Indication Or Notification Of Message Patents (Class 379/88.12)
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Patent number: 8675834Abstract: A system and apparatus for managing calls to voice mail is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a voicemail system having a controller element that receives a call redirected away from a targeted communication device without providing the targeted communication device notice of the call responsive to a voicemail redirection request supplied by signaling information associated with the call. Additional embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2013Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LPInventor: Charles V. Scott
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Patent number: 8675831Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that allow for storing of data messages (e.g., text messages or multimedia messages) in a data message mailbox. If a data message is sent from a sender to a recipient, then the communication network receiving the data message attempts to deliver the data message to the recipient. If unsuccessful in delivering the data message, then the network stores the data message for the recipient. If the communication network later receives a request to retrieve the stored data message from the recipient, then the communication network delivers the stored data message to the recipient.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2006Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Alcatel LucentInventors: Yigang Cai, Alok Sharma
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Patent number: 8670528Abstract: A computerized method is implemented by a communication device for evaluating levels of importance of missed incoming calls. One or more reference parameters in relation to incoming calls received by the communication device are defined, a function for evaluating levels of importance of the missed incoming calls is formed using the one or more reference parameters. When an incoming call is received by the communication device, whether the received incoming call is missed is determined If the received incoming call is missed, the one or more reference parameters in relation to the received incoming call are obtained. A level of importance of the missed incoming call is evaluated by applying the obtained one or more reference parameters to the function.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2013Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Xin Lu, Shih-Fang Wong, Xue-Shun Liu, Jian-Jian Zhu, Fei Wang, Huan-Huan Zhang, Biao-Geng Zhong
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Patent number: 8666035Abstract: A method for providing a communication assistance service by a communication assistance service provider includes receiving a communication at the communication assistance service provider from a first person seeking a contact information to communicate with a second person and receiving from the first person identifying information associated with the second person. A profile of the second person is retrieved including at least one contact information and at least one contact preference associated with the contact information. Communication is provided between the first person and the second person in accordance with the contact preferences.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Grape Technology Group, Inc.Inventors: Timothy A. Timmins, John S. Miller, Christopher A. Huey, Philip A. Ljubicich, Karen L. Johnson
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Patent number: 8666036Abstract: An alert method and system permits an alert to be provided to a subscriber. Such alerts may comprise icons or graphical advertising units that may be navigated by the subscriber to trigger and initiate corresponding and dynamically updatable communications and communication links.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Inventor: Paul M. Schwartz
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Patent number: 8666052Abstract: A universal phone number is provided for connecting to communication methods, including fixed line, mobile line, and internet communication methods. A communication group of communication methods may include multiple communication methods belonging to one individual or to multiple individuals within the communication group, such as a family. The universal phone number may be designated as the primary contact number for the communication group such incoming phone calls and text messages may be automatically routed to the communication methods in the communication group. The universal phone number may provide alerts to the multiple communication methods for notifying when incoming phone calls are answered. A universal voicemail box may also be provided for a scenario when the incoming call is not answered. Additionally, the universal phone number may provide the ability to keep the contact information for each of the individual communication methods private.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Amey Parandekar, Dhigha Sekaran, Shahzaib Younis, Scott A. Plette, Marcelo D. Truffat
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Patent number: 8666037Abstract: An alert method and system permits an alert to be provided to a subscriber. Such visual alerts may comprise icons or graphical advertising units that may be navigated by the subscriber to trigger and initiate corresponding and dynamically updatable communications and communication links.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Inventor: Paul M. Schwartz
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Patent number: 8666038Abstract: There is described a method and telecommunication server for maintaining communication between at least two devices. A first incoming call for a first communication device is received at the communication server. The first incoming call for the first communication device is routed to a second communication device associated with the first communication device. A park data signal is received from the second communication device for placing a call to park. The call is placed to park and a park reminder message is sent to the first communication device.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: BlackBerry LimitedInventors: Robert J. James, Jr., Shen-Yuan Yap
