U.S. patent number 6,421,708 [Application Number 09/127,562] was granted by the patent office on 2002-07-16 for world wide web access for voice mail and page.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Glenayre Electronics, Inc.. Invention is credited to Sonny R. Bettis.
United States Patent |
6,421,708 |
Bettis |
July 16, 2002 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
World wide web access for voice mail and page
Abstract
An integrated message processing system is provided. The message
processing system allows for the management of a plurality of
messages all within an integrated graphical environment. Allowable
messages types include voice messages, pages, facsimile messages
and electronic mail messages. The message processing system stores
these messages irrespective of the message format. Upon request
from a subscriber, the message processing system converts a message
stored in a first format to a second format, if necessary, and
transmits the requested message to the subscriber. The message
processing system displays information to a subscriber using a
self-hosting program such as a JAVA.TM. application, which is
downloaded to the remote client if the remote client does not have
such a self-hosting program executing thereon or the remote client
has an older version of the program. By having the self-hosting
program, which provides a user interface for displaying the
requested information, stored locally on the remote client, the
amount of data thereafter transferred from the web server is
minimized and, thus, the subscriber's display is updated more
quickly.
Inventors: |
Bettis; Sonny R.
(Lawrenceville, GA) |
Assignee: |
Glenayre Electronics, Inc.
(Charlotte, NC)
|
Family
ID: |
22430745 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/127,562 |
Filed: |
July 31, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
709/206; 709/217;
709/249 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q
10/107 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
15/16 (20060101); G06F 15/173 (20060101); G06F
13/00 (20060101); H04L 12/58 (20060101); G06F
015/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;379/93.15,93.24,100.01,88.14,88.17 ;358/402 ;370/407,428
;709/203,206,217,218,219,303,202,249 ;707/1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
Stuart Harris et al., Netscape Quick Tour for Macintosh: Accessing
& Navigating the Internet's World Wide Web, Ventana Press, Jan.
1995, p. 31..
|
Primary Examiner: Winder; Patrice
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Christensen O'Connor Johnson
Kindness PLLC
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. An integrated message processing system, comprising: (a) a
management component including at least one server, wherein said
management component manages a plurality of types of messages; (b)
a self-hosting user interface component for displaying and
manipulating the plurality of types of messages; (c) a remote
client on which the self-hosting user interface component is to be
stored and executed such that the remote client, via the
self-hosting user interface component, controls the processes of
displaying and manipulating the plurality of types of messages; (d)
a communications media, wherein said communications media
facilitates communications between said remote client and said
self-hosting user interface and management components; and (e) a
transmissions media, wherein said self-hosting user interface
component is transmitted to said remote client over said
communications media via said transmissions media.
2. The message processing system of claim 1, wherein said
communications media is a selected one from a group comprising a
wireless network, a public switched telephone network, an Internet,
and a private network.
3. The integrated message processing system of claim 1, wherein
said self-hosting user interface component is a JAVA.TM.
application.
4. The integrated message processing system of claim 1, wherein
said self-hosting user interface component for execution on said
remote client is downloaded to said remote client if said remote
client does not have said self-hosting user interface component or
said remote client has an older version of said self-hosting user
interface component.
5. (Twice Amended) The integrated message processing system of
claim 4, wherein said self-hosting user interface component is
automatically downloaded to said remote client if said remote
client has an older version of said self-hosting user interface
component.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to integrated voice, facsimile,
paging and electronic mail systems. More particularly, this
invention relates to a message processing system which allows a
subscriber to input, access, manipulate and originate voice,
facsimile, paging and electronic mail data through a personal
computer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A wide variety of communications alternatives are currently
available to telecommunications subscribers. For example, facsimile
transmission of printed matter is available through what is
commonly referred to as a stand-alone facsimile machine.
Alternatively, facsimile-modem communication systems are currently
available for personal computer subscribers which combine the
operation of a facsimile machine with the word processor of a
computer to transmit documents held on computer disk. Modern
communication over telephone lines in combination with a personal
computer is also known in the art where file transfers can be
accomplished from one computer to another. Also, simultaneous voice
and modem data transmitted over the same telephone line has been
accomplished in several ways.
