Managing a unified communication storage server from an end user email reader
View Patent ↗An efficient article and method for automating the process of changing the status of a voicemail (or other multimedia message or object) that is stored in a multimedia server (such as a voicemail server), when the voicemail has been associated with an email, and the email has been opened by the intended recipient.
1. In a telecommunications system, wherein a multimedia message is stored and assigned a unique identity under the control of a multimedia server application, said multimedia server application being in communication with, and responsive to at least one command when received from, at least one message status control object, and wherein an email message can have attached to itself a file that contains said stored multimedia message, or a reference (link) to said stored multimedia message, and wherein said email message can also have contained in its body, or any other part of said email, at least one embedded component,
a method for automating control of the status of said stored multimedia message when said email message is retrieved using an email reader, and one of said embedded component is activated manually by a user of said email reader, including the steps of:
a) said multimedia server application attaches said file containing said stored multimedia message to said email, or inserts a reference (link) to said stored multimedia message into said email,
b) said multimedia server application inserts at least one said embedded component into said email, or into an object attached to said email, each said embedded component containing necessary and properly formatted information, including a targeted status for only said stored multimedia message, and not for said email itself, to cause, when said embedded component is activated under the control of said email reader, said email reader to transmit a request message to said message status control object, each said embedded component having said properly formatted information that differs from the said properly formatted information contained in any other said embedded component contained in said email,
c) said multimedia server application transmits said email addressed to said user via an email server,
d) said user retrieves and opens said email and manually activates one selected said embedded component contained in said email, the selected said embedded component relating to a targeted status for only said stored multimedia message, and not relating to a status of said email itself, causing said email reader to transmit a request message to said message status control object, the transmission of the request message not involving the email server, said request message containing said properly formatted information associated with said one selected embedded component,
e) said message status control object evaluates said properly formatted information received with said request message, thereby determining said targeted status of only said stored multimedia message, and not of said email, and said unique identity of only said stored multimedia message, and not of said email,
f) said status control object communicates with said multimedia server application, transmitting a command to modify the current status of only said stored multimedia message to said targeted status, wherein the command does not modify a status of said email,
g) said multimedia server application, upon receipt of said command, changing the status of only said stored multimedia message to said targeted status, without changing a status of said email.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said targeted status of said stored multimedia message can be at least one of:
delete, save, mark as retrieved, mark as not retrieved, turn email notification off, resend email with link to said stored multimedia message, and resend email with said stored multimedia attached.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said stored multimedia message is a data file whose contents represent audio received in a voicemail.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said stored multimedia message is a data file whose contents represent video received in a message.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said multimedia message is a data file whose contents, while stored under the control of a multimedia server application, cause said multimedia server application to trigger the transmission of at least one page from a paging means.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said multimedia server application is software or firmware operating on a server computer, and said message status control object is operating as software or firmware on said computer, said computer being in communication with a network, wherein said network allows connection and communication between at least one said email reader and said multimedia server application, and said network allows connection and communication between at least one said email reader and at least one said message status control object.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said network is the Internet, and said email reader is software or firmware operating on a client computer, said email reader communicating with said multimedia server application and said message status control object using Internet protocols and methods.
8. In a telecommunications system, wherein a multimedia message is stored and assigned a unique identity under the control of a multimedia server application, said multimedia server application being in communication with, and responsive to at least one command when received from, at least one message status control object, and wherein an email message can have attached to itself a file that contains said stored multimedia message, or a reference (link) to said stored multimedia message, and wherein said email message can also have contained in its body, or any other part of said email, at least one embedded component,
a method for automating control of the status of said stored multimedia message when said email message is retrieved using an email reader, and said email is opened by a user of said email reader, including the steps of:
a) said multimedia server application attaches said file containing said stored multimedia message to said email, or inserts a reference (link) to said stored multimedia message into said email,
b) said multimedia server application inserts at least one said embedded component into said email, or into an object attached to said email, said embedded component including an HTML tag containing necessary and properly formatted information to cause, when activated under the control of said email reader, said email reader to transmit a request message to said message status control object, the request message relating to the stored multimedia message and not to said email itself,
c) said multimedia server application transmits said email addressed to said user via an email server,
d) said user retrieves and opens said email, in response to which said email reader automatically activates said embedded component, causing said email reader to transmit a request message to said message status control object, the transmission of the request message not involving the email server, the request message relating to the stored multimedia message and not to said email itself,
e) said message status control object evaluates said received with said request message, thereby determining said unique identity of only said stored multimedia message, and not of said email,
f) said status control object communicates with said multimedia server application, transmitting a command to modify the current status of only said stored multimedia message to said predetermined status, wherein the command does not modify a status of said email,
g) said multimedia server application, upon receipt of said command, changing the status of only said multimedia message to said predetermined status, without changing a status of said email.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said predetermined status of said stored multimedia message can be at least one of:
delete, save, mark as retrieved, mark as not retrieved, turn email notification off, resend email with link to said stored multimedia message, and resend email with said stored multimedia attached.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein said stored multimedia message is a data file whose contents represent audio received in a voicemail.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein said stored multimedia message is a data file whose contents represent video received in a message.
