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EP0841796A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Voice mail system and method of inter-voice mail system communication

Assignee: Nortel Networks Ltd
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Filing: 1997-11-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-11-10
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Abstract

Abstract A method of exchanging voice mail messages between voice mail systems is disclosed. A voice mail system employing the method is also disclosed. The method comprises establishing a message exchange session between a first voice mail system and a second voice mail system. Information about features offered at each system is exchanged between the systems. Using this information the features that are common to both systems are determined. Thereafter, message data used only by features common to both systems is exchanged.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gary Longster
  • 👤 Janusz Maruszak
  • 👤 Mervyn D'cruz
  • 👤 Brian Oliver

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 07:25
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/533; H04M3/53325

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 130 words
A method of exchanging voice mail messages between a first voice mail system and a second voice mail system, each voice mail message comprising frames of message data, said method comprising the steps of: a. establishing a message exchange session between said first and second systems; b. sending a first indicator of available voice mail system features at said first system, from said first system to said second system; c. sending a second indicator of available voice mail features at said second system from said second system to said first system; d. determining at said first and second systems a largest set of common features available at both said first and second systems; and e. exchanging frames of message data used only by features in said set of common features.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 43 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising forming at said first system, a first system bitmap representative of features supported at said first system, said first system bitmap comprising a plurality of bits, each bit representing a feature supported at said first system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 46 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising forming at said second system, a second system bitmap representative of features supported at said second system, said second system bitmap comprising a plurality of bits, each bit representing a feature supported at said second system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 3, wherein step d. comprises logically ANDing bits in said first and second system bitmaps.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 3 or claim 4, wherein step b. comprises sending said first system bitmap.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 46 words
The method of any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein step c. comprises forming a session bitmap at said second system by logically ANDing bits in said first and second system bitmaps; and sending said session bitmap from said second system to said first system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 6, wherein some of said message data is transferred using DTMF tones.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method of claim 6 or claim 7, wherein said first system bitmap is converted to a first base ten bitmap, and said first base ten bitmap is sent using DTMF tones.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 6 or claim 7, wherein said session bitmap is converted to a base ten session bitmap, and said base ten session bitmap is sent using DTMF tones.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 156 words
A voice mail system, for interconnection with a second voice mail system, comprising an interface for connecting said voice mail system for communication with said second voice mail system; a processor in communication with said interface, said processor adapted to exchange voice mail messages with said second voice mail system through said interface, said processor adapted to a. establish a message exchange session with said second voice mail system; b. send a first indicator of available voice mail system features at said voice mail system, to said second voice mail system; c. receive a second indicator of available voice mail features at said second voice mail from said second voice mail system; d. determine a largest set of common features available at both said voice mail system and said second voice mail system; and e. exchange frames of message data used only by features in said set of common features with said second voice mail system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 59 words
The voice mail system of claim 10, wherein said processor is further adapted to form a first system bitmap representative of features supported at said voice mail system, said first system bitmap comprising a plurality of bits, each bit representing a feature supported at said voice mail system, and wherein said first indicator is formed from said system bitmap.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 27 words
The voice mail system of claim 10 or claim 11, wherein said interface further comprises a DTMF tone generator for communicating with said second voice mail system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 21 words
The voice mail system of claim 10 or claim 11, wherein said interface is in communication with a DTMF tone generator.

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