There is a need, however, for a communications system which
combines a wide variety of communication functions into an
integrated hardware-software product such that the subscriber can
conveniently choose a mode of communication from a single user
interface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a method and apparatus
are provided for a message processing system. The message
processing system provides a plurality of subscribers with the
capability of transmitting, receiving and managing voice mail,
facsimile, paging and electronic mail messages all within an
integrated graphical environment. Message management includes
displaying message summary information for all messages, displaying
account information, such as number of calls placed on a given day,
retrieving individual messages, creating messages, modifying
messages and forwarding messages. The message processing system can
operate locally in a closed environment, as well as over the
Internet.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the subscriber
may create an electronic mail message. The electronic mail message
can be converted and ultimately sent to a pager or a cellular
telephone. Alternatively, the electronic mail message can be
converted and forwarded to another subscriber's voice mail account.
It can also be converted to a facsimile message and sent to any
facsimile machine.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the
message processing system divides a message into pages, including a
header page. The message is transmitted one page at a time. The
subscriber can cease transmission of the message at any time.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the message
processing system allows the subscriber the capability of
specifying a method of notification of incoming messages. For
example, the subscriber may be notified via page or cellular
telephone.
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention, when a
subscriber registers with the message processing system, a
graphical user interface is downloaded to the remote client. By
having the user interface stored locally, rather than downloading
the user interface each time the subscriber uses the message
processing system, the subscriber's display is updated more
quickly.
Some of the advantages of the present invention include: platform
independence; network independence; operating system independence;
and common transport protocols to remote clients.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this
invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes
better understood by reference to the following detailed
description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is an exemplary environment in which a message processing
system according to the present invention operates;
FIG. 1A is a block diagram of the several components of a remote
client shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 2 is flow diagram illustrating the logic used by the message
processing system;
FIG. 3 is flow diagram illustrating the logic used to authenticate
a subscriber;
FIG. 4 is flow diagram illustrating the logic used to perform the
default behavior; and
FIG. 5 is flow diagram illustrating the logic used to process a
message.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the message processing system of the
present invention. The message processing system can be viewed as
having three major components: a plurality of remote clients 10; a
collection of server components 20, 22, 24, and 26; and a choice of
communication medium 12, 14, 16 and 17, or 18. Each user of the
message processing system, known as a subscriber, uses a remote
client 10 to access the server components 20, 22, 24, and 26 of the
message processing system. The remote client 10 accesses the server
components of the message processing system via one of the
available communication media 12, 14, 16, or 18.
The key components of an individual remote client are illustrated
in FIG. 1A. The remote client 10 is any computer including a
desktop Personal Computer (PC), a laptop PC or a Personal Digital
Assistant (PDA). Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate
that the remote client 10 includes many more components than those
shown in FIG. 1A. However, it is not necessary that all of these
generally conventional components be shown in order to disclose an
illustrative embodiment for practicing the present invention. As
shown in FIG. 1A, the remote client 10 includes a processing unit
30, a display 36 and a memory 32. Memory 32 generally comprises a
random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), and a permanent
mass storage device, such as a hard disk drive, tape drive, optical
drive, floppy disk drive, or a combination thereof. The memory 32
stores the program code and data necessary for displaying a user
interface portion of the message processing system.
The user interface portion of the message processing system is
viewed by the subscriber on the display 36 of the remote client 10
by means of any off-the-shelf web browser 34 or by a JAVA.TM.
application obtained using the web browser. Once the JAVA.TM.
application is obtained, the JAVA.TM. application can be executed
without the need for the web browser. The remote client 10 also
includes an input device 38 for entering commands to the user
interface. The input device may be a keyboard, mouse, track-ball,
etc., or some combination of the above-mentioned devices.
As shown in FIG. 1A, the remote client 10 includes an external
interface 29. The external interface is the means by which the
remote client 10 connects to the server components 20, 22, 24, and
26 as shown in FIG. 1. This connection may be via an intranetwork,
an internetwork or a modem. Accordingly, external interface 29
includes the necessary circuitry for such a connection, and is also
constructed for use with the TCP/IP protocol (if an internetwork
connection), the particular network configuration of the local area
network or wide area network it is connecting to, and a particular
type of communication medium.