12. The method of claim 8 , said multimedia message is a data file whose contents, while stored under the control of a multimedia server application, cause said multimedia server application to trigger the transmission of at least one page from a paging means.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein said multimedia server application is software or firmware operating on a server computer, and said message status control object is operating as software or firmware on said computer, said computer being in communication with a network, wherein said network allows connection and communication between at least one said email reader and said multimedia server application, and said network allows connection and communication between at least one said email reader and at least one said message status control object.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said network is the Internet, and said email reader is software or firmware operating on a client computer, said email reader communicating with said multimedia server application and said message status control object using Internet protocols and methods.
15. In a telecommunications system, wherein a multimedia message is stored and assigned a unique identity under the control of a multimedia server application, said multimedia server application being in communication with, and responsive to at least one command when received from, at least one message status control object, each said message status control object having a predetermined status to which an identified said stored multimedia message will be transitioned, and wherein an email message can have attached to itself a file that contains said stored multimedia message, or a reference (link) to said stored multimedia message, and wherein said email message can also have contained in its body, or any other part of said email, at least one embedded component,
a method for automating control of the status of said stored multimedia message when said email message is retrieved using an email reader, and one of said embedded components is activated manually by a user of said email reader, including the steps of:
a) said multimedia server application attaches said file containing said stored multimedia message to said email, or inserts a reference (link) to said stored multimedia message into said email,
b) said multimedia server application inserts at least one said embedded component into said email, or into an object attached to said email, each said embedded component containing properly formatted information, including at least an identity or logical address of a specific one of said message status control objects, each said embedded component containing also a user-recognizable visual or audible feature identifying its associated targeted status for only said stored multimedia message, and not for said email itself, each said embedded component, when activated under the control of said email reader, causing said email reader to transmit a request message to said specific one of said message status control objects, each said embedded component having said properly formatted information that differs from the said properly formatted information contained in any other said embedded component contained in said email, and each said embedded component containing a link to (or address of) a specific one of said message status control objects,
c) said multimedia server application transmits said email addressed to said user via an email server,
d) said user retrieves and opens said email and manually activates one selected said embedded component contained in said email, the selected said embedded component relating to a targeted status for only said stored multimedia message, and not relating to a status of said email itself, causing said email reader to transmit a request message to a specific one said message status control object whose identity or logical address is contained in said selected embedded component, the transmission of the request message not involving the email server, said request message containing said properly formatted information associated with said one selected embedded component,
e) said message status control object evaluates said properly formatted information received with said request message, thereby determining said unique identity of only said stored multimedia message, and not of said email,
f) said status control object communicates with said multimedia server application, transmitting a command to modify the current status of only said stored multimedia message to said predetermined status, wherein the command does not modify a status of said email,
h) said multimedia server application, upon receipt of said command, changing the status of only said stored multimedia message to said predetermined status, without changing a status of said email.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said predetermined status of said stored multimedia message can be at least one of:
delete, save, mark as retrieved, mark as not retrieved, turn email notification off, resend email with link to said stored multimedia message, and resend email with said stored multimedia attached.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein said stored multimedia message is a data file whose contents represent audio received in a voicemail.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein said stored multimedia message is a data file whose contents represent video received in a message.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein said multimedia message is a data file whose contents, while stored under the control of a multimedia server application, cause said multimedia server application to trigger the transmission of at least one page from a paging means.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein said multimedia server application is software or firmware operating on a server computer, and said message status control object is operating as software or firmware on said computer, said computer being in communication with a network, wherein said network allows connection and communication between at least one said email reader and said multimedia server application, and said network allows connection and communication between at least one said email reader and at least one said message status control object, and wherein said network is the Internet, and said email reader is software or firmware operating on a client computer, said email reader communicating with said multimedia server application and said message status control object using Internet protocols and methods.