Abstract: A distributed messaging system comprises a first node including a first messaging platform and a first voice file, wherein the first messaging platform is provided with read/write access to the first voice file. In addition, the system includes a second node having a second messaging platform and a second voice file, and having read/write access to the second voice file. The first messaging system is further provided with read only access to the second voice file, and the second messaging system is further provided with read only access to the first voice file.

Abstract: An integrated voice and data messaging system is disclosed. The system includes a Server comprising a first computer, a network applications platform (NAP) running on the first computer, and means for storing voice and data messages. In addition, the system includes a Client comprising a second computer with an associated display and means for transmitting analog voice messages and digital data messages to the Server, a Client/Server interface coupling the Client to the Server and providing a medium over which the Client and Server communicate; and a Universal Mailbox Application running on the Server, the Client, or both the Server and Client. The system is capable of visually indicating to a user, via the display device associated with the Client computer, that a message has been delivered for the user and is being held by the Server, wherein the message may be a voice, data or facsimile message.

Abstract: A platform for supporting telephone network applications includes Network Interface Units (NIU) for interfacing between the telephone network and the platform. A disk storage system stores voice messages to be sent over the network and voice messages received from the network. Voice messages are conveyed between the NIUs and the disk storage system by Voice Interface Modules (VIM). The platform is installed on a general purpose digital computer and includes an Applications Interface Module (AIM) responsive to an AIM command set including: SEND VOICE MESSAGE, CONNECT CALL, COLLECT DIGITS, INITIATE CALL, TERMINATE CALL, GET MESSAGE NUMBERS and PIVOT CALL. In response to SEND VOICE MESSAGE, a designated message stored on the disk system is sent to the network via the VIM. SEND VOICE MESSAGE has a RECEIVE VOICE MESSAGE option whereby a message is received from the network after the SEND data is transmitted and stored on disk.

Abstract: A voice Telephone Network Applications Platform (NAP) is enhanced to manage facsimile messages, as well as voice messages, by the addition of facsimile functionality to the platform actuatable by high-level facsimile commands from applications supported on the platform. The commands include sending and receiving facsimile messages. A PC facsimile processor (FP), interfacing between the platform and the telephone network, stores facsimile messages received from the network and facsimile messages for transmission to the network on hard disk. A facsimile command from an application is expanded into NAP commands for controlling the platform and FP commands for controlling the facsimile processor so as to perform the facsimile functionality associated with the facsimile command. A recovery process utilizing a Recovery Token prevents facsimile messages from becoming lost between receipt at the FP and storage in the platform.

Abstract: Message Segments comprising Messages are stored in a flat file on disk. A unique Message Number is assigned to each Message and each Message Segment is stored at a flat file address (Segment Descriptor) in a record containing the Message Segment data and recovery information. the Recovery Information includes fields for an Available Marker, Message Number, Segment Sequence Number, Final Flag and Last Address. The Available Marker denotes whether the Message Segment is in-use or available. The Message Number field contains the Message Number identifying the Message which contains the Segment. The Segment Sequence Number donotes the order in a Message occupied by the Segment. The Final Flag field contains a flag if the Messge Segment is the Last Segment of the Message. The Last Address field contains the Segment Descriptor of the Last Message Segment of the Message containing the Segment. A data base for accessing the Message Segments is maintained on disk.

Abstract: A platform for supporting telephone netrwork applications includes Network Interface Units (NIU) for interfacing between the telephone network and the platform. A disk storage system stores voice messages to be sent over the network and voice messages received from the network. Voice messages are conveyed between the NIUs and the disk storage system by Voice Interface Modules (VIM). The platform is installed on a general purpose digital computer and includes an Application Interface Module (AIM) responsive to an AIM command set including: SEND VOICE MESSAGE, CONNECT CALL, COLLECT DIGITS, INITIATE CALL, TERMINATE CALL, GET MESSAGE NUMBERS and PIVOT CALL. In response to SEND VOICE MESSAGE, a designed message stored on the disk system is sent to the network via the VIM. SEND VOICE MESSAGE has a RECEIVE VOICE MESSAGE option whereby a message is received from the network after the SEND data is transmitted and stored on disk.