Returning to FIG. 1, the remote client 10 requires a method of
connecting to the server components 20, 22, 24, and 26 of the
message processing system. The remote client 10 may connect to the
server components via a voice mail system 22 component over a
wireless network 12, or a public switched telephone network (PSTIN)
14. Once a connection is made to the voice mail system, the remote
client 10 can communicate with all of the other server components
of the message processing system, namely, a World Wide Web (WWW)
server 20, a facsimile (fax) server 24 and an electronic mail
server 26. The remote client 10 can connect directly to all of the
server components via a private network (e.g. a LAN). The remote
client can also connect directly to all of the server components
over the Internet 16. A firewall 17 is provided for security
purposes to prevent unauthorized access into the message processing
system over the Internet. Once the subscriber has made a connection
from the remote client 10 via any one of the communication media
described above, the subscriber can access all of the server
components either directly or indirectly over the selected
communication media.
The message processing system receives, manages and transmits
messages of a myriad of formats comprising voice, paging,
facsimile, and electronic mail. The voice mail system 22 is the
mechanism for transmitting and receiving voice messages and pages.
The voice mail system is also the server component that contains a
central database. The central database is a repository for all of
the messages stored for each subscriber, irrespective of the
message format (e.g. voice, page, facsimile, electronic mail). This
includes all new messages, as well as all saved messages. The
central database also stores information about each subscriber,
known as profile information. Details about the subscriber's
profile information are described below in connection with a
registration function shown in a block 58 of FIG. 3.
The World Wide Web (WWW) server 20 consists primarily of
off-the-shelf components. It also includes a protocol capable of
communicating with the voice mail system 22 and the facsimile (fax)
server 24. Subscriber information and messages retrieved by the WWW
server 20, as well as facsimile messages received by the facsimile
server 24, are deposited into the central database on the voice
mail system 22 by the WWW server 20. The WWW server 20 must be able
to support JAVA.TM. clients. Ideally, the web browser 34 running on
the remote client 10 will be JAVA.TM. capable. The WWW server 20
also provides all of the necessary message conversion
functionality. For example, conversions are necessary to convert
between various graphical data formats, such as TIFF, and facsimile
data formats, such as G3/G4. The WWW server 20 also provides the
capability for Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (MIME) encoding
of messages. MIME encoding may be necessary for actually playing
voice mail messages or panning facsimile messages by the remote
client 10.
The WWW server 20 can also divide a message into multiple pages, or
sub-pages for transmission to the remote client 10. This allows the
remote client 10 to begin displaying a header and the first pages
of the message without first having to wait for the entire message
to be downloaded. Present message processing systems require the
entire message to be downloaded prior to displaying the message.
This can be very time consuming. For example, in a wireless
community, the bandwidth to the remote client may be as low as 2400
Bits Per Second (BPS). A typical facsimile page in G3 compressed
format contains approximately 65535 byes of data. Using a baud rate
of 2400 BPS, it would take about 3.6 minutes to receive one
facsimile page. By dividing the message into pages, the present
invention allows the remote client the capability of terminating
the transmission of the message at any time.
The electronic mail server 26 is an off-the-shelf components which
provides for receipt, storage and transmission of electronic mail
messages.
FIG. 2 is a flow diagram depicting the overall logic used by the
message processing system. As can be seen in FIG. 1, and noted
above, a plurality of remote clients 10 can use the message
processing system simultaneously. The logic depicted in the flow
diagram is for one subscriber using the message processing system
via one remote client 10. It will be appreciated that the logic
shown in FIG. 2 will be repeated for each subscriber using the
message processing system by means of a remote client 10.
The logic begins in FIG. 2 in a block 39 and proceeds to a block 40
in which the subscriber connects to the voice mail system component
22 of the message processing system using one of the methods of
connection discussed above in conjunction with FIG. 1. Upon
connection to the voice mail system 22, the logic proceeds to a
block 42 where the subscriber is authenticated. The subscriber
authentication process is shown in detail in FIG. 3.
The logic authenticating a subscriber as shown in FIG. 3 begins in
a block 50 and proceeds to a block 51 with the display of a
greeting screen on the remote client 10. The greeting screen
requests the subscriber's identification and password. After the
subscriber's identification and password have been entered, the
logic proceeds to a block 52 where the message processing system
processes the subscriber identification data in order to verify
that a valid combination of subscriber identification and password
have been entered. Once a valid combination of subscriber
identification and password has been entered, the logic proceeds to
a decision block 60 which determines whether there is a valid
registration for the subscriber.
