-way and is restricted to sending messages to a person who is signed-up or registered as a user with the service.
  • the present invention is based on the unified number concept, namely, that for each telephone number, there is an e-mail box with the same number.
  • e-mail messages may be sent to e-mail boxes from a telephone as well as from a computer.
  • voice messages and text messages may be forwarded to a telephone.
  • a method for forwarding and storing a telephone call from a caller receiving a "no answer" or "busy” signal is provided. Furthermore, a method for forwarding and storing a telephone call or facsimile message in email message format is also provided.
  • a method for forwarding a telephone call in which the caller receives a "no answer" or "busy” signal.
  • the method includes the steps of: routing the incoming telephone call to a dedicated server; identifying the number being dialed; associating an email address with the dialed number; and forwarding the voice message as an email message to the email address.
  • a method for forwarding a telephone call in email message format to a recipient includes the steps of: the caller dialing a dedicated telephone number; identifying the telephone number of the caller; the caller entering the telephone number of the recipient of the telephone call; associating an email address with the telephone number of the recipient; and forwarding the voice message as an email message to the email address.
  • the step of forwarding includes the steps of:
  • the method further includes the steps of:
  • the recipient retrieving the voice message by telephone.
  • the method includes the steps of:
  • the caller dialing a dedicated facsimile number; identifying the telephone number of the caller;
  • the caller entering the facsimile number of the recipient of the facsimile; associating an email address with the facsimile number of the recipient;
  • the method further includes the step of verifying whether the caller's telephone number matches the registered telephone number of the caller. If the
  • the method further including the step of only forwarding the facsimile message if a correct password and the registered telephone number associated with the caller is verified.
  • the step of forwarding includes the steps of converting the facsimile message into a TIF file and attaching said TIF file to the email message.
  • Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustration of a prior art voice box
  • Fig. 2 is a detailed schematic illustration of an unified messaging system, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustration of the operation of the unified messaging system of Fig. 2 for forwarding and storing voice messages in email format;
  • Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of the personal details of a subscriber to the system of Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 5 is a schematic flow chart illustration of an embodiment of the operation of sending and forwarding messages utilizing the system of Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 6 is a schematic flow chart illustration of a further embodiment of the operation of sending and forwarding messages utilizing the system of Fig. 2.
  • Fig 2 is a schematic illustration of the unified messaging system, generally designated 20, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the unified messaging system 20 comprises a local telephone-email server 22, which is connected to a PSTN (or PBX) line 24. Voice messages are called in to a dedicated telephone number associated with the telephone-email server 22.
  • the caller designates the addressee and the telephone-email server 22 prepares an email message with a wave attachment which is then forwarded, via the Internet 52 to the email box 54 of the addressee.
  • the telephone-email server 22 is similar to the proxy server described in PCT Patent Application: PCT/IL99/00516 assigned to the Assignees of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference.
  • the telephone-email server 22 comprises a Computer Telephone Integration (CTI) card 26 connected to a wave API (Application Program Interface)
  • CTI Computer Telephone Integration
  • wave API Application Program Interface
  • the telephone-email server 22 further comprises components such as a voice proxy telephone server 32 and a transport provider 34 for receiving and forwarding voice/text messages.
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustration of the operation of the unified messaging system 20 for forwarding and storing voice messages in email boxes 54, utilizing the telephone-email server 22.
  • the caller 12 is not routed to the receiver's box, but instead is routed via the PBX 14 to a local telephone-email server 22 by a suitable telephone switching device.
  • a telephone switching device for routing incoming calls is described in
  • the receiver 30 can identify the receiver's e-mail address.
  • the voice message can be stored and/or digitized and attached to the e-mail message as a wave file, to be sent through the Internet 52, to the e-mail box 54 of the receiver.
  • the receiver can access his email box 54 through his personal computer 56, as required.
  • the message storage device 30 is configured to maintain details of members/subscribers of the service and a database type record (lookup table (LUT)) consisting of at least the e-mail addresses associated with named addressees.
  • LUT lookup table
  • Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of a record, generally referenced 56 for a member/subscriber.
  • the members record includes the member's name 64, registered telephone number 66, email address 68, PIN (personal identification number) or password 70, or any other means of restricting regular senders from using this service, and any other additional information 72. It will be appreciated that the membership record 56 is not restricted to the amount of information which may be added.
  • the exemplary lookup table (LUT), shown in Fig. 4 comprises a listing
  • entry 1 has "joe smith" as the name of the addressee with the email
  • sender is a subscriber. Similarly, message can be sent to a member by a person
  • phone/ fax messages can be sent to an email address of a recipient who is not a subscriber, as will be described hereinbelow.
  • the service identifies the caller by the caller-ID (query
  • the caller is calling from a telephone unknown to the service, the password (PIN) as well as the telephone number registered in the service is entered (step 206).
  • the caller Once the caller is identified (step 204), the caller enters the telephone number of the person the caller wishes to send the message (step 208) and then records his message (step 210).
  • the telephone-email server 22 receives the telephone (or fax) message which is recorded (step 212).
  • the incoming message is converted to a wave attachment (step 214) utilizing the wave device associated with TAPI (Telephone Application Program Interface) phone line directly using the Wave API (Application Program Interface) 28.
  • the message with wave attachment file is then sent via the Internet to the email address associated with the addressee (step 216).
  • the caller can access his personal address book (step 220) and then select the entry number of addressee to whom the call should be sent (step 222).
  • the telephone message is then recorded (step 210) and steps 212 -216 are performed to send the message to the email address of the addressee.
  • the voice message can also be stored for a limited time period in a voice mailbox of a voicemail system, as described in PCT Patent Application: PCT/IL99/00516.
  • the recipient of a message can send a reply without the necessity of becoming a member or subscriber to the service, as described hereinbelow with reference to the flow chart diagram of Fig. 6.
  • the recipient who is not a member dials the contacts the service by dialing a dedicated service number (step 232).
  • the service (which cannot identify the caller by the caller-ID) requests the caller (recipient) to enter the telephone number of the person the caller wishes to send the message (step 234).
  • the message is then recorded (step 236).
  • messages may be send to any email address and a fax received by the member of
  • the fax message is forwarded as a TIF file.
  • a separate dedicated server having its own access telephone number is preferably
  • the CTI card 26 is a card configured for converting facsimile
  • the telephone-email server 22 in addition to receiving a call routed
  • the unified messaging system 20 has an advantage over prior art
  • the unified messaging system 20 is not restricted by the number of members but rather by the number of users at any one time.
  • 5000 users are expected to send an average total of 120 messages per day, utilizing a phone line for 2 minutes per message (that is 4 hours per day).
  • a phone line for 2 minutes per message (that is 4 hours per day).
  • one line can service 15,000 members and 16 lines can
  • the receiver has the choice of obtaining his messages either through
  • the sender can send a message to a receiver, either from the telephone or from the computer.
  • An e-mail can be received (as a voice message) without having a
  • An e-mail can be send through the telephone as a voice attachment e-mail, without having a computer.
  • the receiver can forward his voice messages through his e-mail to one
  • the receiver can filter and forward his voice mail to a telephone, his or

