IP Library Granted Patent US 7,023,967
Granted Patent B1
US 7,023,967 · App. 08/985,122 · Granted Apr 4, 2006

Method and apparatus for voice mail sharing between wired and wireless telephones

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,023,967
App. No.
08/985,122
Granted
Apr 4, 2006
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method and system for sharing voice messaging support includes a voice messaging system coupled to a wireless network and wireline network. A given mailbox in the system can be shared between telephones on multiple ones of the networks in question. Once a message is received at the VMS, a message waiting indicator can be sent to the subscriber over both of the networks to which the subscriber subscribes.

Claims (43)

1. A system for providing voice messaging to a wireless device and a landline communication device, the system comprising:

a voice mailbox;

a mobile switching center interface capable of receiving requests to leave messages in the voice mailbox for the wireless device or the landline communication device, wherein the wireless device may be identified by a first telephone number and the landline device may be identified by a second telephone number, and wherein the mobile switching center interface receives call history information associated with the requests; and

a message waiting indicator coupled to said mobile switching center interface, wherein when a request to leave a message is received at the mobile switching center interface for either the wireless device or the landline communication device, a voice message waiting indication is transmitted to both the wireless device and the landline communication device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the message waiting indication is provided to said landline communication device though a hub end office without passing through said mobile switching center.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the message waiting indication is sent to said hub end office via an SDMI link, and the message waiting indication is sent from said hub end office to the landline communication device through a remote end office over the Signal System 7 network.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the message waiting indication is provided to the landline communication device using a simplified message desk data link.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said message waiting indicator causes notifications to be sent to said wireless device and said landline communication device substantially simultaneously.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said message waiting indicator causes a notification to be first sent to one of said wireless device and said landline communication device and then subsequently causes a notification to be sent to the other one of said wireless device and said landline communication device when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein all inbound calls to the voice mailbox are received via the mobile switching center interface.

8. A system for providing messaging to a plurality of stations, comprising:

a mailbox that is associated with a wireless device and a landline communication device;

a mobile network interface coupled to a first mobile switching center serving said wireless device, said mobile network interface to receive a request through said mobile switching center to leave a message for a landline communication device number, and wherein the mobile network interface is further to receive call history information associated with the requests; and

a message waiting indicator coupled to said mobile network interface, wherein the message waiting indicator is to transmit a voice message waiting indication to both the wireless device and the landline communication device when a voice message is received for either the wireless device or the landline communication device.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the message waiting indication is provided to said landline communication device through a hub end office without passing through said mobile switching center.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the message waiting indication is sent to said hub end office via an SDMI link, and the message waiting indication is sent from said hub end office to the landline communication device through a remote end office over the Signal System 7 network.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the message waiting indication is provided to the landline communication device using a simplified message desk data link.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said message waiting indications are sent to said wireless device and said landline communication device substantially simultaneously.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein all inbound calls to the mailbox are received via the mobile switching center.

14. A method comprising:

receiving a message for a wireless device and for a landline communication device through a mobile switching station, said mobile switching station further receiving call history information associated with the message;

storing said message for said wireless device and said landline communication device in a telecommunication mailbox, wherein said telecommunication mailbox is associated with said wireless device and said landline communication device; and

transmitting a voice message waiting indication to said wireless device and said landline communication device.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the message waiting indication is transmitted to the landline communication device through a hub end office without passing through said mobile switching center.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the message waiting indication is transmitted to said hub end office via a SDMI link, and the message waiting indication is transmitted from said hub end office to the landline communication device through a remote end office over the Signal System 7 network.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the message waiting indication is provided to the landline communication device using a simplified message desk data link.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said message waiting indication is transmitted to said wireless device and said landline communication device substantially simultaneously.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a means for receiving a message for a wireless device and for a landline communication device through a mobile switching station, said mobile switching station further receiving call history information associated with the message;

a means for storing said message for said wireless device and said landline communication device in a telecommunication mailbox, wherein said telecommunication mailbox is associated with said wireless device and said landline communication device; and

a means for transmitting a message waiting indication to said wireless device and said landline communication device.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the message waiting indication is transmitted to the landline communication device through a hub end office without passing through said mobile switching center.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the message waiting indication is transmitted to said hub end office via a SDMI link, and the message waiting indication is transmitted from said hub end office to the landline communication device through a remote end office over the Signal System 7 network.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the message waiting indication is provided to the landline communication device using a simplified message desk data link.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said message waiting indication is transmitted to said wireless device and said landline communication device substantially simultaneously.

24. A system comprising:

a mailbox that is associated with a first communication device having a first telephone number and a second communication device having a second telephone number;

a mobile network interface to receive a request to leave a message, said mobile network interface further to receive call history information associated with the request; and

a message waiting indicator coupled to said mobile network interface, wherein the message waiting indicator transmits a message waiting indication to both the first communication device and the second communication device when a request to leave a message is received at the mobile network interface.

25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the message waiting indication is provided to said first communication device though a hub end office.

26. The system of claim 25 , wherein the message waiting indication is sent to said hub end office via an SDMI link, and the message waiting indication is sent from said hub end office to the first communication device through a remote end office over the Signal System 7 network.

27. The system of claim 26 , wherein the message waiting indication is provided to the first communication device using a simplified message desk data link.

28. The system of claim 27 , wherein said message waiting indications are sent to said first communication device and said second communication device substantially simultaneously.

Assignments (6)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 10, 2008
From: AT&T MOBILITY II, LLC
To: AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
Reel/Frame 021074/0891 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 30, 2008
From: CINGULAR WIRELESS II, LLC
To: AT&T MOBILITY II, LLC
Reel/Frame 021046/0367 →
CONVERSION FFROM "INC" TO "LLC" Recorded Jan 25, 2006
From: CINGULAR WIRELESS II, INC.
To: CINGULAR WIRELESS II, LLC
Reel/Frame 017497/0443 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2006
From: NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS SERVICES, INC.
To: CINGULAR WIRELESS II, INC.
Reel/Frame 017497/0488 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 25, 2006
From: AT&T WIRELESS SERVICES, INC.
To: NEW CINGULAR WIRELESS SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 017497/0494 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 18, 1998
From: ANDERSSON, HANS A.; PALLAY, EDWARD M.
To: AT&T WIRELESS SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 009220/0371 →