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Patent number: 8666039Abstract: A voice traffic gateway including: a voice traffic input, a voice traffic output, a first domain router, non-secure warning (NSW) tone application apparatus and a signalling filter. The input receives voice traffic including voice messages and signalling messages from a first traffic domain. The output delivers output voice messages and signalling messages to a second, different traffic domain. The first domain router routes voice messages to the NSW apparatus and routes signalling messages to the signalling filter. The NSW apparatus applies a NSW tone to a received voice message to form an output voice message. The signalling filter compares a feature of a received signalling message with a reference feature. The signalling filter will pass a signalling message if the signalling message feature is the same as the reference feature and will block a signalling message if the signalling message feature is not the same as the reference feature.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: BAE Systems PLCInventors: Robert John Salter, Stephen Matthew Allan Jenner
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Patent number: 8666375Abstract: An auto-reply service provides to callers event-specific audiovisual media messages that were custom recorded on the callee's mobile-telephony device. The auto-reply service selects the media messages at least in part based on an event schedule associated with the callee.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: RealNetworks, Inc.Inventors: Jun Lee, Robert D. Glaser
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Patent number: 8666034Abstract: The present invention allows a user to screen messages being left at a hosted voicemail system from a telephone terminal. Incoming calls intended for the telephone terminal are routed to the voicemail system immediately or after attempting to connect incoming call to the telephone terminal. As the caller is leaving a message at the voicemail system, a connection between the incoming call, voicemail system, and telephone terminal is established to allow the user to listen to the message and decide whether to take the call. The user may decide to take the call or let the caller finish leaving the message. In one embodiment, the telephone terminal is equipped to open only the speaker channel for monitoring the message and will provide a fully bi-directional connection if the user takes the call. The supporting switch and telephone terminal communicate with each other to facilitate the monitoring and taking of calls.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2003Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Samuel H. Christie, IV
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Patent number: 8644459Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system to remotely test message-waiting notifications over a communications network is provided. The method includes receiving broadband signaling from a voicemail platform; converting the broadband signaling to narrowband signaling; and transmitting the narrowband signaling, which generates status notifications, and transmits the status notifications to a remote test location. The system includes a switching element that routes the broadband signaling generated by the voicemail platform. The switching element routes the broadband signaling to a message processing component that executes code that searches a message-waiting-notification database to generate appropriate tones based on the broadband signaling received from the switching element.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2013Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.Inventors: Anthony James Wageman, Tom Sladek, Diane Elaine Carder
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Publication number: 20140029735Abstract: A method and apparatus can be used to determine a voicemail, ring and/or alert behavior of a telephone based on day, time and date. By matching the current day and time against a default set or a user input set of ring/alert behaviors, a telephone can be instructed to ring, not ring, refuse a call, flash a light, vibrate or go directly to one of several voicemail messages upon the event of an incoming call. This allows users to program the phone to not disturb them during inconvenient times, such as a baby's nap time, meal time, or the like. In can also prevent early morning and late evening calls while potentially informing the caller that they should call at a more reasonable hour in the future.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2012Publication date: January 30, 2014Inventor: William Charles Davis
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Patent number: 8634411Abstract: A communication system provides a user with the ability to redirect telephone calls to a voice chat account and vice versa. In one example, a voice chat gateway may receive communication requests and determine whether communications directed to a first party is to be redirected. If so, the voice chat gateway may reroute the communication request to an appropriate destination. For instance, a user may request that all communications such as telephone calls be rerouted as a voice chat to the user's voice chat account. Alternatively, a user may request that all communications including voice chats be redirected to a telephone number. Users may further be allowed to call a voice chat account through a telephone network and initiate a voice chat with a telephone number through a data network.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC.Inventor: Franklyn Athias
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Patent number: 8635283Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for tagging the seen/not-seen status of an instant message. A method for tagging a seen/not-seen status of a real time message can include receiving a real time message and presenting the real time message through a real time communications client disposed in a host client computing device. The environmental characteristics of the host client computing device can be inspected to determine whether the real time message has likely been reviewed. As such, if it is determined that the real time message has likely been reviewed based upon the inspected environmental characteristics, the real time message can be tagged as seen.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2004Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Vivekanand Vellanki, Durga D. Mannaru
