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US6006087A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and system for delivering a voice mail notification to a subscriber using cellular phone network

Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
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Filing: 1997-04-10
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Granted: 1999-12-21
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Expires: 2017-04-10
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Abstract

Abstract A method and system of the present invention delivers a voice mail notification to a subscriber of a voice mail system to indicate that a voice mail message is waiting in the subscriber mailbox. The voice mail system cellular phone network. The voice mail notification typically includes the calling party number and the name of the calling party if available, and an index. This is forwarded through the cellular phone network to the subscriber to indicate that a voice mail message is waiting in a subscriber mailbox. Subscribers can retrieve a specific message from the Voice Mail System.

Inventors

  • 👤 Umesh J. Amin

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 09:04
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/537; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/12; H04M1/00; H04M1/72; H04M1/724; H04M1/72403; H04M1/7243; H04M2207/00; H04M2207/18; H04W84/00; H04W84/02; H04W84/04; H04W84/042; H04W84/045

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 134 words
A method of delivering a voice mail notification to a subscriber of a voice mail system to indicate that a voice mail message is waiting in a subscriber mailbox, comprising the steps of receiving within a cellular phone network a voice mail notification from a voice mail system that indicates a voice mail message is waiting for a subscriber, and forwarding, without subscriber intervention, the voice mail notification through the cellular phone network to a cellular phone of the subscriber to indicate a voice mail message is waiting in a subscriber mailbox, and including incorporating in the voice mail notification a calling number of the calling party that left the voice mail message, a name of the calling party, if known, and an index of the voice mail messages waiting in the subscriber mailbox.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 134 words
A method of delivering a voice mail notification to a subscriber of a voice mail system to indicate that a voice mail message is waiting in a subscriber mailbox, comprising the steps of receiving within a cellular phone network a voice mail notification from a voice mail system that indicates a voice mail message is waiting for a subscriber, and forwarding, without subscriber intervention, the voice mail notification through the cellular phone network to a cellular phone of the subscriber to indicate a voice mail message is waiting in a subscriber mailbox, and including incorporating in the voice mail notification a calling number of the calling party that left the voice mail message, a name of the calling party, if known, and an index of the voice mail messages waiting in the subscriber mailbox.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method according to claim 1 including the step of registering the cellular phone with the cellular phone network before a voice mail notification is sent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 42 words
A method according to claim 1 including the step of receiving a voice mail notification within a messaging center of the cellular phone network and forwarding the voice mail notification through a mobile switching center to a cellular telephone of the subscriber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method according to claim 1 including the step of querying a home location register to determine the location of a subscriber who is to receive the voice mail notification.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 38 words
A method according to claim 1 including the step of displaying the calling party number and, if known, the calling party name on a cellular phone display after receiving a voice mail notification from the cellular phone network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
A method according to claim 5 including the step of storing within the cellular phone an index of all voice mail messages stored in the subscriber mailbox.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the cellular phone comprises an IS 136 phone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method according to claim 1 including the step of scrolling through a series of voice mail notifications displayed on a display, highlighting a desired voice mail notification, and retrieving the voice mail message.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the step of retrieving the voice mail message includes the step of dialing a voice mailbox and requesting a particular message be played.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 134 words
A system for delivering a voice mail notification to a subscriber of a voice mail system to indicate that a voice mail message is waiting in a subscriber mailbox, comprising a voice mail system having a subscriber mailbox in which voice mail messages are stored, and including means for generating a voice mail notification having a calling number of the calling party that left the voice mail message in the voice mail system, if known, a name of the calling party, and an index of the voice mail messages waiting in the subscriber mailbox, and a cellular phone network in communication with the voice mail system for receiving the generated voice mail notification from the voice mail system and forwarding the voice mail notification to a cellular phone of a subscriber without subscriber intervention.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 134 words
A system for delivering a voice mail notification to a subscriber of a voice mail system to indicate that a voice mail message is waiting in a subscriber mailbox, comprising a voice mail system having a subscriber mailbox in which voice mail messages are stored, and including means for generating a voice mail notification having a calling number of the calling party that left the voice mail message in the voice mail system, if known, a name of the calling party, and an index of the voice mail messages waiting in the subscriber mailbox, and a cellular phone network in communication with the voice mail system for receiving the generated voice mail notification from the voice mail system and forwarding the voice mail notification to a cellular phone of a subscriber without subscriber intervention.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 25 words
A system according to claim 10 including means for registering the cellular phone with the cellular phone network before a voice mail notification is sent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 47 words
A system according to claim 10 wherein the cellular phone network includes a messaging center for receiving the voice mail notification from the voice mail system, and a mobile switching center for receiving the voice mail notification from the messaging center and later forwarding to the subscriber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 33 words
A system according to claim 12 including a home location register for maintaining a record of the location of a subscriber so that the voice mail notification can be forwarded to the subscriber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 26 words
A system according to claim 10 wherein the cellular phone includes a display for displaying the calling party number and if known, the calling party name.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 23 words
A system according to claim 10 including storing within the cellular phone an index of all voice mails stored within the subscriber mailbox.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 15 words
A system according to claim 10 wherein the cellular phone comprises an IS 136 phone.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 37 words
A system according to claim 10 including a display, means for scrolling through a series of voice mail notifications displayed on the display, means for highlighting the desired voice mail notification and retrieving a voice mail message.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 30 words
A system according to claim 10 wherein the means for retrieving the voice mail message includes means for dialing a voice mailbox and requesting a particular message to be played.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-12-20 2003-06-21 2003-12-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-12-20 2007-06-21 2007-12-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-12-20 2011-06-21 2011-12-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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