Network based multimedia messaging method and system

Claim 2

In a circuit switched telecommunication network supporting at least 56 kilobits per second access, a method of handling a multimedia call from a caller using an H.320 protocol compliant multimedia device, comprising the steps of: attempting to establish a communication connection in the circuit switched telecommunication network between the caller and a recipient for the multimedia call, the multimedia call comprising a unified combination of video and at least one other media communicated according to an H.320 compliant protocol; determining at a network switch that said communication connection between the caller and said recipient cannot be completed because the multimedia call is an unanswered call; following said determining step and as a result thereof, connecting said unanswered call to a network based multimedia server; and creating a stored multimedia message in real-time from the caller by recording a multimedia message from the H.320 compliant multimedia device using said network based multimedia server.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 further including the step of furnishing said recipient with said multimedia message.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein following said connecting step the method includes the step of furnishing said caller with a multimedia greeting.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 further including the step of informing the recipient, at a time following said creating step, that said multimedia message was recorded.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 wherein, following said informing step, the method includes the step of furnishing a plurality of options to said recipient.

Claim 7

The method of claim 4 wherein said informing step includes the steps of waiting a preselected period of time and initiating a call from said network based multimedia server to said recipient.

Claim 8

The method of claim 4 wherein said informing step includes the step of setting a message indicator on telephone equipment associated with said recipient.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 wherein said creating step includes the step of associating a caller identification with said recorded multimedia message.

Claim 10

The method of claim 2 wherein the caller is identifiable by a telephone number and said furnishing step includes the step of furnishing said recipient with said telephone number.

Claim 11

The method of claim 1 further including the step of associating Calling Line Identification (CLI) information with said recorded multimedia message and storing said CLI information in a memory.

Claim 12

The method of claim 10 further including the step of initiating a call from said network based multimedia server to said recipient using said stored CLI information.

Claim 13

The method of claim 1, wherein said recorded multimedia message includes an audio portion and said recipient is associated with a device which is capable of only receiving said audio portion, said furnishing step includes the step of furnishing said recipient with only said audio portion.

Claim 14

In a circuit switched telecommunication network a system for handling a call from a caller, using a first H.320 protocol compliant multimedia device capable of communicating a unified combination of video and at least one other media using an H.320 compliant protocol, to a recipient associated with a second H.320 protocol compliant multimedia device, the system comprising: a network based multimedia server; a first communication path supporting at least 56 kilobits per second access for connecting the caller to said network based multimedia server; a second communication path supporting at least 56 kilobits per second access for connecting the recipient to said network based multimedia server; means for generating a signal in the circuit switched telecommunication network, after attempting to establish an H.320 protocol compliant real-time multimedia connection between the caller, using the first H.320 protocol compliant multimedia device, and the recipient, which identifies that said multimedia connection cannot be completed because the recipient is unavailable and for connecting the call to said network based multimedia server in response to said signal over said first communication path; means for receiving the call and recording, using said network based multimedia server, a multimedia message, comprising a unified combination of video and at least one other media, communicated from the caller according to the H.320 protocol, using the first H.320 protocol compliant multimedia device; and means for furnishing the recipient with said recorded multimedia message over said second communication path.

Claim 15

In a circuit switched telecommunication network a system for handling a call from a caller, using a first H.320 protocol compliant multimedia device capable of communicating a unified combination of video and at least one other media using an H.320 compliant protocol, to a recipient associated with a second H.320 protocol compliant multimedia device, the system comprising: a network based multimedia server; a first communication path supporting at least 56 kilobits per second access for connecting the caller to said network based multimedia server; a second communication path supporting at least 56 kilobits per second access for connecting the recipient to said network based multimedia server; means for generating a signal in the circuit switched telecommunication network, after attempting to establish an H.320 protocol compliant real-time multimedia connection between the caller, using the first H.320 protocol compliant multimedia device, and the recipient, which identifies that said multimedia connection cannot be completed because the recipient is unavailable and for connecting the call to said network based multimedia server in response to said signal over said first communication path; means for receiving the call and recording, using said network based multimedia server, a multimedia message, comprising a unified combination of video and at least one other media, communicated from the caller according to the H.320 protocol, using the first H.320 protocol compliant multimedia device; and means for furnishing the recipient with said recorded multimedia message over said second communication path.

Claim 16

The system of claim 13 further including means for furnishing the caller with a multimedia greeting.

Claim 17

The system of claim 13 further including means for informing the recipient, at a time following recording, that said multimedia message was recorded.

Claim 18

The system of claim 15 wherein the system further includes means for playing said recorded multimedia message and deleting said recorded multimedia message.

Claim 19

The system of claim 14 further including means for initiating a call from said network based multimedia server to the recipient.

Claim 20

The system of claim 13 further including means for identifying Calling Line Identification (CLI) information associated with said call.

Claim 21

The system of claim 18 further including means for initiating a call from said network based multimedia server to the recipient using said stored CLI information.

Claim 22

The system of claim 13 wherein said first communication path supports about 64 kilobits per second access.

Claim 23

The system of claim 13 wherein said first communication path supports about 128 kilobits per second access.

Claim 24

The system of claim 13 wherein said first communication path supports about 56 kilobits per second access.

Claim 25

The system of claim 13 wherein said first communication path supports about 112 kilobits per second access.

Claim 26

The system of claim 13 wherein said first communication path supports ISDN PX64 data compression.

Claim 27

The system of claim 13 wherein said second communication path supports about 64 kilobits per second access.

Claim 28

The system of claim 13 wherein said second communication path supports about 128 kilobits per second access.

Claim 29

The system of claim 13 wherein said second communication path supports about 56 kilobits per second access.

Claim 30

The system of claim 13 wherein said second communication path supports about 112 kilobits per second access.

Claim 31

The system of claim 13 wherein said second communication path supports ISDN PX64 data compression.

Claim 32

The system of claim 13 wherein said second communication path includes a switched path.

Claim 33

The system of claim 30 wherein said switched path includes one of a T1.5, frame relay access, private line, switched 56, ATM, ISDN BRI, ISDN PRI or nxDS-0 path.

Claim 34

The system of claim 13 wherein said second communication path includes a broadcast network.

Claim 35

The system of claim 32 wherein said broadcast network includes one of a cable television line or satellite receiver.

Claim 36

The system of claim 13 wherein said second communication path includes a modem.