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Patent number: 8634519Abstract: A message greeting system receives a notification that a party is unavailable in response to a communication initiated by a contacting party. In response to receiving the notification, the message greeting system acquires contextual data associated with the contacting party, determines a message greeting that is appropriate for the contacting party based upon the contextual data, acquires the appropriate message greeting, and sends the appropriate message greeting to a contacting party device associated with the contacting party. The appropriate message greeting includes a message greeting that is usable by the contacting party given a context in which the contacting party is involved as identified by the contextual data. In some embodiments, the message greeting system acquires the appropriate message greeting by adapting an inappropriate message greeting for the context in which the contacting party is involved, thereby creating the appropriate message greeting.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2013Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLCInventor: Jerry Crawford
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Patent number: 8630393Abstract: A facility for blocking telephone calls is described. The facility is implemented by a telecommunications system that manages assigned and unassigned telephone numbers. The facility determines that a call originator has made two telephone calls to two different unassigned telephone numbers. The facility adds the call originator to a blacklist for a default time period. If the call originator calls any managed telephone number during the default time period, the facility renews the default time period. After the default time period expires, if the call originator makes additional telephone calls to other unassigned telephone numbers, the facility adds the call originator to the blacklist for a time period that is increased from the default time period. The facility increases the time period with each additional call to an unassigned telephone number. Accordingly, the time period is a function of the number of unassigned telephone numbers called by the call originator.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2010Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: Marchex, Inc.Inventors: Bryce Baril, Matthew Berk
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Patent number: 8624743Abstract: The present invention is a system for communicating a voice signal or audio message initiated over potentially great distances and deliverable to an unattended animal, and comprises a base unit and a wireless receiver. Voice signals or e-mail messages incorporating embedded audio files or commands for delivering an audio message are sent over a global communication via computer network to the base unit which includes a transmitter. The transmitter sends via wireless communication the voice signal or an audio message from the transmitter to a local receiver secured to a pet collar or the like. The system transmits live audio signals (converted from the audio files or stored audio messages) in real time over great distances. The receiver is preferably worn on the pet and includes a speaker and wireless receiver for converting the wireless signals sent by the transmitter into audio signals emitted by the speakers.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2007Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Inventors: Shirley Langer, Richard Fujio
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Patent number: 8625750Abstract: Allowing a user of a communication device to have real-time control as a voicemail is being generated is provided. An incoming call to a communication device may be sent to voicemail; however, rather than waiting for the message to be deposited into the voicemail system followed by subsequent retrieval, a user of the called communication device/called party may have an option to listen to the message as it is being created and stored. During the process of listening in on the message being deposited in the voicemail system, the user/called party may have options in real-time to take the call, ignore the call, listen to the call, and the like. Alternatively, the user/called party may take the call (answer) as the voicemail is being deposited without listening in on the voicemail as it is being deposited.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2011Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.Inventors: Douglas David Gravino, Radhakrishnan Gopinath, Michael Lee Poffenberger
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Patent number: 8619948Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for intelligently notifying first parties via automated telephone calls regarding an absence by second parties at an event with minimal burden on a third party who manages attendance issues for the event. In a preferred embodiment, the event is a school session, the second parties are students who are supposed to attend the school session, the first parties are guardians for the students, and the third party is a school employee who handles attendance issues. Differentiated notifications are provided to first parties based on whether the first parties receive the notifications in person or in absentia. The first parties are also provided with opportunities for responding to the notifications while avoiding direct interactions with the third party.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2010Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Groupcast, LLCInventors: Joe Harley Moore, John William Lindemann, III, Scott Allen Schulte
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Patent number: 8620278Abstract: In system and method of prioritizing a voice mail message, a voice mail message is received comprising caller information and chronological information, a voice mail priority is associated with the first voice mail message based on at least one of a matching criteria, a call history criteria, a chronological criteria, a frequency metric, and a missed call value, and a voice mail list is ordered according to the voice mail priority.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2011Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.Inventors: Siddharth S. Oroskar, Anoop K. Goyal, Sachin R. Vargantwar, Maulik K. Shah
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Patent number: 8615256Abstract: A communications system (100, 300) comprises base stations (101) for providing mobile stations (104) with communications links. It comprises at least one localized service area (111) and means (108, 109) for changing the service selection offered to a given mobile station on the initiative of the communications system. The change is realized in response to information (203) indicating the arrival of the mobile station in said localized service area.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1999Date of Patent: December 24, 2013Assignee: Nokia CorporationInventor: Petteri Putkiranta
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Patent number: 8611510Abstract: A system and method for establishing guest mailboxes. User input to partition a voicemail box of a user is received to create a guest voicemail box. The voicemail box is partitioned to create the guest voicemail box. An access number is established for the guest voicemail box. The guest voicemail box is removed based on an expiration.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLCInventor: Shekhar Gupta
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Patent number: 8605866Abstract: A particular method includes initiating outbound calls associated with at least two recipients that are to receive a notification message. The outbound calls include a first call to a first telephone address associated with a first recipient of the at least two recipients. The method further includes, in response to a determination that the first call is unanswered, initiating a second call to a second telephone address associated with the first recipient and initiating generation of an email message to an electronic mail address associated with the first recipient.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2012Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.L.P.Inventors: Douglas F. Reynolds, Jeffrey Lewis Brandt, Aaron Bangor, Marc Andrew Sullivan
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Patent number: 8606240Abstract: Hybrid communications voicemail systems and methods are disclosed. A wireline telephone number may be operatively associated with a wireless telephone voicemail box such that calls placed to the wireline telephone number and subsequently routed to voicemail may be routed to the wireless telephone voicemail box. Thus, the user of both wireline and wireless telephones may check voicemail messages at a single wireless voicemail box. Parents or supervisors may check voicemail messages or converted text messages deposited for children or employees at the single wireless voicemail box. A wireless telephone user may allow calls to be routed to his/her wireless telephone from his/her wireline telephone if he/she cannot be reached at the wireline telephone or as designated by the user.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2013Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Cox Communications, Inc.Inventors: Douglas David Gravino, Radhakrishnan Gopinath, Michael L. Poffenberger
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Patent number: 8600015Abstract: An arrangement includes an input to receive DTMF tones, logic to convert the DTMF tones to SMPP protocol, and an output to provide the SMPP protocol.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2012Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLCInventors: Dinh C. Tat, Richard A. Layendecker
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Patent number: 8594643Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for routing a call to a landline communication unit or a wireless communication unit based on the availability of the wireless communication unit. A call placed to a landline communication unit is routed to the wireless communication unit if the wireless communication unit is determined available. Otherwise, the call is routed to the landline communication unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2013Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.Inventors: Richard N. Roberts, Todd August Bartels, Terrence J. McCarthy, Wayne Robert Heinmiller, Rodney T. Brand, Leslie Bernard Moore, Carlos H. Donoso, Kara Elisia Ford
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Patent number: 8594287Abstract: The present invention relates to telephone call processing. In one embodiment, a call processing system receives from a caller a first call for a user, the first call including call signaling information. The call processing system determines whether the call signaling information includes caller identification information and whether the call signaling information indicates that the caller identification information is restricted. If the caller identification information is restricted, the call processing system instructs the caller to take a first action so that the caller identification information can be provided to the user. The call processing system determines whether the caller has performed the first action during the first call, and if the caller has performed the first action during the first call, the call processing system provides at least a portion of the caller identification information to the user.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2010Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Callwave Communications, LLCInventors: Robert A. Dolan, David F. Hofstatter, Lee Kirchhoff
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Patent number: 8594283Abstract: Techniques for notifying a customer of a financial institution about an alert message over a communication device are disclosed. Upon contacting an alert message center of the financial institution, the customer is presented with a notification of alert messages and may choose what action to take with respect to each alert message. The customer may respond to those issues that the customer deems important enough to warrant immediate attention without having to also sort through numerous other issues that the customer does not wish to address at the time. The alert message center collects and sorts alert messages for presentation to the customer according to various customer preferences that are updated and stored by the alert message center.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2010Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Bank of America CorporationInventors: Harold Dennis Hogan, Matthew William Shomphe, Sivakumar Nagarajan
