IP Library Granted Patent US 8,340,254
Granted Patent B2
US 8,340,254 · App. 12/051,979 · Granted Dec 25, 2012

Unified messaging system

Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,340,254
App. No.
12/051,979
Granted
Dec 25, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide a unified messaging system. The unified messaging system comprises a unified messaging system server and clients, such as personal computers, telephones, facsimile machines, and two-way paging machines connected via both land based and wireless connections. This system enables a user to access and retrieve a variety of messages, including voice mail messages, facsimiles, and electronic mail messages via a unified user interface that clearly distinguishes each message type using message identifiers, and segregates messages by type.

Claims (72)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a plurality of messages to a client device, the plurality of messages including a voice message, a text message, and an image;

associating each message with at least one message type;

displaying a view on the client device, the view including information identifying at least a subset of the plurality of messages;

receiving a request via the client device to display messages of a particular message type; and

modifying the view based on the request.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the message type is at least one of a voicemail, an email, a text message, and a facsimile.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a request from the client device to access the plurality of messages; and

providing a plurality of headers representing the plurality of messages to the client device in response to the request.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising authenticating the client device before providing the plurality of headers to the client device.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving messages directed to at least two different destinations;

displaying information identifying the messages directed to the at least two different destinations;

receiving a request to display messages directed to a particular destination; and

modifying the view based on the request.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the at least two different destinations include a user's home and a user's business.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein each destination is associated with at least one of a telephone number, an email address, and a location.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said image is part of a video message.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

associating at least one icon with each message type; and

displaying the associated icon with the information identifying each message.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying a plurality of message headers, each message header being associated with at least one message; and

responding to the request to display messages of a particular message type by removing all displayed headers associated with message types other than the requested message type.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising wirelessly communicating with the client device.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising modifying the view based on the request by removing information identifying messages associated with a message type other than the requested message type.

13. A device, comprising:

a processor configured to execute instructions;

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor; and

a computer-readable medium communicatively coupled to the processor, the computer-readable medium including instructions for:

receiving a plurality of messages, the plurality of messages including a voice message, a text message, and an image;

associating each message with at least one message type;

displaying information identifying at least a subset of the plurality of messages,

receiving a request to display messages directed to a particular message type; and

modifying the displayed information based on the request.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the message type is at least one of a voicemail, an email, a text message, and a facsimile.

15. The device of claim 13 , the plurality of messages including messages directed to at least two different destinations.

16. The device of claim 15 , the at least two different destinations including a user's office and a user's home.

17. The device of claim 15 , wherein each destination is associated with at least one of a telephone number, an email address, and a location.

18. The device of claim 13 , further comprising instructions for:

receiving a plurality of message headers, each message header representing at least one of the plurality of messages;

displaying at least a subset of the plurality of message headers;

receiving a selection of one of the message headers; and

responding to the selection by providing the message associated with the selected message header.

19. The device of claim 13 , further comprising instructions for:

associating at least one icon with each message; and

displaying the at least one associated icon when displaying information identifying a message.

20. The device of claim 13 , further comprising instructions for:

modifying the displayed information based on the request by removing information identifying messages associated with a message type other than the requested message type.

21. The device of claim 13 , further comprising a wireless network interface configured to communicate over a wireless network.

22. A system, comprising:

a computing device configured to receive a plurality of messages directed to at least two different destinations, each message being associated with at least one message type; and

a client device configured to:

receive at least a subset of the plurality of messages from the computing device,

display information identifying at least a subset of the received messages,

receive a request to modify the displayed information based on at least one of a destination and a message type; and

modify the displayed information based on the request.

23. The system of claim 22 , the message type being at least one of a voice mail, an email, a text message, and a facsimile.

24. The system of claim 22 , further comprising a wireless network, wherein the computing device and the client device are configured to communicate via the wireless network.

25. The system of claim 22 , the computing device being further configured to:

store the plurality of messages;

receive a request from the client device to access the plurality of messages; and

provide a plurality of headers to the client device in response to the request.

26. The system of claim 22 , the computing device being further configured to:

authenticate the client device before providing any of the plurality of messages to the client device.

27. The system of claim 22 , wherein each destination is associated with at least one of a telephone number, an email address, and a location.

28. The system of claim 22 , the computing device being further configured to assign at least one message type to each message.

29. The system of claim 22 , the client device being further configured to:

associate at least one icon with each message, the icon being related to a message type; and

display the at least one associated icon when displaying information identifying any of the received messages.

30. The system of claim 22 , the client device being further configured to modify the displayed information based on the request by removing information identifying messages associated with a message type or a destination other than the requested message type or destination.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2012
From: SCHMIDT, ALBERT L., JR.; BUCCHIERI, VITTORIO; VIRZI, ROBERT A.
To: GTE LABORATORIES INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 028675/0741 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 30, 2012
From: GTE LABORATORIES INCORPORATED
To: VERIZON LABORATORIES INC.
Reel/Frame 028680/0456 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 10801106 · Mar 15, 2004
Continuation 09507830 · Feb 22, 2000
Provisional Application 60125746 · Mar 23, 1999
Related Publication 20100002852A1 · Jan 7, 2010