US6411685B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for providing unified messaging to a user with a thin web browser
Assignee: Silicon Valley Bank Inc
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Filing: 1999-01-29
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Granted: 2002-06-25
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Expires: 2019-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A unified messaging system. A server node with a telephony interface to interface with the public switch telephone network and a web interface providing an interface to a wide area network receives messages of a plurality of type via these interfaces. The messages are stored in a database and provided by the server node to a user node executing a web browser. The server node provides message conversion so that a user at the user node can retrieve messages of the different media types, respond to those messages, forward messages, and send messages of different message types across a plurality of media originating from the user node over the wide area network.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen C. O'Neal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:05
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/5307; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/56; H04M2201/00; H04M2201/60; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/45; H04M2203/4509
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A system comprising: a web interface; a telephony interface; and a server node able to receive e-mails via the web interface, and facsimiles and voicemails via the telephony interface, the server node providing access to a message arriving on any of these media and ability to respond on any of these media from a user node executing a thin web browser; wherein the server node includes a conversion engine to convert a first message received on a first medium to a second message forwardable on a second medium; and wherein the conversion engine comprises: a text to speech application; a text to Tagged Image File Format (“TIFF”) application; and a TIFF to Graphic Interchange Format (“GIF”) application.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A system comprising: a web interface; a telephony interface; and a server node able to receive e-mails via the web interface, and facsimiles and voicemails via the telephony interface, the server node providing access to a message arriving on any of these media and ability to respond on any of these media from a user node executing a thin web browser; wherein the server node includes a conversion engine to convert a first message received on a first medium to a second message forwardable on a second medium; and wherein the conversion engine comprises: a text to speech application; a text to Tagged Image File Format (“TIFF”) application; and a TIFF to Graphic Interchange Format (“GIF”) application.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the server node provides alternative user selectable delivery formats for at least one message type.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the server node further comprises: an audio streamer and wherein a voicemail may be downloaded to the user node as a wave file or streamed to the user node.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 2 wherein a facsimile may be downloaded to the user node in either TIFF format or GIF format.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the server node retains a set of preferences associated with a user.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
39 words
A method comprising: receiving a request over a network from a user node to send a facsimile to an e-mail address; converting the facsimile into a Graphic Interchange Format (“GIF”) format; and inserting the GIF into an e-mail form.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
39 words
A method comprising: receiving a request over a network from a user node to send a facsimile to an e-mail address; converting the facsimile into a Graphic Interchange Format (“GIF”) format; and inserting the GIF into an e-mail form.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 6 .
Claim 10
Independent Claim
73 words
A method comprising: receiving a request over a network from a user node to send a first message having an e-mail message type to a target address that is a phone number; determining if the phone number is a voicemail address or a facsimile address; defaulting to the facsimile address if the determination is unsuccessful; and converting, on a server side, the first message to a second message compatible with the target address.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
73 words
A method comprising: receiving a request over a network from a user node to send a first message having an e-mail message type to a target address that is a phone number; determining if the phone number is a voicemail address or a facsimile address; defaulting to the facsimile address if the determination is unsuccessful; and converting, on a server side, the first message to a second message compatible with the target address.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the phone number is a facsimile address, further comprising: converting the e-mail to Tagged Image File Format (“TIFF”); and converting any text attachment to TIFF.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the phone number is a voicemail address, further comprising: converting the e-mail text to speech; and saving the converted text in an audio format.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 8 .
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 9 .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 10 .
Claim 17
Independent Claim
81 words
A method comprising: receiving a request over a network from a user node to send a first message having a first message type to a voicemail address; converting, on a server side, the first message into a second message, the second message being voicemail compatible, if the first message type is not voicemail compatible; placing a physical call to the voicemail address; and playing one of the first message and the second message responsive to an answer of the voicemail address.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
81 words
A method comprising: receiving a request over a network from a user node to send a first message having a first message type to a voicemail address; converting, on a server side, the first message into a second message, the second message being voicemail compatible, if the first message type is not voicemail compatible; placing a physical call to the voicemail address; and playing one of the first message and the second message responsive to an answer of the voicemail address.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
93 words
A method comprising: receiving a request over a network from a user node to send a first message having a first message type to a voicemail address; converting, on a server side, the first message into a second message, the second message being voicemail compatible, when the first message type is not voicemail compatible; discerning if a gateway exists between a local voicemail system and a forward voicemail system; and directly inserting one of the first message and the second message into an inbox on the forward voicemail system if the gateway exists.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
93 words
A method comprising: receiving a request over a network from a user node to send a first message having a first message type to a voicemail address; converting, on a server side, the first message into a second message, the second message being voicemail compatible, when the first message type is not voicemail compatible; discerning if a gateway exists between a local voicemail system and a forward voicemail system; and directly inserting one of the first message and the second message into an inbox on the forward voicemail system if the gateway exists.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-06-24 | 2005-12-24 | 2006-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-24 | 2009-12-24 | 2010-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-24 | 2013-12-24 | 2014-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |