Siemens Business Communication Systems, Inc.

Rolm Company

Siemens Information & Communication Networks, Inc.

Mark E Kaminsky

Roberto Perelman

Chris Yuan

Bipin Patel

Jeanne Ichnowski

Holly Freeman

Jack J Ahn

An apparatus and method for coordinating multiple user responses solicited from a user during a session with a call processing application includes receiving a first transmission from a user via a communication network, the transmission causing a voice channel control unit of an IVR unit to open a voice-form voice file. A first request is transmitted to the user, soliciting a first user response, the request being stored in a voice file database of the IVR unit. After receiving the first response, the first response is recorded into the voice-form voice file. A second request is transmitted to the user requesting a second user response. The second user response is appended to the voice-form voice file after it is received. A termination message is transmitted to the user informing the user that the current interaction with the IVR unit is complete. A system administrator configures the call processing application stored in an application database of the IVR unit. Voice files associated with mailboxes of the call processing application are stored in the voice file database accessible to the voice channel control unit.

Apparatus and method for coordinating user responses to a call processing tree

In a queue management system for servicing of a number of clients representing different client types, a controlling queue queues clients in a predetermined order. A queue manager allocates and reallocates a number of processing queues, less than the number of client types, to match different ones of said client types. The queue manager then places successive ones of the clients in the controlling queue into a processing queue matching the client type if there is a matching processing queue and allocates or reallocates an empty or emptied processing queue to the client type if there is no matching processing queue but there is an empty processing queue. A server empties the processing queues in batches. In the environment of a telephone system the clients are messages and the client types are codings in the messages for various destinations. The queue manager dedicates each of a number of processing queues to one of the destinations in the controlling queue, accesses the top message in the controlling queue, places the messages in a processing queue matching the destination code of the message if there is a match, and dedicates an empty processing queue to the target destination if there is no matching processing queue but there is an empty processing queue.

Queue managing system and method

Methods and apparatus are set forth which enable users of a network which supports the AMIS Analog Protocol to define numbering plans which shorten and simplify addressing an AMIS message to specific AMIS Sites. These user friendly numbering plans are referred to generally herein as 'Enhanced Addressing' schemes. The methods and apparatus contemplated by the invention also support the construction and utilization of the 'System Number', as defined in the AMIS Analog Protocol, particularly in conjunction with performing Enhanced Addressing.

Apparatus for providing enhanced addressing capability in voice

Methods are set forth which enable users of a voice messaging system network which supports the Audio Messaging Interchange Specification (AMIS) Analog Protocol to define numbering plans which shorten and simplify addressing an AMIS message to specific AMIS Sites. These user friendly numbering plans are referred to generally herein as 'Enhanced Addressing' schemes. The methods contemplated by the invention also support the construction and utilization of the 'System Number', as defined in the AMIS Analog Protocol, particularly in conjunction with performing Enhanced Addressing.

Methods for providing enhanced addressing capability in voice messaging

A method is provided for coordinating and controlling the execution of processes related to internetworked voice mail communications. In the method of the invention, status signals defined by an internetworking protocol and representing status information respecting the transfer of voice mail messages between dissimilar voice mail networks are operated on by one or more of the internetworked voice mail networks in a manner to cause such signals to be translated to processes carried out by such an internetworked voice mail network, such processes being generally of a character to provide information or functions useful to operators and/or users of such a voice mail network.

Methods and apparatus for coordinating and controlling the operation of

Method and apparatus for use in a network of store and forward messaging system sites which avoid infinite loops while providing user access to distribution lists in the network, the members of which distribution lists are users and distribution lists located at other network sites. In accordance with the present invention, a data field is added to data transmited with a message from site to site in the network. This data field provides information which identifies sites in the network that the message has 'visited.' Upon creation of a message, the field is empty. Then, as the message is transmitted from a transmitting site to a receiving site, identification of the transmitting site is added to the field. Whenever a message arrives at a site, and an examination of the data field shows that the message has already been at that site, the message is not transmitted to remote sites; i.e., only local addressees receive the message. Alternatively, identification of the receiving site is added to the field, and the message is not transmitted from one site to any other site whose identification is included in the field.

Multihop distribution lists

Method and apparatus for providing a universal addressing plan for a network of voice store-and-forward messaging system sites wherein a telephone numbering plan for a telephone network can be mirrored among the sites in the network, notwithstanding whether the sites utilize the public switched network or on a private network. An embodiment of the invention is apparatus for use in a network of sites in transmitting a message from a message sender at a message sender site to a message recipient at a message recipient site which is collocated or remote from the message sender site, which apparatus includes: (a) a site database to store whether a site is collocated or remote with respect to other sites in the network; (b) an address database to store groups of network addresses associated with the site; (c) a user database to store a network address and a local mailbox number for users; (d) an apparatus for determining the message sender's identification and for receiving a network address for the message recipient; and (e) a translation processor for accessing one or more databases using: (i) the message sender identification to retrieve a message sender site identifier and (ii) the message site identifier and the message recipient network address to retrieve a message recipient site identifier.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Mark E Kaminsky