Applied Voice & Speech Technologies, Inc.

Xmedius

Roger E Visser

Douglas G Murray

Steven J Tindall

Bradley O Hargrave

Apparatus, methods, and machine-readable articles of manufacture improve reliability and scalability of a messaging system. In some embodiments, the system's configuration data and subscriber information are stored in a central repository of a core node, and replicated to one or more non-core nodes. Data replication may be performed in real-time or near real-time, periodically, sporadically, or otherwise. Nodes may rely on the replicated data to provide the system's subscribers and outside callers with services that do not involve updating of configuration or subscriber data. In this way, the non-core nodes may continue to process calls when the core node is unavailable. For example, the non-core nodes can route calls to the appropriate subscribers without relying on the core. As another example, the non-core nodes can take messages from callers when the core node is unavailable. The messages may be queued for posting and delivery when the core node becomes available.

Messaging systems and methods

Apparatus, methods, and machine-readable articles of manufacture improve reliability and scalability of a messaging system. In some embodiments, the system's configuration data and subscriber information are stored in a central repository of a core node, and replicated to one or more non-core nodes. Data replication may be performed in real-time or near real-time, periodically, sporadically, or otherwise. Nodes may rely on the replicated data to provide the system's subscribers and outside callers with services that do not involve updating of configuration or subscriber data. In this way, the non-core nodes may continue to process calls when the core node is unavailable. For example, the non-core nodes can route calls to the appropriate subscribers without relying on the core. As another example, die non-core nodes can take messages from callers when the core node is unavailable. The messages may be queued for posting and delivery when the core node becomes available.

A unified messaging system enables a subscriber to log into the system remotely and compose and send text messages, such as email messages, using predefined templates and sound input. The sound input may be DTMF or speech. After the subscriber selects an appropriate template, the system confirms the template, and asks the subscriber to provide values for prompted variables, such as dates and times. The system then generates an email message as defined by the selected template and the values of the prompted variables provided by the subscriber. The email message may also include automatic variables, such as the subscriber's name, and company name. The generated email message may be a new message, a reply message, or a forwarding message. The reply and forwarding messages may be generated in response to received email, or in response to other received messages, such as voice mail messages and facsimiles.

Template-based electronic message generation using sound input

A method of operating a call management system enables a subscriber to acknowledge a call, without taking the call. When the system receives the call, it identifies the called subscriber, obtains caller information, and presents the caller information to the subscriber when notifying the subscriber of the pending call. Caller information is information relating to the caller or to the call, such as the caller's name and telephone number. If the subscriber chooses to acknowledge the call, the system records an acknowledgement message from the subscriber. The system then plays the acknowledgement message to the caller. After playing the acknowledgement message, the system offers the caller an opportunity to leave a message for the subscriber. The system may allow such message exchange between the caller and subscriber to continue, enabling the subscriber to acknowledge the caller's additional messages, and the caller to leave messages in response to the acknowledgements.

Growing community of inventors

Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Roger E Visser