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Patent number: 8594284Abstract: Voicemail systems and methods for managing voicemail systems are provided herein. The subject voicemail systems provide a plurality voicemail greeting, each of which are associated with a context tag. The context tag can be, for example, a location, a device parameter, an account parameter, a network parameter, or any other contextual information. Upon receipt of a change in a context tag, the voicemail system determines a new voicemail greeting associated with the new context tag and sets the new voicemail greeting to the active voicemail greeting.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2013Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLCInventors: Joshua S. Wright, Linda S. Giles
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Patent number: 8594635Abstract: Data communications sessions for visual voicemail data communications are terminated under the control of a wireless device's visual voicemail client. In one embodiment, a visual voicemail client can be configured to transmit a request or command to terminate a data communications session immediately upon sending an acknowledgement of receiving voicemail data from a voicemail server. In another embodiment, a visual voicemail client can be configured to transmit a request or command to terminate a data communications session following the expiration of a timer set by the visual voicemail client. Alternatively, a visual voicemail client can be configured to wait for a termination request for command from a voicemail server.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLCInventors: Venson M. Shaw, Arthur Brisebois, Gholam-Reza Rahsaz, William Sigmund
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Patent number: 8582782Abstract: An earpiece (100) is provided. The earpiece can include an Ambient Sound Microphone (111) configured to capture ambient sound, an Ear Canal Microphone (123) configured to capture internal sound in the ear canal, a memory (208) configured to record at least a portion of the history of the ambient sound and the internal sound, and a processor (121) configured to save a recent portion of the history responsive to an event.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2012Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Personics Holdings Inc.Inventors: Steven W. Goldstein, John Usher, Marc Andre Boillot
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Patent number: 8583826Abstract: A method, executed in a messaging server handles electronic messages for a user, handles electronic state messages for at least one terminal, and delivers electronic state messages to at least one terminal. A state change is identified in or at the messaging server, the state change relating to at least one electronic message associated with the user, the at least one electronic message containing a destination identity associated with the user. A terminal address associated with the at least one terminal used by the user is retrieved based on the destination identity associated with the user. An electronic state message is delivered to the at least one terminal using the terminal address as destination address.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2007Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)Inventor: Anders Eriksson
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Patent number: 8576994Abstract: Managing shared voice messages across the multiple voice messaging systems of the various recipients of a message. A server may act as a gateway and may interact with the multiple voice messaging systems and multiple user devices of the recipients. The server may retrieve voice messages from the sender voice messaging system and may transmit the voice message to the disparate voice messaging systems of the recipients with or without user assistance. The voice messages may be transcoded as necessary. the server then may determine the status of the voice message in the voice messaging systems of the recipients and may update the message status in the sender's and the recipients' voice message systems accordingly.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2012Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Smith Micro Software, Inc.Inventors: Konstantin Othmer, Michael P. Ruf
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Patent number: 8576270Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods provide intelligent device inspection and interrogation in an application layer system to route packet-based network calls. These systems and methods can be used to detect the status of a specified endpoint. Endpoint devices can be configured to communicate status information to a central call manager. Endpoints can also be periodically polled to request device information. Pre-defined rules applied at the central call manager can be used to process call flow based on the device information. These rules can be configured so that a call that is not completed for any reason can be transferred to another destination such as a video mail service or an automated or live operator service.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2005Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Glowpoint, Inc.Inventors: John M. Vitale, Stuart Morris
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Patent number: 8572182Abstract: To reduce the communications in an IM conversation between two devices, two or more IM events of the conversation at the first device are confirmed by sending to the second device a single IM communication that confirms the most recent of the events. In order that the user of the second device not experience undue delay in receiving the confirmation, the method may be applied where the time interval between any two consecutive ones of the events is less than a predetermined time.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2006Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Blackberry LimitedInventor: Gerhard Dietrich Klassen
