Abstract: A method for screening of an active voice mail message enables real time monitoring by a subscriber to the voice mail system of incoming calls. Once the identity of the subscriber is established, the subscriber is presented with the option of screening an incoming message. A subscriber desiring to screen the message responds by activating a predetermined key or sequence of keys to enter a listen-only mode for monitoring of the incoming message. The subscriber may then interrupt the message and take the call, continue listening to the incoming message, or terminate listen-only mode and simply permit the message to be stored for later retrieval.

Abstract: The present invention features a method for providing status information to a client based on data residing in an electronic database or e-file. The database of the information is maintained and updated, and is periodically analyzed to determine whether at least a portion of the data has changed since the last analysis or communication. If so, the client is automatically informed by the system, which initiates an automatic voice response (AVR) call out to the client. The client verifies that he or she is the true intended recipient of the status information before it is communicated. A log of this communication is also maintained by the system. The client has the opportunity to respond to the system AVR call and/or correct or provide additional information, the client voice response being stored in an appropriate voice mailbox.

Abstract: A voice server and method for providing integrated voice mail and email messaging for use with an email server and an email client. The voice server includes a telephone interface means for providing telephone services to the voice server, a network interface means for providing communications between the voice server and each of the email server and email client, a processor, and a program memory for storing program instructions for controlling the processor to provide voice mail messaging services for a plurality of voice mailboxes. At least one voice mailbox on the voice server is adapted to create a message reference to uniquely identify each recorded voice mail message and to send each message reference to an email address on the email server, where the message can be retrieved by the email client. The voice server is further adapted to provide voice mail services corresponding to each recorded voice mail message, to the email client through the network interface means.

Abstract: A system and method of testing voice signals in a telecommunication system, such as a voice messaging system (VMS), are provided. A test signal is generated to elicit a response from the telecommunication system, and a voice signal produced by the telecommunication system in response to the test signal is detected. To evaluate the detected voice signal, the system accesses stored reference phrases, where one or more designated reference phrases can be combined to form an expected voice signal. The detected voice signal is compared with at least one designated reference phrase to determine if the detected voice signal substantially corresponds to the expected voice signal. In a preferred embodiment, the voice signal and reference phrases are divided into component frames of substantially equal time durations, then compared frame by frame to determine if the detected voice signal and the expected voice signal substantially correspond.