If in decision block 60 it is determined that there is a valid
registration for the subscriber, the logic proceeds to a decision
block 55 to determine whether the subscriber requires a user
interface to be downloaded to the remote client 10. Possible
reasons for an existing subscriber needing to download a new user
interface include the subscriber moving to a new remote client
computer or an upgrade to the user interface. By downloading the
majority of the user interface so that it can be run locally on the
remote client, the amount of information downloaded to the remote
client 10 during run-time is greatly reduced, thereby updating the
remote client's display 36 more quickly. If in decision block 55 it
is determined that the subscriber does need a new copy of the user
interface, the logic proceeds to a block 56 where a copy of the
user interface is downloaded to the remote client 10.
If it is determined in decision block 60 that there is not a valid
registration for the subscriber, then the logic proceeds to a
decision block 54 to determine whether the subscriber is a
first-time user. If the subscriber is a first-time user, then the
logic proceeds to a block 58 to register the subscriber followed by
block 56 where the user interface is downloaded to the remote
client 10.
The registration process 58 requests profile information from the
subscriber. This profile information includes items such as the
subscriber's name, address, telephone number, facsimile number,
electronic mail address, and password. The profile information also
includes subscriber preferences such as a default behavior, a
greeting a caller will hear when he or she calls to reach the
subscriber, and how the subscriber will be notified of incoming
calls (e.g. pager or cellular phone). In an actual embodiment of
the present invention, the registration service utilizes a secure
HyperText Markup Language (HTML) method to ensure privacy.
If, on the other hand, the determination in decision block 60 is
that there is not a valid registration, but the determination in
decision block 54 is that the subscriber is not a first-time user,
then the logic will proceed to block 58 to re-register the
subscriber. The user interface will not be downloaded automatically
since it is assumed that if the subscriber is not a first-time
user, a user interface has previously been downloaded to the remote
client 10. However, the logic will proceed to decision block 55 to
determine whether a new copy of the user interface needs to be
downloaded to the remote client 10. In an actual embodiment of the
present invention, the subscriber's version of the user interface
is checked, and if there is a more recent version of the user
interface available, the subscriber is notified. The subscriber may
then choose whether or not to have the new version of the user
interface downloaded. If it is determined in decision block 55 that
the subscriber needs a new copy of the user interface, then the
logic proceeds to block 56 where the user interface is downloaded
to the remote client 10.
Following any required registration 58 and/or download of the user
interface to the remote client 56, the logic then proceeds to a
block 59 where the authenticate subscriber logic terminates.
Returning to FIG. 2, once the subscriber has been authenticated 42,
the logic proceeds to a block 44 where the default behavior as
specified in the subscriber's profile is performed. The performance
of the default behavior is depicted in FIG. 4. The logic in FIG. 4
begins in a block 70 and proceeds to a block 72 for determination
of the default behavior that is to be performed. The default
behavior is configurable by the remote client 10. The same default
behavior will be used each time the remote client activates the
message processing system until the remote client changes the
selected default behavior.
The default behavior may be selected from among the following: list
messages available for retrieval; retrieve all unread facsimile
messages; or send a facsimile message. If in block 72 it is
determined that the selected default behavior is to list all
messages, the logic proceeds to a block 74 where the message
processing system will transmit a list containing subscriber
summary information about all of the subscriber's messages
currently stored in the database to the remote client 10 for
display. If in block 72 it is determined that the selected default
behavior is retrieve all unread facsimile messages, then the logic
proceeds to a block 76 where all unread facsimile messages will be
downloaded from the message processing system to the remote client
10. In an actual embodiment of the present invention, the unread
facsimile messages will be download in priority, i.e. high priority
messages first. Within a given priority, messages are downloaded on
a first-in-first-out basis. The subscriber may cease download of
the facsimiles from the message processing system at any time. The
subscriber may terminate the download of a specified message or of
all messages. Finally, if in block 72 it is determined that the
selected default behavior is to send a facsimile message, then the
logic proceeds to a block 78 where the remote client 10 will
immediately begin a facsimile upload when it connects to the server
components. In an actual embodiment of the present invention,
facsimile messages are stored in a default directory. All messages
in the default directory will be uploaded when the remote client 10
connects to the server components. Irrespective of the default
behavior performed as determined by block 72, once the appropriate
default behavior has been performed, the logic proceeds to a block
80 where the logic for the performance of the default behavior is
terminated.
Returning to FIG. 2, after the default behavior is performed 44,
the logic proceeds to a block 46 where a message is processed. FIG.