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Patent number: 8572170Abstract: Methods and apparatus for allowing a message to be left for an expected user of a network application are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method includes determining when a first user has requested access to a first application, and determining if there is a message for the first user when it is determined that the first user has requested access to the first application. The method also includes informing the first user of the message if it is determined that there is the message for the first user, as well as providing the first user with access to the first application after informing the first user of the message and after the first user acknowledges that the first user has been informed of the message.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2008Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Labhesh Patel, Joseph Khouri
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Patent number: 8565397Abstract: Audibly informing a recipient of an arrival of a digital communication from a sender includes receiving a digital communication from a sender directed to a recipient and determining whether the digital communication is associated with an audio identifier that identifies the sender of the digital communication and that is designated by the sender of the digital communication. Perception by the recipient of the audio identifier is conditioned on whether the digital communication is determined to be associated with the audio identifier. The audio identifier is perceived prior to or concurrent with perception of the digital communication by the recipient.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2010Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Barry Appelman, Stephen Vaughan Murphy
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Patent number: 8559604Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for voicemail notification. In one embodiment, a method includes submitting an extension call request to a telephony system, wherein the extension call request identifies a recipient extension. The method also includes receiving a return message from the telephony system in response to the extension call request. The method further includes determining whether the recipient extension is currently associated with the telephony system based on the return message received from the telephony system. In addition, the method includes documenting an association between the recipient extension at the telephony system if the recipient extension is currently associated with the telephony system. The preceding operations may be repeated for additional recipient extensions and/or additional telephony systems to determine associations between one or more recipient extensions and one or more telephony systems.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2007Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Cisco Technology, IncInventor: Ravindra Koulagi
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Patent number: 8560323Abstract: Techniques are described for providing relevant information to users (e.g., information that is at least potentially of interest to the users). Relevant information for a user may be automatically determined based on a determined context of the user and/or on a request for that information from the user. For example, voice-based information may be obtained from a user in one or more ways, and then analyzed to identify requests or other indications of information of interest and/or to otherwise determine a context of the user that corresponds to potential information of interest. Relevant information for a user may be provided to the user in various ways, such as via a voice-based response during a telephone call and/or via one or more electronic messages sent to the user (e.g., via emails, instant messages, paging messages, SMS or other text messages, etc.).Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2011Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.Inventors: Shreedhar Madhavapeddi, John F. Pollard
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Patent number: 8548129Abstract: Enhanced message notification is provided by an enhanced notification function element and a subscriber preference profile database. The enhanced notification function element queries the subscriber preference profile database to obtain subscriber communication terminal capabilities information, which it uses to select a message notification technology. The enhanced notification function element may then format an enhanced notification that is delivered to a communication terminal through a delivery system architecture appropriate for the selected message notification technology. The enhanced notification may contain: a message type indicator; an identifier of the party leaving the message; a date and time that the message was deposited; multimedia objects; and other enhanced information. The enhanced notification function element may also query a terminal roaming status database in order to determine if the enhanced message should be sent when the terminal is roaming.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2011Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLCInventors: Simon James Richardson, Mark Steven Wuthnow
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Patent number: 8548434Abstract: An apparatus may include a housing that is configured to support a picture, a sensor that is configured to receive an input and that is associated with the picture, a communication module that is configured to communicate with a remote device and to retrieve audio messages from the remote device, a speaker that is configured to play the audio messages, an electronics control module that is configured to control playing of the audio messages that are designated as being associated with the picture in response to selection of the sensor, and a power module.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2010Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Inventor: Hayes S. Raffle
