Patent · US Expired

Message transfer system

US6396908B1 · kind B1 · utility

71Cited by
11References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 2, 1998
Grant dateMay 28, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 2, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S379/908
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus and method for transferring a message from a calling party to an unavailable telephonically called party. The method comprises the steps of inititating a call to the called party over a communications channel, identifying that the called party is not available and instructing the calling entity to record the message at the calling entity and after recording to transmit the message to the called entity as a data message via a data channel for reception by the called entity. The system reduces the use of the voice/telephone communications networks by allowing a voice message to be transmitted through data channels, reducing the amount of voice traffic on the voice communication lines. The fact that the original voice message was actually stored with the calling entity after the telephone voice communication had been discontinued is transparent to both the calling party and the called party. Greetings for the called party can be stored at a messaging system of the calling entity.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.