5 shows in more detail the logic of the process a message 46
function. The logic in FIG. 5 begins in a block 89 and proceeds to
a block 90 where a menu of options is displayed on the remote
client 10. The possible functions comprise: displaying a summary
list; retrieving a message; continuing an aborted download;
deleting a file; un-deleting a previously deleted message;
forwarding a message; transmitting a facsimile to a facsimile
machine; or depositing a message directly into another subscriber's
account. The logic then proceeds to a block 92 where the subscriber
selects one of the options from the menu displayed by block 90. The
subscriber's selection is transmitted to the voice mail system 22
for processing. The logic then proceeds to a block 94 where the
function specified by the subscriber is performed. The types of
messages which may be processed include any of the valid message
types, unless specifically stated to the contrary. Valid message
types include voice mail, facsimile messages, pages, and electronic
mail message.
If in block 94 it is determined that the subscriber selected the
display summary list option, then the logic proceeds to a block 96
where information for each message that is currently in the
subscriber's account, is presented to the subscriber. This
information includes the message type (e.g., facsimile, voice,
etc.), message state (i.e., new, saved), message status (e.g.,
urgent, confidential), message time and date, and if the message is
a facsimile, the number of pages and the station identifier are
also displayed.
If in block 94 it is determined that the subscriber selected the
retrieve a message option, the logic then proceeds to a block 98
where a message selected by the subscriber is retrieved. In an
actual embodiment of the present invention, if the subscriber
wishes to retrieve a message, summary information is displayed for
all of the messages. The subscriber then selects which message or
messages, if any, are to be retrieved.
If in block 94 it is determined that the subscriber elected to
continue an aborted download, then the logic proceeds to a block
100 where the subscriber can continue the download of a specified
message. In an actual embodiment of the present invention, the
subscriber may choose to continue the download of one or more
messages which were previously aborted. In an actual embodiment of
the present invention, if the user selects the continue aborted
transmission function, summary information for all aborted
transmissions is displayed. The subscriber may then select which
messages, if any, to continue downloading. The subscriber may also
elect to continue the download of all previously aborted
transmissions. The continuation of a transmission begins at the
position in the message where the transmission was aborted. If the
subscriber wishes to download the entire message, the subscriber
can choose the retrieve message function as described above.
If in block 94 it is determined that the subscriber elected to
delete a message, then the logic proceeds to a block 102 where a
message selected by the subscriber is deleted. Any message,
including voice messages, may be deleted at any time, including
during transmission of the message. Deleted messages will be placed
in a trash folder. In other words, they are marked for deletion,
but are not actually deleted. The messages are actually deleted
from the message processing system when the message is deleted from
the trash folder. In one embodiment of the present invention, the
subscriber may configure the system to automatically delete
messages in the trash folder upon exit from the message processing
program. If in block 94 it is determined that the subscriber
selected the un-delete of a previously deleted message function,
the logic proceeds to a block 103. Messages still in the trash
folder may be restored by using the un-delete function. Once a
message has been deleted from the trash folder, it cannot be
un-deleted.
If in block 94 it is determined that the subscriber chose to
forward a message, then the logic proceeds to a block 104 where a
selected message may be forwarded to a destination entered by the
subscriber. If in block 94 it is determined that the subscriber
chose to transmit a facsimile to a specified facsimile machine,
then the logic proceeds to a block 106 where the specified
facsimile is transmitted to the specified facsimile machine.
Finally, if in block 94 it is determined that the subscriber chose
to deposit a message to another subscriber's account, then the
logic proceeds to block 108 where the specified message is
deposited directly into another valid subscriber's account by
entering the recipient's subscriber identification information.
Irrespective of the function performed as determined by block 94,
once the desired function has been performed, the logic proceeds to
a block 110 where the logic for the process a message function
terminates.
Returning to FIG. 2, after a message is processed, the logic
proceeds to a decision block 47 where it is determined whether the
subscriber wishes to exit from the message processing system. If
the subscriber wishes to exit from the message processing system,
the logic proceeds to a termination function in a block 48. The
termination function closes any open files, disconnects the remote
client 10 from the message processing system, and shuts down the
user interface running on the remote client 10. On the other hand,
if in decision block 47 it is determined that the user does not
wish to terminate, then the message processing function 46 will be
performed again. In this regard, following the performance of the
default behavior 44, the message processing function 46 is
repeatedly performed until the subscriber wishes to exit as
determined in decision block 47.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been
illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various
changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.
* * * * *