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Computing Systems (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)
  • Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
  • Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé qui permet d'expédier et de stocker un appel téléphonique (204) en provenance d'un demandeur ayant reçu un signal «pas de réponse» ou «occupé». Selon un mode de réalisation, l'appel téléphonique est converti en un fichier sonore (214) annexé comme message de courrier électronique (216). Selon un autre mode de réalisation, une télécopie peut être expédiée comme message de courrier électronique annexé. Le destinataire peut ensuite répondre aux appels téléphoniques et aux télécopies et transmettre ses réponse au demandeur initial.
EP99954314A 1998-11-04 1999-11-04 Methode de stockage et d'expedition de messages vocaux et de telecopieur au moyen d'une plate-forme de courrier electronique Withdrawn EP1129565A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10701798P 1998-11-04 1998-11-04
US107017P 1998-11-04
PCT/IL1999/000591 WO2000027099A1 (fr) 1998-11-04 1999-11-04 Methode de stockage et d'expedition de messages vocaux et de telecopieur au moyen d'une plate-forme de courrier electronique

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1129565A1 EP1129565A1 (fr) 2001-09-05
EP1129565A4 true EP1129565A4 (fr) 2004-12-15

Family

ID=22314422

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99954314A Withdrawn EP1129565A4 (fr) 1998-11-04 1999-11-04 Methode de stockage et d'expedition de messages vocaux et de telecopieur au moyen d'une plate-forme de courrier electronique

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1129565A4 (fr)
AU (1) AU1072000A (fr)
WO (1) WO2000027099A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020176548A1 (en) * 2001-05-25 2002-11-28 Watts Ronald Franklin Voice mail apparatus and associated method
US7457398B2 (en) 2002-01-31 2008-11-25 Comverse, Inc. Methods and systems for providing voicemail services
GB0315367D0 (en) * 2003-07-01 2003-08-06 Intellprop Ltd Telecommunications services apparatus
US7551727B2 (en) * 2004-10-20 2009-06-23 Microsoft Corporation Unified messaging architecture
US7912186B2 (en) 2004-10-20 2011-03-22 Microsoft Corporation Selectable state machine user interface system
DE102005041822A1 (de) * 2005-09-02 2007-03-15 Siemens Ag Verfahren zur Einrichtung einer Faxverbindung über ein dezentrales Netzwerk
GB2434944B (en) * 2005-12-22 2008-01-23 Intellprop Ltd Telecommunications services apparatus and methods

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1998039901A1 (fr) * 1997-03-06 1998-09-11 Alphanet Telecom Inc. Transcription de communications telephoniques avec restitution electronique

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ATE136183T1 (de) * 1993-06-22 1996-04-15 Vmx Inc Elektronisches mitteilungssystem mit integrierten sprachnachrichten
US5568540A (en) * 1993-09-13 1996-10-22 Active Voice Corporation Method and apparatus for selecting and playing a voice mail message
US5675507A (en) * 1995-04-28 1997-10-07 Bobo, Ii; Charles R. Message storage and delivery system
US5742905A (en) * 1994-09-19 1998-04-21 Bell Communications Research, Inc. Personal communications internetworking
US6025931A (en) * 1996-10-15 2000-02-15 E-Mate Enterprises, Llc Facsimile to E-mail communication system with local interface
US5848137A (en) * 1997-05-22 1998-12-08 Hsiao; Ray-Ling Device and method for processing multimedia message

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1998039901A1 (fr) * 1997-03-06 1998-09-11 Alphanet Telecom Inc. Transcription de communications telephoniques avec restitution electronique

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO0027099A1 *
YU S ET AL: "A multimedia gateway for phone/fax and MIME mail", COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS, ELSEVIER SCIENCE PUBLISHERS BV, AMSTERDAM, NL, vol. 20, no. 8, 25 August 1997 (1997-08-25), pages 615 - 627, XP004090570, ISSN: 0140-3664 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU1072000A (en) 2000-05-22
WO2000027099A1 (fr) 2000-05-11
EP1129565A1 (fr) 2001-09-05

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