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Patent number: 8548130Abstract: Information associated with messages and/or missed calls is provided to a subscriber. Calls received but not answered by the subscriber may be monitored. Each monitored call is classified as one of a missed call and a message. The monitored calls may be summarized based on a customizable rule set to create a summary. The summary is provided to the subscriber via, for example, a voice notification.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2012Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Lisa J. Stifelman, Karen M. Cross, Sarah Caplener, Rajeev Khurana, Anne K. Sullivan, Rao Surapaneni, Justin B. Ward, Angus Macdonald Davis
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Publication number: 20130243168Abstract: A system and apparatus for managing calls to voice mail is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a voicemail system having a controller element that receives a call redirected away from a targeted communication device without providing the targeted communication device notice of the call responsive to a voicemail redirection request supplied by signaling information associated with the call. Additional embodiments are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2013Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LPInventor: Charles V. Scott
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Publication number: 20130242808Abstract: After the input of a subscriber (TLN1) of the first terminal (EG1), a connection to a temporarily available voice memory (SPS) is signalized by the same, and subsequently a voice message (spn) and at least one piece of retrieval information (ai) identifying the second terminal (EG2) is transmitted and stored at that location. Subsequently, the connection is terminated and the second terminal (EG2) is informed of the presence of a retrievable voice message (spn) in the voice memory (SPS) via the voice memory (SPS) by means of the at least one piece of retrieval information (ai), and the voice message (spn) can be retrieved from the second terminal (EG2) by means of the transmitted retrieval information (ai), or is transmitted to the second terminal (EG2) by the voice memory (SPS). In this manner voice messages (spn) can be stored for terminals (EG2) and retrieved by the same, regardless of whether one or no voice memories—such as an answering machine—is associated with these terminals (EG2).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2013Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: SIEMENS ENTERPRISE COMMUNICATIONS GMBH & CO. KGInventors: Bruno Bozionek, Karl Klaghofer, Holger Prange, Michael Tietsch
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Patent number: 8537981Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for providing an announcement to a plurality of communication devices when a subset of those communication devices are currently engaged in a call. More specifically, an announcement may be provided to different communication devices depending upon the location of the communication device.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2006Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Avaya Inc.Inventors: Shaiju Cyriac, Diana M. D'Angelo, Sreerupa Das, Bruce W. Hill, William C. Leck
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Patent number: 8526579Abstract: A method for providing a notification includes receiving a notification request at a central location. The notification request includes an audible message, a notification time, and a destination. The audible message is stored at the central location and associated with the notification time and destination. A current time is determined and compared with the determined notification time. The method further includes connecting a telephone call to the destination based on the determination and transmitting the stored audible message to the destination during the telephone call based on the connection.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2008Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Inventor: Wendell A. Thomas
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Patent number: 8520809Abstract: A server system having one or more processors and memory receives a respective electronic message associated with audio data and determines whether the respective electronic message is associated with a voicemail tag that identifies the audio data as including a voicemail message. In accordance with a determination that the respective electronic message is associated with the voicemail tag, the server system sends an audio player object for playing the audio data along with the respective electronic message when the respective electronic message is delivered to a client. In accordance with a determination that the respective electronic message is not associated with the voicemail tag, the server system sends the respective electronic message without the audio player object when the respective electronic message is delivered to a client.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2012Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Rose Yao, Ariel L. Rideout, Michael D. Sego
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Patent number: 8521828Abstract: An auditory theme represents at least one participant in a networked group interaction, and reflects an attribute of that participant.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2004Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLCInventors: Mark A. Malamud, John D. Rinaldo, Jr., Royce A. Levien, Paul G. Allen, Edward K. Y. Jung
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Patent number: RE44742Abstract: A device and method provide a user with a template for a message having fields that can be pre-filled with data to reduce the manual entry of data into the message. The method includes, but is not limited to, executing an application at a device, wherein context data including context data items is associated with the executing application, selecting a messaging technology to send a message from the device, selecting a template for the message, wherein the template comprises one or more dynamic fields, selecting a context data item from the context data associated with the executing application, and inserting the selected context data item in the dynamic field to facilitate the creation of a message.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2012Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Sulvanuss Capital L.L.C.Inventor: Kaj Mäkelä