Patent Application

App. No. 12/033,543

Abstract

Claims (59)

1 . A method of managing an electronic greeting in a telecommunication system, comprising:

receiving a call via the telecommunication system;

playing descriptions of pre-recorded electronic content in the call;

receiving a selection of one or more items of the pre-recorded electronic content;

forming an electronic greeting from the one or more items of the pre-recorded electronic content;

receiving a selection of one or more intended recipients; and

scheduling the electronic greeting to be sent towards the one or more intended recipients via the telecommunication system.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the telecommunications system includes an internet protocol (IP) communication network, and wherein the call is made using a voice-over-internet protocol (VOIP) service over the IP communication network.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a request to play the electronic greeting during the call;

playing the electronic greeting in the call in response to the request.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a request to include personal message with the electronic greeting;

recording electronic content comprising the personal message during the call; and

attaching the personal message to the electronic greeting.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the selection of the one or more intended recipients includes a respective one or more telephone numbers.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of scheduling comprises:

placing one or more calls to the one or more telephone numbers, respectively; and

playing the electronic greeting during each of the one or more calls that is answered.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the descriptions are played as part of a menu system, and wherein the selections of the one or more items of electronic content comprise voice or dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) commands.

8 . Apparatus for managing an electronic greeting in a telecommunication system, comprising:

a database configured to store pre-recorded electronic content; and

a server, coupled to the telecommunication system, configured to:

receive a call via the telecommunication system;

play descriptions of at least a portion of the pre-recorded electronic content in the call;

receive a selection of one or more items of the pre-recorded electronic content;

form an electronic greeting from the one or more items of the pre-recorded electronic content;

receive a selection of one or more intended recipients; and

schedule the electronic greeting to be sent towards the one or more intended recipients via the telecommunication system.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the telecommunications system includes an internet protocol (IP) communication network, and wherein the call is made using a voice-over-internet protocol (VOIP) service over the IP communication network.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the server is further configured to:

receive a request to play the electronic greeting during the call;

play the electronic greeting in the call in response to the request.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the server is further configured to:

receive a request to include personal message with the electronic greeting;

record electronic content comprising the personal message during the call; and

attach the personal message to the electronic greeting.

12 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the selection of the one or more intended recipients includes a respective one or more telephone numbers.

13 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the descriptions are played as part of a menu system, and wherein the selections of the one or more items of electronic content comprise voice or dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) commands.

14 . A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of managing an electronic greeting in a telecommunication system, comprising:

receiving a call via the telecommunication system;

playing descriptions of pre-recorded electronic content in the call;

receiving a selection of one or more items of the pre-recorded electronic content;

forming an electronic greeting from the one or more items of the pre-recorded electronic content;

receiving a selection of one or more intended recipients; and

scheduling the electronic greeting to be sent towards the one or more intended recipients via the telecommunication system.

15 . The computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the telecommunications system includes an internet protocol (IP) communication network, and wherein the call is made using a voice-over-internet protocol (VOIP) service over the IP communication network.

16 . The computer readable medium of claim 14 , further comprising:

receiving a request to play the electronic greeting during the call;

playing the electronic greeting in the call in response to the request.

17 . The computer readable medium of claim 14 , further comprising:

receiving a request to include personal message with the electronic greeting;

recording electronic content comprising the personal message during the call; and

attaching the personal message to the electronic greeting.

18 . The computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the selection of the one or more intended recipients includes a respective one or more telephone numbers.

19 . The computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the step of sending comprises:

causing placement of one or more calls to the one or more telephone numbers, respectively; and

playing the electronic greeting during each of the one or more calls that is answered.

20 . The computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the descriptions are played as part of a menu system, and wherein the selections of the one or more items of electronic content comprise voice or dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) commands.

Assignments (11)