US4935954A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated message retrieval system
Assignee: Avaya Inc
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Filing: 1988-12-28
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Granted: 1990-06-19
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Expires: 2008-12-28
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for automatically polling message service systems to obtain messages for a user of the apparatus. The apparatus is a computer attached to the user's telephone connected to a communication switching system. The computer responds to messages from the communication switching system or to an internal real time clock timing out to poll a number of message service systems to obtain messages for the user. The computer automatically performs logon procedures, message access procedures and message deletion procedures with the various message service systems. If the message service system is audio only, the computer generates audio tones and interprets verbal instruction in order to implement the above procedures.
Inventors
- 👤 John S. Thompson
- 👤 Thomas J. Tierney, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/21; H04L51/224; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/533; H04M3/53325; H04Q; H04Q3/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for use by subscriber of a communication switching system for obtaining stored messages from a plurality of message service systems via said communication switching system, each of said plurality of message service systems being capable of storing messages each with header information defining each message, comprising: means responsive to a signal from said communication switching system indicating that at least one of said plurality of message service systems has a message for said subscriber for polling each of said plurality of message service systems to identify the one of said plurality of message service systems having said message; means for obtaining from said identified one of said plurality of message service systems a header defining said message; means for reading said message from said identified one of said plurality of message service systems; and means for storing said read message and said obtained header information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for use by subscriber of a communication switching system for obtaining stored messages from a plurality of message service systems via said communication switching system, each of said plurality of message service systems being capable of storing messages each with header information defining each message, comprising: means responsive to a signal from said communication switching system indicating that at least one of said plurality of message service systems has a message for said subscriber for polling each of said plurality of message service systems to identify the one of said plurality of message service systems having said message; means for obtaining from said identified one of said plurality of message service systems a header defining said message; means for reading said message from said identified one of said plurality of message service systems; and means for storing said read message and said obtained header information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for automatically polling a subset of said plurality of message service systems at predefined intervals of time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said polling means comprises means for retrieving sets of parameters for said plurality of message service systems, with each set of parameters being individual to one of said plurality of message service system; and means for accessing each of said plurality of said message service systems using each individual set of said parameters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said obtaining means comprises means for reading in textual data form said header information by using the set of parameters for said identified one of said plurality of message service systems; and said storing means comprises means for storing said read textual header in a predefined order with respect to other previously read headers in textual data form.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said one of said plurality of said message service systems is a voice message service system having only voice signal headers and messages and said means for reading in textual form said header information comprises means responsive to one of said voice signal headers for transforming said one of said voice signal headers into textual data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said predefined order is a first-in first-out ordering.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for use by a user of a communication switching system for obtaining stored messages from a message storage system, said message storage system providing said user with the capability of accessing said messages by transmitting signals to said message storage system in response to verbal instructions from said message storage system, comprising: means for generating signals defining the logon procedure for said message storage system; means for recognizing verbal instructions from said message storage system; means responsive to the recognized verbal instructions for obtaining said messages by instructing said generating means to generate additional signals to said message storage system; and means for storing the obtained messages.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for use by a user of a communication switching system for obtaining stored messages from a message storage system, said message storage system providing said user with the capability of accessing said messages by transmitting signals to said message storage system in response to verbal instructions from said message storage system, comprising: means for generating signals defining the logon procedure for said message storage system; means for recognizing verbal instructions from said message storage system; means responsive to the recognized verbal instructions for obtaining said messages by instructing said generating means to generate additional signals to said message storage system; and means for storing the obtained messages.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising means for extracting header information from said messages; and said storing means responsive to said extracting means for storing said header information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising means for deleting said messages from said message storage system by instructing said generating means to generate additional signals to said message storage system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
157 words
Apparatus for retrieving stored messages from a plurality of message service systems, and said apparatus is adaptable to be interconnected to said plurality of message service systems by a communication switching system and each of a subset of said plurality of message service systems is responsive to receipt of a message to indicate receipt of a message to said communication switching system and the latter system is responsive to the indication to transmit a message waiting signal to said apparatus, comprising: means for generating a signal at predefined intervals of time; and means responsive to said signal for automatically polling each of said message service systems to determine the presence of a message on each of said plurality of message service systems; means responsive to said message waiting signal for determining which one of said subset of said plurality of message service systems has a message; and means responsive to the determination for obtaining said latter message.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
157 words
Apparatus for retrieving stored messages from a plurality of message service systems, and said apparatus is adaptable to be interconnected to said plurality of message service systems by a communication switching system and each of a subset of said plurality of message service systems is responsive to receipt of a message to indicate receipt of a message to said communication switching system and the latter system is responsive to the indication to transmit a message waiting signal to said apparatus, comprising: means for generating a signal at predefined intervals of time; and means responsive to said signal for automatically polling each of said message service systems to determine the presence of a message on each of said plurality of message service systems; means responsive to said message waiting signal for determining which one of said subset of said plurality of message service systems has a message; and means responsive to the determination for obtaining said latter message.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein one of said plurality of said message service systems is a voice message service system having only voice signal headers and messages and said obtaining means comprises means responsive to one of said voice headers for transforming said one of said voice signal headers into textual data.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
164 words
A method for obtaining stored message for a subscriber of a communication switching system from a plurality of messages service systems via said communication switching system and each of said plurality of message service systems capable of storing messages each with header information defining each message, the method comprising: identifying ones of said plurality of message service systems having said messages in response to a signal from said communication switching system indicating that at least one of said plurality of message service systems has a message for said subscriber by polling each of said plurality of message service systems; automatically polling a subset of said plurality of message service systems at predefined intervals of time; obtaining from said identified one of said plurality of message service systems a header defining one of said messages; reading said one of said messages from said identified one of said plurality of message service systems; and storing said red one of said messages and said obtained header information.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
164 words
A method for obtaining stored message for a subscriber of a communication switching system from a plurality of messages service systems via said communication switching system and each of said plurality of message service systems capable of storing messages each with header information defining each message, the method comprising: identifying ones of said plurality of message service systems having said messages in response to a signal from said communication switching system indicating that at least one of said plurality of message service systems has a message for said subscriber by polling each of said plurality of message service systems; automatically polling a subset of said plurality of message service systems at predefined intervals of time; obtaining from said identified one of said plurality of message service systems a header defining one of said messages; reading said one of said messages from said identified one of said plurality of message service systems; and storing said red one of said messages and said obtained header information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said identifying step comprises the steps of retrieving sets of parameters for said plurality of message service systems, with each set of parameters being individual to one of said plurality of message service systems; and accessing each of said plurality of said message service systems using each individual set of said parameters thereby determining which of said plurality of message service systems generated said signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said obtaining step comprises the steps of reading in textual data form said header information by using said set of parameters for said identified one of said plurality of message service systems; and said storing step comprises the step of storing said read header in textual data form in a predefined order with respect to other previously read headers in textual data form.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said one of said plurality of said message service systems is a voiced message service system having only voice signal headers and messages and said step of reading in textual form said header information comprises the steps of transforming said header into textual data in response to said header and said message being voice signal; and extracting said header from said textual data.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said predefined order is a first-in first-out ordering.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-06-18 | 1993-12-18 | 1994-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-18 | 1997-12-18 | 1998-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-18 | 2001-12-18 | 2002-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |